There’s a lot of talk these days about psychological safety and how it enhances employee retention. Workplace culture matters for productivity, and certainly places a leading role in turnover. …

What would you do if a large and rigorous federally-funded experiment found that your university’s financial aid practice didn’t move the needle or promote equity for students? Today in the Chronicle of Higher Education, veteran reporter Goldie Blumenstyk grapples with that question stemming from my latest co-authored research study. The…

The more things change, the more they stay the same… I can’t believe it’s been 7 years since I first called for these new rules for higher education to improve the student experience. Despite the 15 “claps” the post received, they clearly haven’t been adopted. …

Tomorrow marks my 46th trip around the sun. Nothing about the last year has been easy, but I’ve learned and grown and for that I’m grateful. Today I’m happier than ever. Sure it still rains occasionally, but I expect it and come prepared. …

Just released: All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The Biden-Harris Administration aims to “reduce homelessness 25 percent by 2025.” Punchline for #RealCollege students, approximately 1 in 10 of whom experiences homelessness? You don’t exist or matter in this agenda. Get this: (1) Homeless college students…

One job I never plan to hold is that of college president. It’s not that I don’t think the gig is important or that I dislike administrators. Like the saying goes, some of my best friends are presidents. I’m just not here for the bureaucracy and org politics. …

Three years ago I said a thing on twitter. Since the bird appears to be going down, and so many people have written me about what they learned from that thread, I’m preserving it here. Some necessary adaptations to make it work in this Medium, but otherwise verbatim. I’ll expand…

Yesterday I resigned as Professor of Sociology and Medicine at Temple University and from The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. This wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve earned tenure multiple times and walking away from a tenured faculty role and the leadership of a center I founded isn’t something…

This began as a twitter thread in December 2019 and is captured here for posterity and because it’s finally damn time. Bravo to Joe Biden and his newly released American Families Plan. The #1 thing the debate over #FreeCollege reveals is that most Americans know very little about college today. They think they do. Maybe they went to one or sent their kid to one. …