In this insightful episode, host Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Kevin McClure, PhD, Professor of Higher Education at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. They discuss the critical state of employee well-being in higher education.

Dr. McClure unpacks the evolving landscape of university workplaces, addressing the challenges facing faculty and staff post-pandemic, and offers actionable steps for leaders looking to create a truly caring institution.

The conversation dives deep into why employee well-being is more than an HR talking point—it's a strategic imperative for any college hoping to thrive. Dr. McClure shares research-backed strategies, stories from his own journey through burnout, and the essential structural and leadership changes required to make real progress.

Episode Highlights

02:05 - The state of employee well being in higher education is not great... we're still recovering from a really challenging time period during the pandemic.

09:50 - Doing what's right for employees is actually doing what's right for the organization more broadly.

21:14 - We can't really bring individualized solutions to organizational challenges because they're only going to go so far.

36:38 - Care is something that leaders themselves can also expect, and that's a reasonable expectation.

Sarah Holtan, PhD

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Kevin McClure, PhD

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