A panel of senior higher education leaders gathered virtually on Friday to address what one moderator called a "critical transition" facing the field, as college closures, political pressures on diversity initiatives, and shifting institutional priorities displace thousands of administrators across the country.
The webinar, hosted by the Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation, drew participants from across the United States and Canada. The session was moderated by Dr. Ainsley Carry, a former executive leader at a Canadian university who recently stepped down from his role to pursue a career redirection of his own.
“If you're fortunate enough to have a long career in college administration, at points during your career you've been asked to take on a new role," Carry said in opening remarks. "Sometimes the next move will happen, and you can't always control that."
The conversation was largely animated by an audience question that panelists described as emblematic of the current moment: a sitting vice president for student affairs whose institution is closing at the end of the semester reported struggling to secure interviews despite her active executive role.
“We don't know why a search committee pulls us forward or not," said Carry. "Make sure that what you're putting forward is that top-notch resume, cover letter, and it is aligned with the position description. It is not generic."
Dr. Erin Gilliam, who serves as vice provost for academic affairs and student academic progression at Albany State University and assumed the role just 62 days before the webinar, described leaving a smaller HBCU and facing the same perception problem. Her approach: direct outreach to institutional presidents and provosts.
"I have been interviewed at least three times because of my boldness," she said.
Dr. Jamal Watson, a professor and associate dean of graduate studies at Trinity Washington University and a longtime higher education journalist, urged the dozens of professionals on the webinar to broaden their public visibility.
"It drives me absolutely crazy when I watch CNN or MSNOW and I hear people who are supposed to be experts on TV talking about stuff they don't know anything about," Watson said. "What I would love is for individuals who are working within student affairs and academic affairs to find ways to broaden their research as scholar-practitioners, to be out in front, educating the public."
Watson also pushed back on insularity within the field.
"Sometimes there is this competitive nature that overtakes our ability to do more collaboration," he said, calling on leaders to open doors for colleagues rather than hoard access.
Dr. Will Atkins, vice provost for campus life at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, introduced the term "power skills" as a reframe for what are often dismissed as soft skills. He cited emotional intelligence, temperament under pressure, and the balance of confidence with humility as the most durable assets a professional can carry across institutions.
"Remaining grounded and steady, especially when you get the curveballs," Atkins said, "is really a key transferable skill that will serve you well in whatever environment you're in."
Dr. Jarvis Marlow-McCowin, a former student affairs administrator who now leads educational equity and community development work at Corning Incorporated, offered a practical framework he attributed to a former colleague: the "specialized generalist." The concept encourages administrators to develop competency across functional areas outside their primary expertise, particularly as institutions are forced to operate with leaner budgets. "Everything as an opportunity to learn, even in the areas where I feel very comfortable," Marlow-McCowin said.
The panel devoted significant attention to geographic constraints, a reality Carey said often goes underdiscussed in professional development spaces. Watson noted that professionals of color in particular face compounding challenges when relocating, including lack of access to culturally familiar institutions, houses of worship, and schools.
"Those are real issues that impact one's day-to-day life," he said. Panelists pointed to commuter arrangements, negotiated hybrid schedules, and the building of independent consulting practices as strategies for those unable or unwilling to relocate.
On the question of burnout, Watson acknowledged the toll of the current environment directly. "Give yourself permission to take these breaks, to say no," he said. "What you're experiencing is very human, and you're not alone in that." He also raised the possibility of leaving higher education entirely, noting that advocacy organizations, civil rights groups, and adjacent sectors represent viable paths for administrators whose skills translate well beyond the academy.
Atkins credited therapy and acupuncture as part of his personal non-negotiable wellness practices, and called on professionals to name and protect what brings them joy outside of work. Gilliam, in a moment that drew laughter from panelists, said she guards her bedtime with what she described as near-absolute commitment.
"If I'm not rested, I can't make the decisions that are going to impact the students," she said.
The webinar closed with Marlow-McCowin recommending a daily journaling practice drawn from marketing strategist Seth Godin, tracking five categories: acts of generous leadership, expressions of gratitude, moments of curiosity, new skills learned, and interactions that deepened empathy.
"If you do them over the course of a year, you have 365 journal entries you can go to" in a job interview, he said.
The Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation was established in 2007 and provides scholarships, research support, and professional development for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in higher education.
