News

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Julie Posselt as the Louise McBee Distinguished Professor of Higher Education, effective January 1, 2027. A nationally recognized scholar and leader in the field of higher education, Posselt will join the McBee Institute from the University of Southern California (USC), […]

Robert J. Jones, president of the University of Washington, delivered the 34th annual Louise McBee Lecture on April 23 and urged public research universities to challenge declining public trust by adapting boldly in an era of accelerating technological and social change. Jones’s address, “The Research University in an Era of Declining Public Trust and Confidence,” […]

Dr. Meseret F. Hailu recently received tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor of Higher Education, effective August 1, 2026. Dr. Hailu began her faculty role at the University of Georgia in July of 2024, coming from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Her research agenda investigates how articulations […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education proudly continued its tradition of active participation at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 50th Annual Conference, held November 12–15 in Denver, Colorado. This year, the McBee community was represented by 7 faculty members, 8 current students, 1 postdoc, 15 alumni, and 3 former postdocs. Together, […]

Dr. Christian Smith, assistant professor of higher education at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, is serving as the principal investigator on two new research grants from the William T. Grant Foundation and the Lumina Foundation to examine how wealth shapes college affordability and student debt. Smith was awarded $50,000 through the William T. […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is excited to continue our tradition of active participation at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 50th Annual Conference, happening November 12 – 15, 2025. The McBee Institute community at ASHE will include 7 faculty, 8 current students, 1 postdoc, 15 alumni, and 3 former […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education launched its new online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration program this August, marking an expansion to its graduate offerings. Building on the foundation of the Institute’s traditional in-person master’s program, the McBee Institute worked with UGA’s Office of Online Learning to develop the online asynchronous […]

This summer, the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education’s eighth cohort of the Executive Doctorate (Ed.D.) program embarked on a week-long study away experience in Washington, D.C., focused on exploring higher education policy at the national level. The immersive trip offered students the opportunity to engage with leaders and experts who are shaping the future […]

On Thursday, September 18, the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education welcomed Dr. Joy Gaston Gayles to deliver an Education Policy Seminar to McBee students, faculty and staff. Dr. Gayles currently serves as the head of the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development Department and as an Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor at North Carolina […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education congratulates David Meyers, current Executive Ed.D. student and Co-Director of the Embark Georgia Center at UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, on being honored with the Mark Chaffin Award at the 2025 Georgia Conference on Child Abuse Prevention. Named in memory of Dr. Mark Chaffin—a pioneering researcher […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education congratulates William Redding, current PhD student, on his recent selection as a Doctoral Scholar by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The SREB’s Doctoral Scholar Program aims to increase the number of students who earn doctorates and choose to become faculty at colleges and universities. Since its inception […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Timothy R. Cain, professor of higher education, has been appointed Associate Director at the McBee Institute. In this role, Dr. Cain will support the Institute’s academic mission by providing leadership in key areas such as faculty affairs, communications, and strategic planning. His […]

In late March, the McBee Institute hosted its 2nd annual Momentum and Barriers Symposium. The 2025 theme, “promoting the value of higher education,” served as a powerful platform for participants to share insights, identify challenges, and explore new opportunities to reinforce the value of higher education. Building on faculty research projects, doctoral special topics courses, […]

Dr. Karen Webber, Professor Emerita at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, has been named the 2025 recipient of the John Stecklein Distinguished Member Award by the Association of Institutional Research (AIR). This prestigious honor recognizes AIR members whose professional careers have significantly advanced the field of institutional research (IR) through exemplary leadership, service, […]

Ginger Fay, current Ed.D. student, was recently named Vice President of Enrollment Management at Oglethorpe University, effective June 1, 2025. Reporting directly to the president, Fay will join the Senior Administrative Leadership Team (SALT) and will be instrumental in developing and implementing strategies to attract and enroll a diverse and talented student body for Oglethorpe’s […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephanie Aguilar-Smith as assistant professor of higher education effective July 1, 2025. She joins the McBee Institute from the University of North Texas, where she has served on faculty since 2021. Dr. Aguilar-Smith’s research focuses on higher education policy, organization, […]

Jaden Mikoulinskii, current first-year PhD student, was recently selected as a recipient of the 2025 Louise McBee Scholarship sponsored by the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE). This prestigious award, honoring Dr. Louise McBee, supports educational enrichment for women displaying strong leadership potential in the field of higher education. Mikoulinskii joins fellow doctoral […]

Carlie L. Cooper, current PhD student, has been selected to receive the 2025 Louise McBee Scholarship sponsored by the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE). Honoring Dr. McBee, the Louise McBee Scholarship supports educational enrichment for women exhibiting leadership potential in a higher-education field. “I have been in awe of and inspired by […]

Dr. Amy Stich, member of the editorial board for the Journal of Higher Education (JHE), was honored with the Exemplary Reviewer Award by the JHE at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) Annual Conference in November. Each year, five editorial board members are given this award based on the quality, timeliness, and […]

The McBee Institute of Higher Education is at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 49th Annual Conference from November 20th – 23rd, 2024. The MIHE community is proud to have a large presence at the conference bringing 7 Faculty, 11 students, and 1 postdoc along with 12 MIHE alumni and 4 MIHE […]

Julianne O’Connell, a current McBee Institute Ph.D. candidate, was recently featured as a part of the University of Georgia’s Beyond the Arch, a collection of stories that highlights UGA’s top students and alumni who have taken their success far beyond the arch. As an adventurer with a heart for service and building community through food […]

McBee Institute of Higher Education faculty member Timothy R. Cain and McBee alumnus Barrett J. Taylor (Ph.D., 2012) have been named fellows at the American Association of University Professor’s new Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom. Launched as part of a $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, the Center is designed to explore […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Meseret Hailu as assistant professor of higher education effective August 1, 2024. Dr. Hailu conducts sophisticated mixed methods research into student identity and educational opportunity and outcomes. She has done comparative studies into the experiences of undergraduate Black women in […]

The McBee Institute welcomes Jad El Ladiki as a special programs coordinator. He will primarily support the Executive Ed.D. and Governor’s Teaching Fellows programs. Jad is a 2022 graduate of the University of Florida, with a BA in Business Administration. Following his graduation from the University of Florida, Jad served as a Legal Clerk for […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Christian Michael Smith as assistant professor of higher education beginning July 1, 2024. He joins the McBee Institute from the University of California, Merced where he has been a postdoctoral fellow in the Higher Education, Race & the Economy Lab since […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jennifer M. Blaney as associate professor of higher education effective July 1, 2024. “Dr. Blaney’s portfolio complements and expands existing curricular offerings and research opportunities for our students,” said Interim Director Jim Hearn. He continued, “Her appointment will strengthen the […]

This month marks the 10-year work anniversary of Megan Holloway. Megan joined the McBee Institute staff in April 2014 as Graduate Program Administrator. As her responsibilities steadily expanded, Megan was promoted in 2019 to her current position as Coordinator of Academic Affairs. Prior to her work at IHE, Megan served on staff with the UGA […]

Annie Carlson Welch, McBee student and assistant to the vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia, was part of a team that designed and implemented a student affairs engagement data management project to improve data intake and provide an intuitive dashboard for assessing outcomes. NASPA recently recognized the successful project with an […]

Erik Ness has been named as the next director of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, effective July 1, 2024. Read university press release: https://t.uga.edu/9Ms

In February, the Louise McBee Institute hosted nine current students, alumni, and faculty members of the Master’s in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE), a collaborative Erasmus Mundus program led by Professor and Department Head Attila Pausits from the University of Continuing Education, Danube University Krems. Professor Emerita Karen Webber coordinated the week of […]

More than fifty participants attended the inaugural Momentum & Barriers symposium hosted by the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education on February 8-9, 2024. The event brought together researchers, program leaders, senior administrators, and policy advocates to share insights and experiences with college access and success programming. President of Albany State University Marion Ross Fedrick […]

by Jewel Caruso Karen Webber, McBee professor emeritus and past president of Association for Institutional Research, served as special guest editor for The AIR: Professional File Fall 2023 volume along with Henry Zheng. The volume includes four articles on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics. Webber and Zheng write in their preface that they […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position to begin August 1, 2024. The successful candidate will be expected to teach core graduate-level courses, advises and mentor doctoral students in their studies and research, develop an. emerging national reputations in their research field, […]

This position is responsible for managing IT core infrastructure and functional processes and maintaining additional security measures and proactively engages in project management/coordination for the McBee Institute of Higher Education faculty, staff, advisers, and students. Visit here to see full posting here.

Pearson Brown, McBee doctoral student and state policy intern at SHEEO, recently wrote an issue brief in SHEEO’s State Higher Education Finance project. The brief, titled “Analyzing Lottery Proceeds as an Aspect of State Support for Higher Education,” details how lottery funding is utilized by states to support higher education through state financial aid and […]

Dr. Robert K. Toutkoushian led a Dialogues in Diversity Lunchtime session on first-generation college students (FGCS) on October 24. The series, coordinated by the UGA Office of Institutional Diversity, invites scholars to introduce a topic and encourage several dozen people from across campus to discuss particular issues in diversity that relate to higher education. Toutkoushian, […]

by Jewel Caruso Rod Guajardo (current doctoral student) has been named assistant to President Jere W. Morehead at the University of Georgia. He will transition into this position on November 6th. Guajardo’s new role will be concentrated on student affairs, inclusive excellence, community relations, and executive communications. In addition to these responsibilities, he will serve […]

by Jewel Caruso Will Walker Jr. (first-year doctoral student) was featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education discussing the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action and the impact on admissions for underrepresented students. The article, written by Eric Hoover, “A Time to Tear Down, a Time to Build Up: The end of race-conscious admissions brought […]

by Jewel Caruso Current doctoral candidate, Sean Baser, joined the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association in early October as a senior policy analyst. Baser’s new role will allow him to provide support on many SHEEO projects and initiatives. These responsibilities include researching and monitoring noncredit postsecondary education programs and state authorization practices. Baser will […]

by Suzanne R. Graham The annual awards and recognitions luncheon is a highlight of the year for the McBee Institute’s faculty and staff. In addition to honoring donors, who contributed directly to student and success, and celebrating student and faculty accomplishments, the event offers an opportunity for the community to connect across cohorts and degree […]

Professor Erik Ness co-edited an in-depth look at the current state of research on education policymaking in Canada, the United States, and Western Europe. Comparative Higher Education Politics: Policymaking in North America and Western Europe focuses on recent higher education changes and challenges. The editors target five “key aspects of policymaking, namely the politics of […]

by Jewel Caruso James C. Hearn, interim director of the McBee Institute, has been awarded the 2023 Howard R. Bowen Distinguished Career Award by the Association for the Study of Higher Education. This award is presented annually to individuals who have devoted their professional life to the study of higher education and have contributed to […]

Professor Amy Stich, Professor George Spencer (NYU), Brionna Johnson (MEd 2022), and Sean Baser (doctoral candidate) joined forces to identify obstacles to higher education policy implementation. They used the recent introduction of dual enrollment policy initiatives as an “important case of how and to what extent innovative educational policy efforts are implemented and carried out […]

by Jewel Caruso Julianne O’Connell, doctoral student, recently reviewed a newly published book featured in the Journal of Autoethnography. The book, An Autoethnography of Fitting In: On Spinsterhood, Fatness, and Backpacker Tourism, is by Phiona Stanley. O’Connell provides a positive review of the book in addition to highlighting their deep and personal connection to the […]

by Jewel Caruso Robert Toutkoushian, associate director of McBee, was recently quoted in Inside Higher Ed in an article titled “Defining ‘First Generation’ in Different Ways” by Jessica Blake. In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling against using race as a factor in higher education admissions, the article turns to research by Toutkoushian that […]

by Jewel Caruso Anthony Jones (PhD 2019) chaired a national task force on the resumption of student loan repayment with the National Associate of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) that released the Resumption of Loan Repayment Report. Jones also serves as the executive director of financial aid and scholarships at the University of Utah. This […]

As we are preparing for the new academic year, the McBee Institute is happy to announce our 2023-2024 HESS officers and Research Roundtable leaders. HESS officers President, Carlie Cooper: Carlie is a doctoral student. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UGA (2017) and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia […]

The McBee Institute of Higher Education is seeking a Business Operations Manager. The position is responsible for the financial management of McBee IHE’s State, Foundation, and Grant accounts by applying a comprehensive professional understanding of financial accounting and budgeting as it applies to higher education. Please use the following link to learn more about the […]

Garnett Stokes, president of the University of New Mexico, delivered the 32nd Louise McBee Lecture in Higher Education. “Throughout my career at UGA, I heard people singing the praises of Louise McBee,” said Stokes. “Louise was indeed a role model for me. A person of such integrity that she will live in my memories and […]

Demetri Morgan, associate professor at Loyola University Chicago, unpacked and laid the groundwork for how to reimagine governance in higher education at his talk on April 28, 2023, Reclaiming and reorienting college and university decision-making through the Equity X Governance Framework. Speaking to McBee Institute faculty, students, and graduates, Dr. Morgan argued for paradigm shifts […]

In fall 2022, as academic workers undertook strikes to improve their compensation and conditions, multiple media outlets tapped McBee Institute Professor Tim Cain’s expertise on unionization to better understand and convey the events. In interviews with radio, tv, print, and web-based media, Professor Cain discussed the implications of strikes at the University of California, New […]

by Jewel Caruso Karen Webber, professor emeritus, and Henry Zheng, vice provost of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at Carnegie Mellon University, published an article on AIR called, “AI in Higher Education: Implications for Institutional Research.” With the recent release of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s generative pre-trained transformer, Webber and Zheng discuss what drives the development of AI […]

by Jewel Caruso McBee Institute community members Gregory Wolniak and Matthew Gregory co-authored a study with Marjolein Muskens that appears in the March issue of The Review of Higher Education. The research article, “The Relative Influence of Subjective and Objective Socioeconomic Status on the Noncognitive Development of First-Year College Students,” explored associations between status, aspirations, […]

by Jewel Caruso Brian Garsh, current part-time doctoral student, has accepted a new job at Kennesaw State University as their director of student engagement and belonging. In this new role, he will oversee the new class-year identity program (FLIGHT), first-year student experience and connections, and support student development to enhance the overall student experience. Garsh’s […]

Lisa Wolf-Wendel, the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences, assessed both the progress of women in the professional academy and the state of literature on gender differences in higher education during her talk on March 27, 2023. […]

by Jewel Caruso Alejandra “Ale” Sosa Pieroni, current student in the Executive EdD program, has been named the new executive vice president for enrollment management, marketing, and student success at Georgia Southern University. In a recent press release, Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero said, “Ale is a thought leader and higher education professional with 17 […]

by Jewel Caruso Two members of the McBee Institute community, Alexa Arndt and Brionna Johnson, were selected to receive the 2023 Louise McBee Scholarship sponsored by the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE). Alexa Arndt, a PhD candidate, hopes that she can help continue Dr. McBee’s legacy. “Dr. McBee successfully championed significant labor […]

by Jewel Caruso Joseph Hermanowicz, professor of sociology and professor of higher education, was one of five UGA faculty members elected into the 2022 class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. Hermanowicz holds a courtesy appointment at the McBee Institute. He specializes in the study of higher education, particularly lines of […]

by Jewel Caruso Since the beginning of the UC Strikes at the end of 2022, Tim Cain, associate professor at McBee, has provided insight and context throughout the discussions in major media outlets. Cain studies campus activism, academic freedom, and unionization, and is a recognized expert in the area of unions in higher education. After […]

by Jewel Caruso Gregory Wolniak, associate professor at the McBee Institute, was featured in WalletHub’s College and University Rankings. In the article, WalletHub compared over 900 institutions to help determine the top-performing schools at the lowest possible costs to undergraduates. They also help predict future outcomes from these institutions to “show the value of the […]

by Jewel Caruso Timothy R. Cain, associate professor at the McBee Institute, provides context and insight in a Time article covering the ongoing strikes at the University of California, “How the. University of California Strikes Could Reshape Higher Education” by Katie Reilly. Cain touches on the significant difference in job security and lower pay between […]

This winter, professor emerita Karen Webber is again co-leading two instructional modules with Dr. Charles Mathies (PhD, 2007) as part of the Master of Research and Innovation in Higher Education program. The courses are part of one specialty track for students in the MARIHE program, led by Professor Attila Pausits at Danube University Krems and […]

“Overwhelmed with gratitude” is how Sean Baser described his emotions at the annual McBee Institute student awards lunch held on Monday, October 24. Sean received the Thomas G. Dyer Outstanding Dissertation Research Award. His current research examines state postsecondary authorization in Georgia and builds upon his work constructing a 50-state inventory of state authorization approaches […]

by Jewel Caruso The McBee Institute welcomed Jan Botha, a professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, in mid-September to share his expertise with our faculty and students. Botha is the editor and co-author of Intersecting Contexts and Practices (SUNMEDIA, 2016) and Utilisation of South African Research on Higher Education (SUNMEDIA, 2021). Botha’s presentation, “Research […]

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, pursuant to its mission and values invites applications from senior scholars to fill the position with service to begin in fall 2023. The professorship honors Dr. Louise McBee, who held leadership positions at the University of Georgia before serving for over a decade as […]

by Jewel Caruso President Joe Biden recently announced a massive student loan forgiveness plan which led to much debate throughout the country, especially in the higher education community. Robert Toutkoushian, associate director of the McBee Institute, weighed in on the debate and was quoted in The Hatchet article. Toutkoushian said the government should take responsibility […]

by Jewel Caruso Robert Toutkoushian, professor of higher education, has been appointed associate director of the McBee Institute. The role of associate director provides leadership for the Institute’s evaluation and assessment activities. Toutkoushian will also be providing leadership to faculty promotions, tenure reviews, mentoring assignments, tenure reviews, and searches for new faculty and postdoctoral associates. […]

by Jewel Caruso Erik Ness, professor and graduate coordinator at MIHE, was featured in UGAToday highlighting his path that led to his work in higher education policy. The article discusses Ness’ professional preparation, approach to teaching, hobbies, and his start at UGA. When a job at the Institute opened, he said, “My dream job opened […]

by Jewel Caruso Karen Webber, professor emerita and president of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), was a keynote speaker at the Tennessee Association for Institutional Research (TENNAIR). The 35th Annual TENNAIR Conference held in Nashville, that ran from August 3 to August 5, was themed around Strengthening Data Ethics in IR. The major purposes […]

James C. Hearn, associate director and professor in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, has agreed to serve as the Institute’s interim director, effective July 1, 2022. Libby V. Morris, the Zell B. Miller Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and University Professor, announced in February that she would step down from her role as […]

Thank you, Libby Morris! Your vision and mentorship led the MIHE community, collectively and individually, to new heights. As you step down as director and return to the faculty, we look forward to your continued impact. Read more on the announcement: https://t.uga.edu/8bQ

by Jewel Caruso Alexa Lee Arndt, a fourth-year doctoral student at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, received the Sission Community Leadership Development Award from the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. The award was presented by the Fanning Institute Director, Matt Bishop, this June. The Sisson award recognizes faculty, staff, and graduate students […]

Krystal L. Williams, assistant professor of higher education in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, received the 2022 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award. The award recognizes scholars who have made significant contributions to the understanding of issues that disproportionately affect minority populations and scholars in minority populations […]

The McBee Institute of Higher Education congratulates Dr. Krystal L. Williams for receiving the 2022 AERA Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award. This honor recognizes Dr. Williams’ research on education policy and equity issues via the Education Policy and Equity Research Collaborative (Ed_PERC) housed at the University of Georgia. We look forward to more […]

UGA Giving Day 2022 brought in more than 9300 gifts to the university over a 24-hour period. Thank you to everyone who answered our call. The McBee Institute received more than a dozen gifts, many from first-time donors. We heard from current students, alumni of all our programs, faculty and staff, and a former GCAC […]

Timothy R. Cain is quoted in the Chronicle article, “What That Ad for the Unpaid Job at UCLA May Have Been About” (March 21, 2022). In assessing the response to a job posting for an unpaid assistant adjunct professor, Cain refocused the conversation around a larger question of “the way we are structuring academic labor […]

In recognition of her years of leadership and service to the University of Georgia, Libby V, Morris was named University Professor. Morris has led the McBee Institute of Higher Education since 2006 and twice served as interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost in 2010s. The formal ceremony honoring recipients of university awards […]

On Monday, February 28, Libby V. Morris announced that she would step down as director of the McBee Institute and return to the faculty on July 1, 2022. “With mixed emotions, I share my plans to step down as the director at the end of this fiscal year. As you know, the McBee Institute is […]

Dr. Sacha Sharp presented her unique and innovative interdisciplinary research to understand and assess the impact of digital identity and expression among Black women graduate students to the McBee IHE community. Her work breaks ground for its exploration of digital identity, its use of social media as a data source, its singular and non-comparative focus […]

In her interview with ABC News affiliate WXYZ, Dr. Williams highlights the funding challenges Historically Black Colleges and Universities have faced over the years and their long-term impacts on HBCU students. “[HBCUs] have a long-standing history and tradition of being able to do more with less, but they should not have to do that,” Williams […]

by Larissa Lozano Based on statistical analysis and survey data, Gregory Wolniak, associate professor at the McBee Institute of Higher Education, and Amy Whitaker, assistant professor of visual art representation at NYU Steinhardt, found “presence of systemic bias” in art professions. They write, “When compared to alumni who identify as White, all other racial/ethnic groups […]

McBee IHE faculty members and doctoral candidate, Matt Gregory, shared on-going research experience with University System of Georgia (USG) and GA Awards data. The 60-minute session covered stages in a project’s lifecycle from idea generation through distillation of findings. Dr. Greg Wolniak discussed MIHE’s recent data sharing agreement with the USG. A current MOU normalizes […]

Book review by Emily Chen-Bendle & Greg Wolniak appears in Review of Higher Education (Winter 2021). Chen-Bendle and Wolniak note that Ron Lieber brings much knowledge and experience writing about personal finance to his work, The Price You Pay for College. They commend his ability to “artfully weav[e] information from a variety of academic and […]

The McBee Institute welcomed its 7th Executive Ed.D. cohort. The sixteen members of the of incoming class are all actively engaged in higher education administration at a variety of institutions across the eastern United States. The two-year program kicked off with a special orientation, social events, and tour of UGA in early January. Dr. Cain […]

Rob Toutkoushian co-authored a report, funded by the Joyce Foundation and published by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, that demonstrates an association between higher education funding patters on graduation rates. The researchers analyzed data over 12 years at public four-year institutions in the United States. They found increases to institutional appropriations tracked with increases to […]

Erik Ness hosted a great exchange yesterday in Meigs Hall. A delegation from International University of Grand-Bassam met with UGA administrators and faculty to talk strategic planning. The meeting was part of a US State Department university grant project, initiated by The Andrew Young Foundation, with our partners at UGA Office of Global Engagement, Mary […]

Tim Cain’s work is featured as the first chapter in a new book, Collective Bargaining in Higher Education: Best Practices for Promoting Collaboration, Equity, and Measurable Outcomes, edited by Daniel J. Julius and published by Routledge. Cain’s chapter, “The History and Study of Faculty Unions and Collective Bargaining in the United States,” provides historical context […]

Research by Timothy Reese Cain and Erin Leach appears in AERA Open, “Removing Faculty: Patterns and Processes of Retrenchment and Restructuring.” The authors scoured 30 years of investigatory and special reports by the AAUP’s Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure to understand how practices “have been enacted on ways detrimental to both individual and […]

Timothy Reese Cain started a new role as an associate editor of The Review of Higher Education in fall 2021. He also currently serves on the editorial boards of Review of Educational Research, Journal of Higher Education, History of Education Quarterly, Perspectives on the History of Higher Education, and the Journal of Higher Education Outreach […]

On October 7, the McBee IHE faculty gathered to recognize the achievements of five students, as well as the lives and legacies that our scholarships honor. We were please to host award recipients and their families in person and virtually through Zoom. The 2021-2022 Zell and Shirley Miller Fellowship recipient is Matt Gregory, a fourth-year […]

A recent BBC Workplace article heavily references research by McBee Institute doctoral student, Chad Mandala, and Dr. Stephanie Ortiz (University of Massachusetts, Lowell). The article, “The People Penalised for Expressing Feelings at Work,” by Zulekha Nathoo dives into the ways that workplace norms around expressions of emotions vary depending on the gender identities, race, and […]

Dr. Webber will participate in a book launch of Utilization of South African Research on Higher Education with South African colleagues on November 3. Join the event here: https://bit.ly/2XnwJqQ The book, edited by Jan Botha and Gabriele Vilyte, provides an overview of the state of research on higher education in the country. The program is […]

Wednesday, 11/3, 7:00 P.M. Welcome reception sponsored by McBee IHE __ Thursday, 11/4 1:00-2:15 Calibrating Costs: Do Tuition Reset Policies Affect Student Enrollment at Four-Year Nonprofit Colleges? (Denisa Gandara & Meredith Billings) Disparate Impacts of Performance Funding Research Incentives on Research Expenditures and State Appropriation (Kelly Rosinger) 2:30-3:45 Higher Education Policy Narratives during COVID-19; How Are Budget […]

Research Roundtable, a student-led group focused on deepening engagement with professional literature, recently hosted a presentation screening. Students presented their upcoming papers in front of their peers and received constructive suggestions and practice fielding questions. Thanks to Collin Case and Court Cullen for coordinating and to everyone who participated and made this supportive peer community […]

Greg Wolniak and research collaborator Amy Whitaker presented at the 2021 SNAAP Research Symposium on October 20, 2021. Their paper, The Dynamics of Social Exclusion and Economic Mobility Across Three Decades of Undergraduate Arts Alumni, describes an attrition effect of students leaving the arts and privilege effect of arts alumni whose individual earnings are supported […]

Karen Webber and Matt Grandstaff spoke at annual meeting of the Southern Association for Institutional Research on Monday, October 11. The presentation, Survey Research During COVID-19: The Challenges Grew Even Larger, drew from lessons learned during their experiences conducting a large multi-institution survey in the middle of an ongoing pandemic. They identified challenges faced over […]

We are now the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education! Following a transformational gift from the estate of M. Louise McBee, the University of Georgia paid tribute to the former administrator and state legislator with the naming of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. “Dr. McBee’s extraordinary legacy of leadership and service to UGA […]

The Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Krystal L. Williams as assistant professor of higher education, effective January 1, 2022. “Dr. Williams’ expertise will complement and extend the Institute’s goals to deepen research into student access and success across postsecondary institutions. We look forward […]

The summer has been extremely productive for Ben Cecil. His new book chapter in Shifting the Mindset hit shelves, and he moved to Washington, D.C. and started a new position at the American Council on Education (ACE). The chapter, co-written with Pei Hu, is titled: “Redefining Engagement: Including International Students in Socially Just Leadership Education.” […]

Research by Dr. Karen Webber appears in the September issue of Journal of Faculty Development. For the article, “Culture Matters: Faculty Satisfaction in Four-Year Postsecondary Institutions,” Webber interviewed full-time faculty members at six different four-year higher education institutions for a more nuanced understanding of perceptions of work satisfaction. She built off a much larger study […]

Application deadline extended to October 1, 2021

Andy Brantley (EdD cohort 6), president and chief executive officer of CUPA-HR, joins the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education (ACE), beginning in September 2021. Brantley is co-chair the Washington Higher Education Secretariat (WHES) Steering Committee and as such will serve as the Secretariat’s representative on the ACE board. WHES brings together […]

Charles Sanchez (IHE PhD candidate) received an AERA Dissertation Research Grant for 2021-2022. He will receive $25,000 to support access to data, travel, software, and other research-related expenses. Barbara Schneider, chair of the grant program’s governing board said, “The program supports new and early career scholars who are expanding how we use large-scale data to […]

PhD candidate Amy Yandell accepted a position to lead the Bryan Graduate Career Center at the University of North Carolina Greensboro in the Bryan School of Business & Economics this spring. The newly-created Center supports graduate students through innovative and comprehensive programming and one-on-one coaching. She works with students to assess their professional values, skills, […]

Justin Jeffery will join Texas A&M University on August 2 as the assistant vice president for the division of student affairs. In his new position, Justin will serve a variety of roles, including chief of staff to the vice president for student affairs. His responsibilities at Texas A&M will build on his extensive professional experience […]

Financing college in the United States is difficult to navigate, but the effects of the process on enrollment have rarely been quantified. IHE graduate Dr. Jason C. Lee and current doctoral student Alex Monday co-authored a research article that explores how financial aid verification on federal funding quantifiably affects enrollment. The article, “Estimating the Effects […]

The Institute of Higher Education celebrates with the following students, who completed their degrees this spring: Danielle Kerr (PhD) Kanler Cumbass (MEd) Andrea Kiely (MEd) Each of graduates kindly shared some of their favorite memories of their time at the Institute. “My favorite memory from IHE will forever be the comradery between the different cohorts… […]

On April 30th, IHE professor Dr. Jim Hearn led a roundtable discussion to explore how private four-year colleges have maintained access and enrollments while facing financial and pandemic challenges. The two dozen participants in the forum were all graduates, faculty, and students from the IHE community. Dr. Hearn opened the session with an overview of […]

Most workspaces are engaged in more conversations about equity across races, genders, and sexualities. Offices that support underserved populations in higher education institutions across the United States are no exception. UGA IHE doctoral student Chad Mandala co-authored an article with Dr. Stephanie Oritz that focuses on the emotional toll endured by workers in campus diversity […]

Dr. Erik Ness received a First-Year Odyssey Teaching Award for his class “Research Evidence, Alternative Facts, and Fake News.” In his class, he guided students to seek and evaluate research evidence. He engaged students through practice with critical examination of ideas and informed debate. David Tanner (PhD student) was awarded on the Walter Barnard Hill […]

IHE Research Roundtable brought together a group of research awardees and reviewers to share their experience and answer questions about getting dissertation research funding from NAE/Spencer Foundation, AERA, and NSF/AERA. The speakers, Dr. Lois Weis (SUNY Buffalo), Katie Reeb-Reascos (SUNY Buffalo), Dr. George Spencer (IHE), and Hee Jung Gong (IHE), each have experience either as […]

Poster sessions, roundtables, and paper presentations…. Several members of our IHE community (in bold) participated in AERA this past weekend. Let us know if you’d like more info on any of these sessions: April 9: Greg Wolniak, Matt Gregory, Alexandra Hill, Jeffrey Humphreys & Charles Knapp, The Power of Potential: Advancing Georgia’s Economic Future Through […]

The membership of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) has elected Karen Webber to serve as the organization’s incoming vice president. Her leadership role begins May 2021 and continues for three years. After serving one year as vice president (and vice chairperson of the Board of Directors), she will become president in May 2022 and […]

Former director of the Institute of Higher Education, Delmar Dunn, passed away on March 22. “Del Dunn brought to the Institute of Higher Education his superb ability to work across disciplines and fields,” said current director Libby V. Morris. “His curiosity about multidisciplinary problems, his respect for faculty and his commitment to students informed his […]

IHE PhD student Justin Jeffery was recognized as an “unsung hero” in a recent UGA Today article for his work assisting international students during the COVID pandemic. “As director of International Student Life, Unsung Hero Justin Jeffery started dealing with COVID-19 early on, when most of the rest of us were just beginning to become […]

Dr. Eddie R. Cole visited the Institute virtually on Monday, February 8 to discuss the research and findings of his book, The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom (2020, Princeton University Press). He highlighted how several presidents actively shaped racial policies and practices on their campuses and beyond in the […]

Dr. Roy I. Jones (EdD 1981) has the distinction of being the Institute of Higher Education’s first African American graduate as well as an outstanding alumnus. He has an impressive and impactful career including his present appointed position, provost distinguished professor (2019-2023), a special designation awarded by the provost to recognize outstanding scholars who are […]

The University of Georgia Alumni Association recognized Libby V. Morris, director of the Institute of Higher Education, with the 2021 Faculty Service Award. The award is presented to a faculty or staff member “who has shown remarkable leadership in higher education.” Since 1989, Dr. Morris has been a faculty member in the University’s Institute of […]

Welcome to Brian Brookey and Annie Cranford, who recently joined our Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration program. Brian currently serves as the regional director of development for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. Brian graduated from the University of Oklahoma with his Bachelor of Arts in […]