Leadership Thoughts — Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership

Connecting Research to Transformative Practice

MSL 2021 Snapshot Series: Latinx Students Exploring Latinx Student Engagement on Campus

MSL 2021 Snapshot Series: Latinx Students Exploring Latinx Student Engagement on Campus

The Latinx population, has been substantially growing in the recent years. Currently, the US Hispanic population is over 60 million. From 2010 to 2021, “The U.S. population grew by 23.1 million…and Hispanics accounted for 52% of this increase – a greater share than any other racial or ethnic group” (Krogstad et al., 2022, para. 4). This growth has translated into higher education. When looking at the amount of schooling, “About 44% of U.S. Hispanic adults ages 25 and older had at least some college experience in 2021, up from 36% in 2010” (Krogstad et al., 2022, para. 20).

MSL SnapshotSaúl LopezJanuary 5, 2023leadership development, Latinx, college student leadership

MSL 2021 Snapshot: Exploring the Effects of the Pandemic on College Students

MSL 2021 Snapshot: Exploring the Effects of the Pandemic on College Students

As higher education institutions reopen for spring term, administrators, staff, and faculty are navigating new challenges presented by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. At this point in the pandemic, students may expect last-minute shifts to schedules and modes of instruction given their past experiences; yet this does not minimize the impact the pandemic has had on their learning experiences in college.

Ben Correia-HarkerJanuary 21, 2022

Study Methods Tip: A Good Sample Defines Your Study

Study Methods Tip: A Good Sample Defines Your Study

There is no better example of the old axiom—you get out what you put it—than when applied to the selection of a sample for your survey data collection. Selecting the right sample will ensure that you can answer the questions that you desire when your study is done.

Sampling can be a scary process for those who are not familiar with the techniques, so when possible, we do recommend connecting with a professional sampling statistician to assist. However, there are some basics to consider when implementing a study like the MSL . . .

Blog, Study Methods TipScott D. CrawfordAugust 7, 2020MSL2021

The MSL as a Cross-Campus Collaboration: Leveraging Resources in Times of Change

The MSL as a Cross-Campus Collaboration: Leveraging Resources in Times of Change

As we navigate this challenging time of a pandemic, economic struggle, and civil unrest, many campuses are discerning the best ways to meet students’ needs and maximize resources. Administrators and educators are encountering a new landscape. For many campuses, enrollment is down. We’re not sure what campus life will look like in the fall. Campus behaviors and policies should shift as they live out anti-racist stances. There are several considerations to take into account, and at the same time, influential resource constraints. Thus campuses need to be savvy about opportunities they engage.

What many may not realize is the MSL can support efforts for numerous stakeholders on campus and provide insights to guide administrators and educators in the midst of these changes and uncertainty. All too often, the MSL can be seen as limited to leadership programs, student activities, or student engagement. Yes, the MSL provides valuable information for these initiatives and it can provide so much more meaningful information for a range of departments across campus.

BlogBen Correia-HarkerJune 24, 2020MSL2021, change, COVID-19, resources

MSL Scale Spotlight: Resilience

MSL Scale Spotlight: Resilience

The MSL is a powerful and informative tool for any college or university. With most higher education institutions touting graduates as being prepared to effectively lead organizations and communities, administrators must be attuned to the degree to which they actually prepare students to engage in leadership. Not only should educators focus on students’ abilities to engage leadership, they must also attend to related mindsets, skillsets, and considerations that influence the degree to which graduates are able to effectively lead. Thus, through a series of spotlight articles, we want to highlight different constructs the MSL measures, the ways these measures influence leadership practice, and how they might be of use to various stakeholders on campus.

This week, we want to showcase resilience . . .

Blog, MSL Scale SpotlightBen Correia-HarkerMay 25, 2020MSL2021, Resilience, Scale, Measure

Is now a good time? Surveying higher ed students in a pandemic

Is now a good time? Surveying higher ed students in a pandemic

One of the most common questions I am fielding today—with COVID-19 spreading across the nation, is now a good time to conduct surveys? Is the pandemic having an impact on response rates?

As one of my favorite grad school professors, Mick Couper, loved to say, “It depends.”

BlogScott D. CrawfordMay 8, 2020survey methodology, nonresponse, pandemic, COVID-19, response rates

Practicing and Teaching Leadership Education in Challenging Times

In recent weeks, COVID-19 has upended the ways many of us educate our students in higher education. As we maintain social distance to prevent the spread of this virus, higher education institutions have navigated an unprecedented landscape that has required most to close physical spaces, define new policies and resources to support students and staff, and transition to remote learning. For most, there was and is no clearly defined path to follow. We move forward one day at a time…

BlogBen Correia-HarkerApril 3, 2020Leadership Thoughts, leadership development, Leader

Making the Most of your MSL Data

BlogScott D. CrawfordAugust 23, 2018MSL2018, MSL2015, MSL2012, Consulting

Improving the Science of Studying Leadership Development: A Roadmap for 2019 and Beyond

With today's announcement that the MSL will return in 2019 (and annually thereafter), I thought it would be a good time to raise some issues that the MSL Study Team has been working on. This is not intended as an in-depth exploration of these topics -- we will try to address each in coming posts -- rather, we offer it today as a laundry list of what the future of the MSL holds…

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 1, 2018MSL2019, Canada, social innovation capacities, french, mobile optimization, accessibility, secondary school, business population

Managing Campus Climate Through High-Impact Leadership Capacity Practices

Today we bring you a guest post from two MSL affiliated researchers and student affairs professionals Christian Hightower and Patrick Randolph. This is longer than a usual Leadership Thoughts post, but we believe that it will be well worth the read. Enjoy... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordSeptember 22, 2017high impact practices, blog, campus climate

Leadership mail bag with Susan Komives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

While Susan Komives may have retired from teaching and stepped down from her role as PI in the MSL, she continues to advance leadership scholarship and build the case for evidence-based practice through many channels, including the editorship of New Directions for Student Leadership and by joining Myles Surrett for a special Q & A episode.

There’s something for everyone in this installment... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJuly 10, 2017Multi-Institutional Study of Leadershipleadership development, college student leadership

CCP (6 of 6): Leadership is the sense that we make of it: Concluding thoughts on Cultivating Critical Perspectives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

Over the past five episodes, we’ve really gotten to know author John Dugan and many of the contributors to Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives. John and host Myles Surrett take us on a journey of reflecting on critical perspectives and implications for leadership education.

Myles discusses the dominant norm in leadership education, where “we default to the assumption of shared understanding”. He draws a parallel to Robert Putnam’s book, Our Kids, where one working-class interviewee professed: “Your then was not my then, and your now isn’t even my now.”

John discusses the reality, pain, and privilege... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 19, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

CCP (5 of 6): Lean into the Gray, Co-Curricular Applications of Cultivating Critical Perspectives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

In the penultimate NASPA Leadership Podcast focusing on Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives, Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director of Campus Inclusion and Community at Northwestern University, joins John Dugan and host Myles Surrett to discuss co-curricular applications of the new book and facilitator’s guide.

You won’t come away from this podcast with step-by-step instructions on running a session with your staff; Lesley-Ann, John, and Myles give us so much more. <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 15, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

CCP (4 of 6): Inter-disciplinary, inter-functional, interruption: The Facilitator’s Guide (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

In episode 4 of the podcast series discussing Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives, Natasha Turman and Amy Barnes, authors of the Facilitator’s Guide, discuss development of the activities and how the guide disrupts normative leadership theory and interrupts biases through critical self-reflection.

The facilitator’s guide evolved... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 12, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

CCP (3 of 6): Counter-Narratives: The Heart and Soul of Cultivating Critical Perspectives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

The “heart and soul” of John Dugan’s new book, Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives, is the counter-narratives found at the end of each chapter. Illustrating leadership research and theories in real life, the counter-narratives serve to amplify voices and stories that are often left at the margins.

Myles states that the counter-narratives are one of the many things that make this book worthwhile and... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 8, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

CCP (2 of 6): Ana Rossetti and John Dugan – What has been seen cannot be unseen, or, curricular applications of Cultivating Critical Perspectives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

Ana Rossetti and John Dugan discuss curricular applications of Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives.

Ana piloted the book and facilitator’s manual in her class “Foundations of Ethics and Social Justice in Leadership” at Loyola University. Calling it an “essential and treasured resource”, Ana appreciates the clearly defined learning objectives... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 5, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

CCP (1 of 6): Introduction to Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives (NASPA Leadership Podcast)

NASPA Leadership Podcast, hosted by Myles Surrett
Episode 23: Cultivating Critical Perspectives Part 1: Introduction with John Dugan

Myles sits down with John Dugan to discuss his new book, Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives. This first podcast of the series introduces the concepts and themes found in the book, and describes the process of developing the book and material.

In true critical perspectives fashion, even the style of the book is disruptive... <<MORE>>

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 2, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives

Cultivating Critical Perspectives 6-Part Series by NASPA Leadership Podcast

Readers of Leadership Thoughts have seen several quick summaries of podcasts where Myles Surrett interviews professionals in the field of college student leadership development. We have highlighted four key individuals in this blog -- all of whom have had key roles in some way in the development of the MSL.

Myles and the NASPA Leadership Podcast are now embarking on a journey through a new 6-part series...

BlogScott D. CrawfordJune 2, 2017Cultivating Critical Perspectives