Developing a New Generation of Scholar-Practitioner Activists

Abstract:In this article, we discuss the role of scholarly practice in activism and advocacy for student affairs professionals. We provide an overview and history of scholarly practice in student affairs, highlight the challenges and barriers to scholarly practice, and provide a needed connection between scholarly practice and activism in student affairs. We then provide four practical suggestions for how student affairs professionals can use scholarly practice as a form of activism: (a) research local, (b) grasp the big picture, (c) tell students' stories, and (d) put it in writing.