Rethinking College Student Development Theory Using Critical Frameworks

A major new contribution to college student development theory, this book brings "third wave" theories to bear on this vitally important topic. The first section includes a chapter that provides an overview of the evolution of student development theories as well as chapters describing the critical and poststructural theories most relevant to the next iteration of student development theory. These theories include critical race theory, queer theory, feminist theories, intersectionality, decolonizing/indigenous theories, and crip theories. These chapters also include a discussion of how each theory is relevant to the central questions of student development theory. The second section provides critical interpretations of the primary constructs associated with student development theory. These constructs and their related ideas include resilience, dissonance, socially constructed identities, authenticity, agency, context, development (consistency/coherence/stability), and knowledge (sources of truth and belief systems). Each chapter begins with brief personal narratives on a particular construct; the chapter authors then re-envision the narrative’s highlighted construct using one or more critical theories. The third section will focus on implications for practice. Specifically, these chapters will consider possibilities for how student development constructs re-envisioned through critical perspectives can be utilized in practice. The primary audience for the book is faculty members who teach in graduate programs in higher education and student affairs and their students. The book will also be useful to practitioners seeking guidance in working effectively with students across the convergence of multiple aspects of identity and development.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Part One: Student Development Entering the Third Wave 1. Waves of Change:The Evolving History of Student Development Theory 2. Critical Race Theory: Interrogating Race and Racism in College Students’ Development 3. Intersectionality and Student Development: Centering Power in the Process 4. (Re)Framing Student Development Through Critical Feminist Theories 5. Indigenous Paradigms: Decolonizing College Student Development Theory Through Centering Relationality 6. Queer Theory: Deconstructing Sexual and Gender Identity, Norms, and Developmental Assumptions 7. Crip Theory: Dismantling Ableism in Student Development Theory Part Two: Living and Thinking with Theory 8. Resilience 9. Dissonance 10. Social Construction of Identities 11. Complexities of Authenticity 12. A Black Feminist Reconstruction of Agency 13. It’s More than Us: Knowledge and Knowing 14. Context and Contextualizing Student Development Using Critical Theory Part Three: Implications for a Critical Student Affairs Practice 15. Student Involvement and Engagement 16. Principles of Good Practice in Student Affairs 17. High-Impact Practices Part Four: Conclusion 18. Rethinking Student Development Editors and Contributors Index

About the Author :
Elisa S. Abes is associate professor at Miami University (Ohio) in the student affairs in higher educaiton program in the Department of Educational Leadership. Susan R. Jones is professor in the higher education and student affairs program in the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University. D-L Stewart is professor in the School of Education and co-coordinator of the student affairs in higher education unit at Colorado State University.

Review :
"Framing development through the lens of emancipation will forever shift graduate preparation and professional practice in student affairs. Abes, Jones, Stewart, and chapter authors have transformed the theoretical foundation of student affairs into a more complex and liberatory understanding of student development, and for that I am eternally grateful." Jason C. Garvey, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration - University of Vermont "The field has been waiting for this book. It brings together in one place a host of the most thoughtful scholars working in, with, and through critical frameworks in student development theory. On their own, each chapter offers valuable insight; the volume as a whole takes the reader into the latest thinking using critical theory to understand and work with college students." Kristen A. Renn, Professor of Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for Student Success Research - Michigan State University "This book is exactly what we need to push our thinking about student development theory forward. As a field, we have been stymied for some time around SDT, and the authors of this book give permission for educators to pursue new and different questions and practices through critical and post-structural lenses. I am excited to use this text in my courses and have already been inspired by the authors’ ideas to create new assignments pushing students to better integrate critical praxis in their work as student affairs educators." Chris Linder, Assistant Professor, Higher Education - University of Utah "My read of Rethinking College Student Development Theory Using Critical Frameworks generated one thought: "It’s about time!" This must-read volume is a major contribution to the field of student affairs. The editors have assembled a book that not only unpacks and acknowledges the vast complexities that shape students’ college experiences, but also raises educators’ critical consciousness in translating theory to practice. This book should be required reading in graduate programs, especially within advanced student development theory courses." Lori Patton Davis, Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs and Chair, Department of Educational Studies - The Ohio State University