Dear Readers,
March, a month of transition, takes its name from Mars, the Roman god of war—a fitting reminder that movement often requires conflict. The changing season, midpoint of the academic term, and sting of winter’s trials invite us to reflect on our progress. In higher education, spring “break” is not necessarily a pause—the word’s Old English roots tie it to rupture and destruction. For many administrators, spring break is less about rest and more about recalibration—assessing the paths we’ve forged and how we might give back to ourselves to renew and recommit.
This issue highlights people and projects focusing on this cycle of progress and transition. From award winners who have set new paths for our industry or returned to lead within their alma mater, to contributors who continue knowledge transfer by surpassing a 100-year milestone of our College & University journal. A first-timer’s unique journey, paving the way for the next generation of leaders, a pivotal moment for Learning and Employment Records (LERs) to build a more connected future of learning mobility, and the ways AI continues to impact our interpretations of FERPA—our work constantly reiterates.
Let’s embrace these transitions as spring takes hold—not as endings, but as the groundwork for what comes next.
With appreciation,
Autumn Walden
Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
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