Message from the Editors | December 2022

Hello, all.

As we conclude one term and get ready for the next it is a great time for both reflection and anticipation. This issue of Developments is ideal for those activities. We are very excited to share these opportunities with you all.

When we put out a call for case studies for the December/January issue, we had no idea how great the response would be. As submissions rolled in we hoped for five to seven, then for 10, then 15. In this issue you will find more than 30 cases for use in training, classrooms, and other learning and dialogue spaces. Thank you so much to all of the authors who submitted and worked to prepare the cases for this issue.

You will find cases dealing with academics and academic support situations, cases related to the pandemic, cases examining the complex employee/student identities of graduate students, cases about politics, and cases about belonging on campus. Through all of these, the authors highlight the social identities and potential role of power and privilege experienced in these situations. The situations center on the human being rather than minimizing the pieces of who the characters are and what they bring into their work and learning.

Just as the cases and the characters are diverse, so are the authors of these cases. There are individual and group authors. Students, faculty, and staff wrote these cases based on their experiences. These cases are timely and relevant because authors drew upon events that impact those of us working in and around higher education.

We hope you will take the time to read the cases. Just as importantly, we hope you hold space to discuss the issues these cases raise. And if these cases inspire you to write some of your own, please keep Developments in mind as an outlet.

Thank you again to the authors for providing such a rich set of resources. All the best to authors and readers as we begin a new year that will bring new challenges. Here’s to building on what we have learned to create a better future for students, staff, and faculty.

Michelle Boettcher & Reyes Luna
Developments Editorial Team