Sep 18, 2025
The world of higher education is constantly evolving, and with each shift comes new challenges and opportunities for those working in student affairs. The latest season of the podcast, Student Affairs Voices from the Field, brilliantly captures this dynamic landscape, offering a blend of professional wisdom, personal stories, and inspiration for everyone in the field—from newcomers to seasoned professionals.
Kicking off its highly anticipated thirteenth season, hosts Dr. Jill Creighton, Dr. Christopher Lewis, and invite listeners on a journey back to the roots of what makes student affairs so impactful. Titled “The Value of Student Affairs,” this season promises to shine a spotlight on the essential role that student affairs practitioners play in shaping campuses, supporting students, and enhancing the overall higher education experience.
Right from the opener, the co-hosts set an inviting and reflective tone. They recall how this project began during pandemic lockdowns and acknowledge the significant shifts they've witnessed in higher education since then. The podcast is not only celebrating over five years and nearly 200 episodes, but is also leveraging this milestone to dig deeply into the heart of what makes student affairs professionals invaluable.
What can listeners expect from Season 13? The hosts have structured the season around three core questions:
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When you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first, and why?
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Can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life?
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What does student affairs need to do to be better understood and better seen in today’s educational environment?
Through these guiding questions and interviews with diverse voices from across the field, the podcast explores the unique challenges currently facing higher education—like measuring value in an era of rising costs and institutional change. More importantly, it highlights the powerful and sometimes overlooked stories of how student affairs professionals advocate for students, build inclusive communities, and adapt through periods of instability.
This season isn’t just for established leaders. The hosts actively invite grad students, early-career professionals, and those considering student affairs work to add their voices and stories. Their message is clear: everyone’s journey and perspective bring value to the profession.
If you’re looking for authentic, thoughtful, and hopeful discussions on what it means to work in student affairs today, this podcast is for you. Tune in each week, and join a community committed to supporting, learning, and growing together in the ever-changing world of higher education.
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Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:02]:
Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where
we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to
seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and
accessible professional development for higher ed pros wherever you
happen to be. This is season 13 on the value of student affairs.
I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. She her hers your essay Voices from the
Field host.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:26]:
Happy September, Chris.
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:28]:
Happy September to you too. It's a new year for all of us in higher
ed, but and it's also it's just nice to be in.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:36]:
Fall for our friends on the semester system. I've been loving
watching your move in day pics and it's just such a joyful time for
higher ed. For friends on the quarter system, I hope your move in
processes go really smoothly this year. But we're back for what is
now season 13 of SA Voices from the Field. Chris We've been doing
this show now for we're entering year five, a little over year
five. We're just about to pass our 200th episode milestone. So much
happening. So much of the profession has changed since we started
the show.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:07]:
I remember you and I started working together in the midst of
basically the first tendrils of lockdown, but we've also seen
policy changes and governmental shifts and all these things. So
we've decided this season to go with something to dig back into the
roots of what we all bring to the table. And so I'll give a little
Drum roll. Season 13 is what Chris.
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:29]:
On the Value of Student affairs so we are going back to our roots
to be able to really look internally, look within ourselves, but
also look within the profession about what makes us who we are as a
profession, as individuals in the profession, and more. And I'm
really excited about this season. We're working really closely with
NASPA on some amazing guests and we're gonna be bringing you a ton
of value for you as we move into I can't.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:58]:
Imagine a more important time to be having this conversation, a
time when in the US higher education is experiencing some
instability as as a educational space, as a time when we're seeing
more and more people measure the value of higher ed against the
cost of higher ed. And with all of the changes in the U.S.
department of Education, there's just so many conversations we're
looking forward to having. So we have three theme questions this
season like we've done in past seasons. And while we're going to be
bringing you the content experts that you've come to know and love
from the show we also are going to be focusing on the three
questions, the Value of Student Affairs. First, when you think
about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first, and
why? Second, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw
the value of Student affairs come to life? And three, what do you
think student affairs needs to do to be better understood and
better seen in today's educational environment? So we look forward
to bringing you the answers to these questions as well as that
content expertise from your colleagues around the world. Can't wait
to get into it. We've got 13 more episodes coming at you, as well
as some special bonus things.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:07]:
Chris, anything you want to add about our upcoming season?
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:03:10]:
You know, I'm just really excited because like I said, we've got
some amazing guests that we're teeing up to bring to you. And if
you have an interest in being on the show in the future, if you
know of someone that you feel could be an amazing guest, send us an
email@savoicesaspa.org we would love to hear from you in regards to
your thoughts on guests for the future. But also if you've got
questions or if you have things that you want to talk to us about,
send us an email as well. Because we love hearing from you from
your perspectives. We love hearing about the journeys that you're
on and things that you're resonating with. And it helps us to be
able to make the show even better.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:52]:
And especially if you are a new professional or a grad student
studying student affairs, we really want to hear from you. We want
to hear about what brought you into the field, what's keeping you
in the field. If you're a mid level professional, we want to hear
from you what has kept you persisting through these mid stages of
your career. And if you're a senior level professional, we want to
hear from you too. We want to know what is that drive that keeps
you churning in this field that has so much reward but also right
now has a lot of challenge. Our first episode of season 13 will
drop on September 18, 2025. We're still every Thursday in your fe
through the semester and we will speak to you so very soon.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:33]:
This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field brought to you
by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners.
We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time
with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email
savoices@naspa.org or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill
L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest
suggestions always.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:55]:
We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the
show and leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or
wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student
affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more
visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was
produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and
audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the
University of Michigan, Flint for your support as we create this
project.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:21]:
Catch you next time.