ASHE President Dr. Jeni Hart delivered the keynote at this year's annual conference in Minneapolis.
Sailesh Maharjan, a lecturer and mental health first aid trainer at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), wasn’t quite sure he would fit in at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).
“Within one day, I was able to meet so many people and attend sessions that invite your opinion,” said Maharjan, who is also a doctoral student at CSUSB. This was his first ASHE conference.
“I am leaving ASHE with a lot of good memories, knowledge and connections,” said Maharjan, who is impressed that AHSE has encouraged its members to consider different ways of presenting their research.
Maharjan's dissertation is focused on student mental health and engagement.
“During the pandemic, and even before the pandemic, many students were dealing with stress and other challenges,” he said, adding that more than 70% of his students hold down part-time or full-time jobs while also pursuing their college degree. “Students need some help, they’re dealing with a lot, and they don’t know the resources.”
Mental health was among the many topics that educators explored during the four-day conference. But the ongoing attacks on higher education at the hands of the incoming Trump administration also weighed on the minds of attendees. The administration has promised, among other things, to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and to penalize institutions that fund diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
