Jeff Howard

With growing pressures on students, the commitment to well-being and mental health support has become a cornerstone of transformative Higher Education. This understanding is central to the work done by Jeff Howard, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). 

In today’s conversation, Jeff sat down with Co-Host of The Interview Jack Eagle to discuss topics including his journey into student affairs, UNCP’s focus on holistic student development, and the challenge of promoting civic engagement on campus.

Jeff’s Journey

Jack: Let’s start with a brief introduction to yourself and your institution.

Sure! My name is Jeff Howard, and I’m the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UNCP. I grew up in a very rural part of East Tennessee, and my career path started to take shape during my graduate assistantship in Housing and Residence Life. Originally, I was studying to become a history professor, but that role shifted my focus toward student affairs. Over the last 20 years, I’ve worked in several institutions across Tennessee, Virginia, and now North Carolina. I started in housing, then moved into the Dean of Students role across a few campuses, eventually becoming an Associate Vice President, and now I serve as the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at UNCP. UNCP is one of the oldest institutions in the UNC system and has a unique legacy. Founded in 1887 by Native Americans to educate teachers, today we’re a minority-serving institution and also recognized as a Native American-serving non-tribal institution. It’s a very special place to work.

Jack: What inspired you to pursue your journey into Student Affairs?

I’d say I definitely “fell into” it. I was an engaged student – active in student government, fraternity life, and as a student leader – but I wasn’t directly involved with student affairs. I lived on campus, but I’d never been an RA, for instance. Once I started working in that field, though, it clicked. What really drew me to student affairs was seeing the impact it had on student success, especially at institutions that focus on first-generation college students. These places are transformational. They uplift students and change the lives of entire families by opening doors through education. That sense of purpose is what continues to drive me.

Jack: How do you approach student development beyond the academic sphere at UNCP?

Student Affairs plays a crucial role in the holistic development of students. At UNCP, we call this the “Brave Experience,” which is our student development model built around four pillars: learning, belonging, community, and well-being. Each area shapes our strategic planning and programming. For example, under the learning pillar, we emphasize experiential learning – hands-on experiences like internships and service learning that complement classroom education. Currently, 89% of our undergraduates participate in one of these experiences, and our goal is 100%. In the community pillar, we work to embed service learning into coursework through a program where faculty fellows receive training and stipends to integrate service elements into their courses.

Our well-being focus, especially on mental health, is a priority. I recently restructured our division to bring Counseling and Psychological Services, student health, and Campus Recreation together under a new Assistant Vice Chancellor. We’re also in year two of a four-year strategic planning process with JED Campus, a national program focused on mental health and suicide prevention. And in terms of belonging, we’ve introduced tech-free Thursdays to encourage in-person connections – a step that feels particularly relevant as students recover from the isolation of the pandemic.

Jack: There is an increasing demand for well-being and mental health support. What kinds of resources do you provide to help students in those areas?

We use QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training, a simple tool to equip faculty, staff, and students to respond to peers in crisis. Our aim is campus-wide training because the more people understand these basics, the more we can reach those in need. We also have an interdisciplinary care team that meets regularly to assess and address reports about students experiencing issues around basic needs, mental health, or other challenges. Our counseling facility is open every day, with group support options and a 24/7 hotline, so students can always access a licensed counselor, whether they’re on campus or away. Meeting students where they are, both literally and figuratively, is a big part of our mental health strategy.

Jack: Engaging students on this scale, particularly on issues such as mental health, is often challenging. How do you overcome that?

Location does present a unique challenge. UNCP is in a rural part of southeast North Carolina – about an hour from the nearest large store like Target – so recruiting mental health professionals can be tough. Once we have qualified staff here, we’re very intentional about supporting them with professional development opportunities, licensure requirements, and growth outside of direct counseling. Retention is essential in ensuring continuity of care for our students, especially given our somewhat isolated setting.

Jack: Civic engagement is a hot topic in the sector, especially in light of the divisions around this year’s election. How are you engaging students in this area?

At state institutions like ours, we stay neutral in elections but strongly promote civic engagement by educating students on how to register, vote early, or vote absentee. Beyond logistics, we’re committed to fostering civil discourse. Using a “living room conversation” model, we train student leaders and staff to facilitate respectful discussions across differences, helping students build empathy and understanding. Success really hinges on meeting students where they are – whether through in-person or online training, peer-led outreach, or targeted marketing on their preferred platforms. We’re also mindful of early planning, getting key dates out at the semester’s start to ensure students can engage meaningfully.

Jack: What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

Early on, a Vice President I admired told me, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” I was in housing at the time, so T-shirts and shorts were my uniform, but I took that advice to heart. They also stressed the importance of timely communication – returning calls and emails shows professionalism, even if it’s just to acknowledge receipt. And lastly, they said, “On day one of a new job, make the space yours.” Rearranging my office before starting made a difference – it signaled that I was there to work from day one.