The concept of engagement was first introduced to literature in 1992 by William Kahn. The notion was originally described as psychological presence. "Psychological presence" is described as "the experiential state enabling organization members to draw deeply on their personal selves in role performances, that is, to express thoughts…

By framing the phenomenon of resilience around adverse, harmful experiences and drawing a direct relation to positive outcomes, society desensitizes Black Women to the scale of the adversities they face and ignores the magnitude of psychological stress they have had to endure as a means of survival. The praise and reinforcement associated with…

This study explored how 14 higher education and student affairs (HESA) professionals navigated institutional policy vacuums to address interpersonal racial conflict between students. Grounded in perspectives of policy vacuums, findings revealed that HESA professionals learned about racial conflict by referring to their own personal, professional,…

This executive dissertation assumes a sensemaking lens to investigate how Assistant and Associate Vice President (AVP)-level administrators in student affairs approach their supervisory roles within the current climate of higher education and employment. The study's primary goal is to identify how leaders can prepare for changing employment trends…

Higher education has operated in silos of faculty in academic affairs and staff in student affairs for decades with little intentional integration. Initiatives aimed at collaboration tend to draw clear lines and reinforce the perceptions of faculty as "thinkers" and staff as "doers." In the headwinds facing higher education…

Parasocial Relationships can mirror social relationships, particularly to individuals in isolation. Student Affairs practitioners were enormously impacted by the conditions of the Great Distress Era (the period that included the COVID-19 restrictions, racial violence and protests in response, political unrest). Many engaged in parasocial…

This study investigated the use of othermothering as a relationship building approach in student affairs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and its association with job burnout outcomes in HBCU student affairs professionals. Job burnout outcomes affect job turnover intention decisions (Michaels & Spector, 1982); therefore,…

The current workforce comprises a mosaic of generations, including Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and the newly emerging Generation Z. This qualitative study provides valuable insights into the professional needs of Generation Z employees in Student Affairs. The aim is to enhance understanding among their supervisors regarding this new…

Frontline student affairs educators' work puts them in close contact with students, both socially and emotionally, meaning that they may experience a unique pressure to balance and represent both the priorities of their organizations and students' needs and interests (Perez, 2016). Given that institutional policies and practices to respond to…

This article examines the potential effectiveness, benefits, and drawbacks of fully virtual interviewing, including the final interview process, for both candidates and search committees in student affairs and services. Interviews were held with those involved with searches during the pandemic to consider if a fully virtual interview process may…

There has been an increased emphasis for professionals within the field of student affairs to focus on programming that will engage and help support increasingly diverse student populations on (Odag, Wallin, & Kedzior, 2016). Bowman (2012) writes: "Many entering college students have had limited opportunities for meaningful interactions…

What do senior student affairs officers (SSAOs) expect from new professionals? What are emerging college educators learning in graduate preparation programs? Where is the gap, and how can we work together to fill it? As a vice president for student affairs (VPSA; Segar) and a faculty member in a student affairs and higher education graduate…

Many Student Affairs Professionals leave the profession within the first 5 years. A common position for new Student Affairs Professions is the Residence Hall Director position. This study aimed to determine the level of job satisfaction and what factors contribute to job satisfaction for Residence Hall Directors in the California State University…

"The Heritage of Student Affairs in Higher Education: History, Philosophy, and Values" is a valuable resource for student affairs educators seeking to discover their professional roots. It focuses on student affairs in the United States. It offers insights into the philosophical foundations of the field, including history, values,…

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-perceived competence levels of senior-level student affairs professionals. Additionally, the study aimed to learn about the experiences that contributed to the participants' competence levels. A qualitative study, consisting of semi-structured interviews, was conducted to address the research…