Who is Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley from Jeopardy?

Dr. Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley is an assistant professor specializing in Higher Education Studies and Leadership, based in Waco, Texas, at Baylor University. She also serves as affiliate faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies within the Baylor College of Arts & Sciences. Her research centers on higher education staff, financial aid, community colleges, student transfer, and gender in the academy. Dr. McKinnon-Crowley employs qualitative and post-qualitative methods, along with mixed-methods approaches, to examine how institutions foster belonging or convey non-belonging to students and staff. Her work has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Higher Education and the Journal of College Student Development, highlighting her commitment to translating research into actionable insights.

Dr. McKinnon-Crowley’s career in higher education spans from her early experience as a Resident Assistant in 2007 to her current faculty position. She teaches courses in higher education business, finance, law, and policy, integrating her research into the classroom. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the NASPA Center for Women Ruth Strang Research Award in 2019. She serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and co-chairs the Research and Scholarship arm of the Womxn in Student Affairs Knowledge Community at NASPA, reflecting her leadership within professional networks.

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Prior Roles and Professional Development

Before joining Baylor University, Dr. McKinnon-Crowley held positions as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology and as Education Program Manager at Northwestern University. In these roles, she conducted ethnographic research on curricular change, coordinated workshops, and mentored undergraduate research students. Her earlier experiences include research and graduate assistantships at the University of Texas at Austin and Indiana University Bloomington, where she focused on student affairs, academic integrity, and community building in campus housing. These positions provided a strong foundation for her scholarly and practical contributions to higher education.

Academic Background and Scholarly Focus

Dr. McKinnon-Crowley earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, after completing a Master of Education in College and University Student Personnel Administration at the same institution. She also holds a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Linguistics from Indiana University Bloomington, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. This academic journey reflects a multidisciplinary foundation and a commitment to understanding student development, policy, and institutional dynamics.

Personal Interests and Community Engagement

Outside of academia, Dr. McKinnon-Crowley enjoys playing board, card, and video games, as well as baking. She serves as a Ruling Elder at Genesis Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, and maintains connections to her Midwestern roots, originally hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana. Her dedication to service is mirrored in her professional life through mentoring, volunteer work, and active involvement in higher education professional organizations.

Summary of Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley’s Profile

Dr. Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley is a scholar-practitioner in higher education who bridges research, teaching, and professional service. Her work focuses on student and staff experiences, financial aid, and gender in academia, informed by extensive qualitative research. As an assistant professor at Baylor University and a leader in NASPA, she advances understanding of student development and institutional practices, while maintaining personal and community interests that reflect a well-rounded and engaged life.