by OIivia Coffman, Ed.M.’24
Choosing the Higher Education Concentration was an easy choice for me to make. As someone who was working in higher education for a few years before coming to HGSE, I felt that I had a solid grasp of my role and specific department at my university, but that there was a lot more to the field that I needed to learn if I wanted to eventually hold a leadership position. This concentration has given me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the landscape and of different types of institutions from the one I was working in.
Great Courses
All students in the concentration take Professor Purcell’s “Creating the Future of Postsecondary Education” course in the Fall, which gives an excellent overview of some of the major challenges in the field through readings, lectures, and class discussions with former university presidents through the Presidents-in-Residence program. It’s a great space to hear a lot of different perspectives on important higher education issues and to be in community with likeminded HGSE students!
Professor Redding’s course on “College Student Development” offers more content from a student perspective and follows the timeline of a college student as they begin orientation all the way through the end of their college experience. This class includes a balance of theory and “student voice” readings to put us in the shoes of a diverse mix of college students facing challenges throughout their journey. It’s been a helpful way for me to think back on my own college experience, reflect on what students from different identity groups go through, and consider what I can do as a student services professional to better support all students in my next role.
I rounded out my Fall semester schedule with a module course called “Mission and Money: Institutional Advancement in Higher Education” with Professor Zolner. This course offered great insights into the world of institutional advancement, which I knew almost nothing about but felt was important for higher education professionals to be aware of. I enjoyed hearing from Professor Zolner about his own experience in the field and from our excellent guest speakers who had valuable insights to share.
Each of these courses provided me with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with some problem-solving cases that could really come up in a university office and helped me reflect on what I could bring to the table as well as the knowledge gaps that were present for me. I look forward to seeing what the Spring semester will have in store for me!
Talks and Events
The concentration has offered great events so far, including fun social events like “Cider and Donuts” and informational Lunch and Learn talks with speakers from all over. It’s also great to receive information about other events relevant to the field happening at other Harvard schools, like the Harvard Kennedy School, or off-campus. Again, these have offered an opportunity to connect with others in the community who have a shared interest in all things higher education, an awesome community that I’ve loved connecting with!
If you have an interest in the field, consider enrolling in the Higher Education Concentration!
author Olivia Coffman
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