Higher Education in Student Affairs (HESA)

Our faculty, like our students, reflect diversity in their racial and ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, personal and professional backgrounds. Our courses are taught by full time faculty, as well as administrators in leadership positions at Salem State and other colleges and universities in the region.

Vu Tran, Ph.D. | HESA Program Coordinator and Visiting Assistant Professor

Vu Tran has over 15 years of professional experience as a higher education professional across an array of institutions before arriving at Salem State including the University of Vermont, University of South Carolina, University of the Pacific, Michigan State University, and Northeastern University. He holds a master’s in Higher and Postsecondary Education from the University of Michigan and doctorate in Educational Studies from The Ohio State University. Vu’s scholarship focuses on age and generational differences, which aims to bridge the generational gaps that exists within age-diverse organizations.

Vijay Kanagala, Ph.D. | Professor of Education

Dr. Kanagala, former student affairs practitioner with experience in multicultural student affairs, Dr. Kanagala focuses his research on three interconnected topics: the college access, success, and completion of low-income, first-generation college students; intersectionality of education, immigration, and social identities such as race, class, gender, and religion; and contemplative pedagogy, education, healing, and empowerment.

Steven Thurston Oliver, Ph.D. | Professor of Education

Dr. Oliver’s research centers on Contemplative Pedagogy as a catalyst for increasing the capacity of educators to engage across human differences. Dr. Oliver teaches Theories of Student Development and LGBTQ Issues in Higher Education.

Nicole Harris, Ph.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor

Dr. Harris holds a PhD in Education with specializations in Higher Education Administration and Multicultural/Multilingual Enrollment Development and a Masters in Higher Education, Student Services from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA

Ashley Cree, Ph.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor

Dr. Ashley Cree (she/her/ella) brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education and student affairs, with a strong focus on supporting military-connected students and teacher candidates. She currently serves as the Director of Field Engagement, Supervision, and Licensure at the McKeown School of Education at Salem State University. Dr. Cree is involved in national leadership through NASPA, where she is the recently appointed Co-Chair of the Veterans Knowledge Community (VKC) for 2026–2028, as well as the Region I Representative for the VKC and the Massachusetts State Board Representative for both military-connected students and women’s affairs. Her research interests center on military-connected students, women in higher education, and student success and empowerment.

Kevin Linton, Ph.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor

Dr. Kevin Linton is a dedicated higher education professional with nearly 15 years of experience and currently serves as Director of the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Salem State University. He teaches in the Higher Education in Student Affairs (HESA) program and has consistently championed access, equity, and success for first-generation, income-eligible, and underrepresented students. Dr. Linton is the President-Elect of the New England Educational Opportunity Association (NEOA) and a Past President of the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA), where he has led regional and national advocacy efforts in support of TRIO and other college access initiatives.

Alan Acosta, Ph.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor

Alan Acosta is a passionate higher education professional whose work has focused on supporting college students in their psychosocial development and helping them become ethical global leaders. He currently serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Student Life and Director of Positive Learning Environments at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Alan has been actively involved in ACPA – College Student Educators International (ACPA) and the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) throughout his career, and he has served each organization in numerous roles. Alan has also authored numerous articles and chapters for academic publications, and he was a co-editor of a book focused on student conduct in college residence halls.

Jennifer Sullivan, Ed.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor

Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Ed.D. Is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Salem State University, teaching in their Higher Education in Student Affairs graduate program. Jennifer is also the Director of the Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Program at Elms College and Co-Director of the First Year Seminar. Jennifer has a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, a master's in education with a focus on higher education and student affairs administration, and a B.A. in History from UMass Dartmouth. She spent over a decade serving on the UMass Dartmouth Alumni Board of Directors, including serving as President and Vice President.

Jesus Montoya, Ph.D. | Visiting Instructor

Jesus Montoya Jr, PhD is the Associate Director for Retention Services at Salem State University. As a first-generation college student, he draws on his personal experiences to inform and shape his practice. Dr. Montoya utilizes university data to help identify institutional barriers, working closely with students, faculty, and staff to capitalize on opportunities and adapt current practice to provide more equitable experiences and outcomes for students. Dr. Montoya attended the University of the Pacific where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Management) and Master of Arts in Educational Administration (Student Affairs). Dr. Montoya completed his PhD from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The HESA program takes advantage of our proximity to the Greater Boston metropolitan region and the numerous institutions of higher education (public, private four-year, two-year, technical/trade schools, etc.) to offer our students a plethora of practicum opportunities that introduce them to different functional areas in student affairs. Students gain a breadth of experience, develop professional skills, and learn about a specific student affairs or higher education functional area - other than their assistantship. Several of these opportunities are paid positions and provide additional stipend to our students. The HESA program coordinator and/or the practicum course instructor assist students with identifying these opportunities. 

The focus of our practicum courses is the integration of theory and practice whereby students develop their own praxis. Each practicum course has an in-class component and a site-based practical component. Currently, the HESA curriculum requires one practicum course and encourages students to consider taking the second practicum course to fulfill one of the three required electives. In EDU 985A: Practicum in Student Affairs I, students focus on identity-conscious supervision in student affairs and in EDU 985B: Practicum in Student Affairs II, students focus on legal issues in student affairs.

Each practicum includes 150 hours of supervised fieldwork in a higher education/student affairs organizational setting and attending five to seven seminar classes with a course instructor. The course instructor works very closely with the student and the practicum supervisor to develop clear learning outcomes, establish explicit expectations for projects and of supervisor, and formalize evaluation criteria through a learning contract. Students are encouraged to examine different supervisory styles as they complete their practicum. Both site-based practical components may be completed at Salem State University or at another institution with permission of the HESA program coordinator.

Below is a sample of past practicum sites at select institutions:

• Bentley University
  • Advising
  • Career Services
  • Center for International Students and Scholars
  • New Student Orientation Programs
• Emmanuel College
  • Orientation
• Endicott College
  • Community Standards
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • LGBTQ+ Services
  • Multicultural Programs
  • New Student Programs
  • Wellness and Support
• North Shore Community College
  • Advising
  • TRiO Programs
• Northeastern University
  • Career Services
  • Fraternity & Sorority Life
• Salem State University
  • First Year Experience
  • Center for Inclusive Excellence
  • Center for Justice and Liberation
  • Community of Inclusive Scholars
  • Community Standards
  • HESA Program - Visit Days
  • McKeown School of Education - Student Services
  • Residence Life
  • Student Transition and Engagement Program (STEP)
• Tufts University
  • School of Medicine
• University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center (ACES)
  • Dean of Students
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Advising