about heather

Heather is a higher ed administrator with a passion for social justice and feminist activism. Her career in student affairs spans over two decades and five different campuses. Heather currently serves as the Director of Women*s Student Services at Michigan State University. Also at MSU, she’s worked with My Spartan Story–a co-curricular record, New Student Orientation, and RISE–a living/learning community focused on Environmental Sustainability. She completed her PhD in MSU’s Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE). Previously, she worked as the director of the Women’s Center at the University of Idaho from 2008-2013. In her work and in her life, Heather strives to live her passion for feminism and social justice.

Dr. Shea is affiliate faculty with the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) unit in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University and has taught in the Student Affairs Administration M.A. program. She also teaches two courses as part of Learning, Culture, and Technology in Europe, an Education Abroad Program for teacher education majors. In the past, Heather taught an Environmental Studies seminar/First-Year Experience course for incoming RISE students and is consulting faculty with the Michigan State University GenCen. She previously held an affiliate faculty position in the Sociology and Anthropology department at the University of Idaho where she taught a leadership class for the Women’s Mentoring Program as well as workshops for students pursuing the Academic Certificate in Diversity & Stratification.

Professional involvement and leadership has been central to her career in student affairs and ACPA – College Student Educators International has been her professional home for nearly 20 years. She is the current ACPA Vice President. Previously, she served on the governing board as the Director of Membership Development, the Assembly Coordinator of Commissions, Convention Program Chair of ACPA14, General Programs Chair for ACPA13, Chair of the Commission for Commuter Students and Adult Learners and co-founder of the Multiracial Network.

In addition to the above roles, Heather is also the co-founder and host of Student Affairs NOW, an online learning community for student affairs educators who work in, alongside, or adjacent to higher education. This weekly podcast features timely conversations about topics and issues facing the field.

Heather also dabbles in graphic design, paints portraits of pets, and is a single mom, busy raising two teenagers.