Happy Holidays and

Looking Forward to Spring Semester

A Confluence of Kansans in NYC - and Türkiye!

HESA is lucky to have a diverse student body, but how often is it that we have three students from the same state and undergraduate institution? Second-year, full-time Master’s student Sarah Fisher (KU ’18); first-year, full-time Master’s student Hazara Leon (KU ’17); and part-time EdD candidate Mathew Shepard (KU ’11) are all University of Kansas alumni going on the Global Perspectives in Higher Education January study abroad course to Türkiye. We’re looking forward to seeing some great pics of our now-Violet Jayhawks when they return!

Above, left to right: Hazara Leon, Mathew Shepard, Sarah Fisher
Left: Sarah Fisher as the Jayhawk - should we get her into the Bobcat suit?

ASAP Events and News

ASAP recently elected a new Executive Board for 2023. Join us in congratulating the new Board Members:

Left to right: Executive Chair (President): Sonia Findling, Recruitment and Orientation Co-Chairs: Brooke Kahan and Alexis Meza

Left to right: Program Development Chair: Zhenwei Lyu, Academic Support and Advocacy Chair: Hamna Younas, Logistics Coordinator: Tucker Chorpening

ASAP held multiple events this semester, including pumpkin painting and a discussion of the summer reading book, The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee, an outing to Paint N Pour (below left), and a college campus tour (below right).

Stay tuned for more events next semester!

Spotlight: Full-Time Student,

Part-Time Faculty Member

In the LOOP would like to spotlight first-year HESA student Deshon Varnado. Deshon is a graduate assistant in Stern’s MBA Admissions department, as well as a part-time faculty member at The New School at Parsons School of Design, his undergrad alma mater. There, Deshon teaches students how to develop a design ethos rooted in critical theory and research practices. After working in Housing and Residential Education for several years, he is passionate about academic and social enrichment for students, as well as being an advocate for underrepresented students. Deshon was originally drawn to NYU’s HESA program by the mentorship and knowledge he felt he would gain through working with Dr. Mike Funk. He is excited to meet peers who share his interest in creating a safe space for students in higher education and to advance equity across the higher education space.

Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court

Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy hosted “Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court: Why Now? Why Again? What’s Next?” for 170 attendees on Thursday, October 13 with hosts Dr. Mike Ngyuen, Assistant Professor of Education, New York University, and Dr. Stella Flores, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Public Policy, University of Texas. Conversations outlined the current Supreme Court case brought by Student For Fair Admissions, seeking to ban consideration of race for college admissions. Both Professors Ngyuen and Flores brought research and amicus brief experience to the conversation. This event highlighted a particularly salient issue in the higher education space and provided future directions for consideration. Watch the video here.

Note from the Editors

We are delighted to be bringing this end-of-the-semester edition of In the LOOP to your inboxes. We wish everyone a successful end of the semester, a relaxing break, and happy holidays to all who are celebrating this season.

Please pass along any career updates/milestones, or nominate a colleague for a spotlight by reaching out to the Editorial Team at intheloop@nyu.edu or to one of us directly (emails below).

- Alana Cohen, Editor, and Hannah Ford, Assistant Editor

Editor, Alana Cohen - acohen@nyu.edu

Assistant Editor, Hannah Ford - hrf3752@nyu.edu

Advisor, Professor Ann Marcus - ann.marcus@nyu.edu