Louisiana State University Higher Education Administration Magazine
Louisiana State University Higher Education Administration Magazine
SPRING 2019
Geaux Higher is a publication of the Higher Education Administration program at Louisiana State University.
EXECUTIVE EDITORS
Joy Blanchard, PhD Avery Bracken Writer: Shana Khan Designer: Gillian Foss
INTERIM DEAN Roland Mitchell, PhD DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF F. Neil Mathews, PhD EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY
Joy Blanchard, PhD Yu "April" Chen, PhD Ashley Clayton, PhD Roland Mitchell, PhD
The LSU Higher Education Administration program prepares practitioner-scholars for rewarding careers in higher education. The program offers a traditional and online Master of Arts and doctoral degree. The curriculum helps candidates develop the leadership vision, higher education knowledge, and management skills needed to assume leadership positions across a broad spectrum of higher education fields—including (but not exclusive to) recruiting, admissions, orientation, financial aid, counseling, Greek affairs, student activities, academic support services, student athlete support services, career planning and placement, and faculty.
CONTENTS 2-3
Welcome
Dean’s Letter and a Message from the Director
4-6
Achieving Higher
7-9
Achieving Higher
10 11-12
HEA Alumni Spotlight: Roderick Smothers
HEA Alumni Spotlight: Chris Gifford
Administrator Spotlight
Dr. Paul Manthei, Advisor for the Online MA in Higher Education Administration
Student Resources: Associations and Conferences
CONNECT WITH HEA
hea@lsu.edu @lsu_hespa facebook.com/LSUHESPA
WELCOME FROM THE DEAN
Welcome to the LSU Higher Education program: the largest, most diverse, and arguably most engaged graduate program in the College of Human Sciences & Education. Our unwavering mission is to educate students who are dedicated to improving quality of human life across the lifespan. By joining us in these aims, you will learn from world-class educators including executive-level university administrators, law and retention specialists, and student affairs professionals. The value added to joining the Higher Education Administration program is the opportunity to engage our well-respected network of alumni who are sitting presidents, tenured faculty, education policy experts, endowed professors, and university research center directors, all committed to making an impact on our state, nation, and world. Geaux Tigers, Roland Mitchell Interim Dean, College of Human Sciences
Roland Mitchell Interim Dean of the College of Human Sciences & Education E.B. "Ted" Robert Endowed Professor
& Education
MISSION
Our mission is to advance cognitive, social, emotional, communicative, and physical development across the lifespan through programs in Education, Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, Kinesiology, Library and Information Science, Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. Through teaching, research, and service, the college plays a significant role in addressing the complex human issues and policy decisions facing Louisiana, the nation, and the world.
02
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR The LSU School of Education’s Higher Education graduate program has been meeting students’ educational needs since the early 1990s. The program was the first in Louisiana with full enrollment, and it has increased diversity among its students and faculty as it has grown. Over the years, additional degree specializations have been developed within the M.A. and Ph.D. in Higher Education. For example, the M.A. program has expanded to include online courses and services a broader range of students who previously lacked access to a high-quality Higher Education graduate program. It caters to an increasing student population with diverse needs and varied career goals. I invite you to read this edition of the “Geaux Higher” publication to learn more about our graduates, faculty accomplishments, sponsored events, and research currently underway. At the conclusion of your perusal of this new publication, please let us know your
F. Neil Mathews
thoughts as to how we can improve the magazine for future editions. To our alumni,
Director, Olinde Endowed Professor
please remember that we want to continue to remain in contact with you as we serve your higher education career needs.
We are proud of our ambitious program and believe that our students and faculty have a bright future meeting the needs of the higher education community through their teaching, research, and service. LSU’s Higher Education program is helping shape the future of higher education in Louisiana, throughout the nation, and around the world. I personally wish you well if you are an LSU Higher Education graduate and, if not, I hope to see you on campus soon. Best regards, F. Neil Mathews Director, School of Education Olinde Endowed Professor
03
Achieving Higher HEA Alumni Spotlights
Interview with Roderick Smothers
Alumnus of the PhD in Higher Education Administration and President of Philander Smith College Geaux Higher: What inspired you to work
I worked in a number of capacities
in higher education?
there at LSU from the Division of Continuing Education, where we were
Smothers: I came into higher education
more focused on adult learners and
right here at LSU, for my first professional
then back over to Academic Affairs,
job after graduating in December of
where I started working in the Office of
1995. I became a financial aid counselor
Multicultural Affairs as the director and
and also dealt with financial aid
was instrumental in helping shape the
scholarships; that was having dealt with
first Office of Diversity there. It was really
Roderick Smothers
that office as a student worker for a
in that space and that work that I fell in
President, Philander Smith College
couple of years. That was really my first
love with the higher education journey
Alumnus, PhD in HEA
exposure to higher education and, really,
because I was able to work specifically
working with students. I had a particular
with minority students at LSU—and not
interest in minority students and how
just African Americans but all minority
they could better afford college. Working
students, really helping them establish
with students and talking to them about
safe spaces and welcoming spaces for
some of the challenges that they were
them to matriculate and persist at a rate
encountering in order to afford a college
that was conducive to our success.
degree, I became extremely interested in it and ultimately decided that this was a
From there, I simultaneously pursued my
body of work that I could pursue for the
advanced degrees.
rest of my life.
Continued on pages 5 and 6
04
"I ended up at LSU and I don't regret it. It ended up being everything I needed and more." I got my master's and my PhD from LSU,
officer, that really got me to where I
I wanted to attend an HBCU, however,
and upon receiving my PhD, was offered
am now. That is not to discount any of
as you may know a little about my
to become a dean of Enrollment Services
the other experiences that I have had,
background, I am from a small town
at a small community college right up
but [it was] my experiences as a chief
called Vidalia, Louisiana, and was raised
the road in Lafayette (South Louisiana
fundraising officer at Langston where
in a single parent home. My mom was
Community College) and did that and
we created an advancement unit from
not making enough money to send
also joined the faculty at ULL, at first as
the ground up, wrote grants, raised
me to college and so LSU offered me
part time and then it ultimately became
money, and ultimately ended up raising
the largest scholarship. It was an issue
a full time position.
a little bit over $25 million before leaving
of affordability and my high school
Langston. Then I moved from there
counselor sitting down with my mom
I landed in Langston University in
to be chief fundraising officer or VP
and I and saying, "Hey, look, LSU is a
Langston, Oklahoma, as associate VP
for advancement at Houston Tillotson
great school," which, I knew it was, but
of Academic Affairs, all building upon
University in Austin, Texas, a small liberal
then she said: "I really think you can
the experience that I had gotten right
arts, Methodist-affiliated HBCU, and
go there and distinguish yourself as a
there at LSU, and ultimately became
secured some multimillion dollar gifts
scholar and as a leader and do great
chief fundraising officer at Langston
there. I capitalized on my ability to raise
things." So, with the urging of my mom
University, which required another
money, work in some of the key areas
and my high school guidance counselor,
skillset so I went to be trained via the
of enrollment management and, while
I ended up at LSU and I don't regret it. It
Thurgood Marshall Leadership Initiative
working with minority students, helped
ended up being everything I wanted and
of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
them overcome their challenges over all
more.
those years. All those experiences is what Once I was trained as a senior
led me to be where I am today, which is
GH: Is there any advice that you would
development officer I was able to take
president at Philander Smith College, in
give someone who is currently in the
those skills and was able to parlay them
Little Rock, Arkansas.
higher education doctoral program?
administrator, and started writing grants
GH: What made you select LSU in the first
Smothers: So, third on my list, if I had to
and became very good at it, started
place?
say, would have been my experiences in
into the skills that I already had as an
raising money and building relationships
the doctoral program and some of the
and I really do believe that it was my
Smothers: You know what, in full
professors who really took an interest
legacy, as you would, as a fundraising
disclosure, LSU was not my first choice.
in making sure that we were successful.
Continued on page 6
05
Interview with Roderick Smothers
Alumnus of the PhD in Higher Education Administration and President of Philander Smith College
Dr. Eugene Kennedy was there at the
former chancellor of LSU William E. Bud
because of a relationship that one of the
time, and also Dr. Micky Roberts Tillman,
Davis. I remember him just giving us lots
professors had. I had an opportunity to go
who is no longer at LSU. They were all
of practical advice about what would
down to the State of the Board of Regents
just so very fundamental and critical to
make him a successful administrator
and spend time with the commissioner,
our success.
and what would not, and now that I
who is now the president of ULL [University
am sitting in the seat of a president,
of Louisiana at Lafayette]. I spent days with
If I had to give advice to up-and-coming
his words still ring true to me, even
him talking about the broader picture of
doctoral students or aspiring students, I
today, some twenty years later. It is the
higher education and I can still remember
would give them three pieces of advice:
same advice that he gave us that is still
those conversations today. So, valuing the
relevant today, so I would really say to
experiences outside the classroom and even
Number one is to establish strong
become students of the information and
outside the university that the department
relationships with your professors. While
not students of the classroom.
afforded you, or afforded us, are still very
you are obviously going to gain a lot
valuable to me.
from them while you are there with them
I think that the final piece is just to take
in the classroom, there are also some
advantage of the practical experiences
out-of-classroom experiences that they
that the program will offer you. We
can share with you and also pass on to
got, in our program, an opportunity to
you, which will ultimately lend to your
shadow folks and I found that was the
success.
most valuable. I had the opportunity, for example, to go to Southern
The second piece of advice is to really
University and work with some of the
immerse yourself into the critical
professors there as a result of some of
frameworks around higher education,
the relationships that they had with
educational philosophy, and theories
some of the professors at LSU. I had
that advance the department. I
an opportunity to do a practicum
remember my days in the classroom with
experience in the Office of Financial Aid at another university because of a
06
1 2 3
Establish strong relationships with professors. Immerse yourself in the critical frameworks of higher education. Take advantage of the practical experiences that the program offers.
Achieving Higher: HEA Alumni Spotlights
Interview with Chris Gifford
Alumnus of the LSU Online MA in Higher Education Administration and Director, Hurricane Education Center (HEC), Dixie State University thought much about education. I
strengths, but because of the students I
decided to go back to school and I was
got to work with, my colleagues, and the
actually a biology major initially, and I
support that I had with everyone was
Chris Gifford
finished up a degree in communications,
just tremendous. I felt that I was building
Director, Hurricane Education Center
and graduated magna cum laude. I
a lot of confidence, and I decided to
(HEC), Dixie State University
proved to myself that not only could
advance my career. I felt that it was time,
Alumnus, MA in LSU Online HEA
I do school, but I could also do it at a
so I started looking. I knew what I was
high level. There was something about
looking for; I just hadn't found it. I had a
Geaux Higher: Can you tell me about
education that really drew me in. The
colleague of mine actually recommend
yourself, career-wise?
ability to work with others, the ability
to me the masters program at Louisiana
to work with students, the ability to
State University. I remember the first
Gifford: Sure. My experiences in higher
advance myself while learning new
time that I got online and looked at it; I
education are quite unique. I was a non-
things.
immediately knew. I just read through
traditional student, starting in education
the course outlines, the program, how it
in my 30s, first acquiring my GED and
There is something about higher
then commencing college.
education that you just can't get anywhere else, so I wanted to advance
I was a high school drop out, actually,
my career. I had worked in academic
and then decided to pursue some things
advising for about five years and toward
individually. I was in the construction
the end of my tenure in advising, I was
industry, and with the economy the way
nominated for Utah's Advisor of the Year,
that it is, it's cyclical, with its ups and
and I ended up winning that award. Not
downs, and I got tired of that. I never
so much because of my own abilities and
was laid out.
"I knew immediately that this is the program that I am going to
pursue. I went through the process of getting admitted, got into the program, and the rest is history. So here I am, a graduate of
Louisiana State University." Continued on pages 8 and 9
07
Interview with Chris Gifford
Alumnus of the LSU Online MA in Higher Education Administration and Director, Hurricane Education Center (HEC), Dixie State University
Geaux Higher: Why did you choose
Geaux Higher: How would you describe
be more meaningful than if I just threw
Louisiana State University's program?
your experiences of being in an online
out the first thing that came out on the
program, as opposed to being in a face-
top of my head. So I really enjoyed that
to-face one?
facet of it. There are seven-week blocks,
Gifford: Well, a couple of things. First and foremost, what drew me to the program
so it is fairly fast-paced and I needed to
is the way that it was administered.
Gifford: That is a good question. I had
stay on top of things. But, at the same
Obviously I am in a region far away from
always been hesitant, through my
time, I felt that it was just enough. It
the southern region over there, so that
undergrad and through some of my
kept you right on your toes. It kept
was intriguing to me. The program
other trainings, about the online format.
you engaged and I loved the format. I
itself, higher education, a masters in
I always enjoyed the interaction, the face
thought it was great.
education, with an emphasis on higher
to face, being able to be right there, ask
education administration was what I
questions from my peers. But, I think, as
Geaux Higher: After graduating from
was looking for. The online format was
I developed and matured as a student,
Louisiana State, where do you see
perfect for me as a working adult, and
the online format gave me additional
yourself going?
my busy schedule. I was able to work
opportunities and experiences that I
that between my normal office hours,
couldn't have had. I love the fact that I
Gifford: Well, that is another good
evenings, weekends, and the ability to
could look at something. I could read it
question. After graduating, I have taken
communicate and collaborate with my
but not have to respond immediately. I
up a position as the director of a satellite
peers and professors at any hour of the
could process that. I could think about
campus for the university that I work
day. It wasn't necessarily a face to face
my own experiences and how that
for here in southern Utah. It is allowing
or immediate interaction, but my ability
played into whatever questions it was
me to directly apply all the things that I
to communicate with them and have
that we were looking at, or whatever
learned in my degree and use those to
that experience was tremendous for
project that we might have been
manage a satellite campus, work with
me. It was an amazing opportunity. The
working on. I could really take some time
the employees, work with the faculty, the
experience was great. it was a win-win all
away and think about that and look back
staff that I work with here, so there is a
the way around for me.
and then contribute in a way that would
direct application of those things that
Continued on page 9
08
Achieving Higher: HEA Alumni Spot-
I learned in my program with what I am
Geaux Higher: I am glad that you had a
doing in my day-to-day work life.
good experience with our program.
I want to continue my education,
Gifford: It was awesome. I have some
perhaps either a Doctorate of Education
younger colleagues of mine that I am
or a PhD, I don't know. Perhaps Dean of
encouraging to pursue this very degree
Students or something in student affairs.
at LSU. So we are at Dixie State University
That is where my passion is. That is
in Saint George, Utah. I don't know how
where I have been most successful. That
many thousands of miles away we are
is where my career path will continue on.
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but I feel
Can I add one more thing?
like it is part of me now. So, Geaux Tigers! I am right there now. I am proud to be an
I want to add one more thing about Dr. Paul Manthei. I would be remiss if I did not mention him specifically. The advising through my program made all the difference in the world. He went above and beyond to answer my questions. My hat's off to Dr. Manthei. I can't thank him enough for what he did for me, and for giving me that extra confidence and encouragement to get through the program. I just can't say enough good about him. It made me feel like there is somebody on the other end that cares about me and my progress in this program and is there to help me
LSU alum; it's awesome.
"The advising through my program made all the difference in the world. [Dr. Paul Manthei] went above and beyond to answer
Online Master of Arts in Education with a Specialization in Higher Education Administration The online MA in Higher Education Administration examines the diverse nature of higher education in an online setting. The coursework can be completed in as little as 24 months, and students will be required to complete a standard comprehensive final exam: a web-based portfolio or write a reflective essay. The online program consists of 12 courses. Each course is 7 weeks long.
my questions."
every step of the way. I never felt lost. Every time I had a question, he was there.
09
Administrator Spotlight
Meet the face behind the Online MA Interview with Dr. Paul Manthei
Advisor for the Online MA in in Higher Education Administration So, after after several years of teaching, I
chance to work on their degree, when
decided to come back to the university
they can work on their degree, and they
and to get my PhD in Ed. Leadership.
can do it at their own pace. Many of our students already work at universities.
I have served in a few different positions. I was a university supervisor for clinical
Geaux Higher: Is this online program
experiences and then I was assistant to
similar or very different than the on-
the coordinator for clinical experiences.
campus program?
Then, when she retired, I filled in as interim coordinator of the Office of Field
Manthei: It is actually really similar to
Dr. Paul Manthei
Experiences. I am now assistant to the
the on-campus program. Many of the
Advisor for the Online MA in Higher
director for the School of Education, and
courses are the same courses. As a
Education Administration
I also advise the online master's in Higher
matter of fact, some of the same faculty
Education Administration.
who teach our on-campus courses also
Geaux Higher: Can you tell me a bit
about your background?
teach their online counterpart. The Geaux Higher: Can you describe the
online program gives us a chance to
Online Master's in Higher Education?
attract students who may not be able to
Manthei: Sure, I was a secondary English
attend our on campus program because
teacher for about ten years. I taught
Manthei: The program is 36 [credit] hours
they either live too far away, they can't
11th grade and 8th grade English. Then
long. One of the things that I think is really
relocate, they do not want to move away,
I recieved my master's as part of the
great about the program is that it is 100
or they are looking to take courses at
Holmes program [allows students to
percent online, and so it is very flexible.
different times because of their job.
receive Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
It gives students the opportunity to take
and secondary teaching certificate
courses around their professional and
(grades 6-12) in one year, instead of two].
personal responsibilities so that they get a
10
Future Conferences Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) 2019: Portland, Oregon Preconference: November 13-14, 2019 Conference: November 14-16, 2019 2020: New Orleans, Louisiana Preconference: November 18-19, 2020 Conference: November 19-21, 2020
American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2020: San Francisco, California Conference: April 17-21, 2020
Association for Institutional Research (AIR) 2020: New Orleans, Louisiana Annual Forum: May 25-29, 2020
Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) 2020: Fort Worth, Texas Conference: March 19-21, 2020
Education Law Association (ELA)
2019: Norfolk, Virginia Conference: November 13-16, 2019
ACADEMIC/RESEARCH
11
Future Conferences NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education 2020: Austin, Texas Conference: March 28-April 1, 2020 2021: Kansas City, Missouri Conference: March 20-24, 2021 2022: Baltimore, Maryland Conference: March 19-23, 2022 2023: Boston, Massachusetts
ACPA: College Student Educators International 2020: Nashville, Tennessee Conference: March 2-5, 2020 2021: Long Beach, California Conference: March 14-17, 2021 2022: St. Louis, Missouri Conference: March 6-9, 2022
SACSA: Southern Association of College Student Affairs 2020: Norfolk, Virginia Conference: Dates TBD
STUDENT AFFAIRS/PRACTITIONER 12