About the MAHE Program

Program Roots & Development

Taylor University is an independent, interdenominational Christian liberal arts college where faith, living, and learning are fully integrated. An emphasis on whole-person education has been a part of our DNA since the earliest days of the institution.

As early as the mid-1960’s, then-President Milo Rediger believed that student affairs personnel played a critical role in the educational process. With the support of faculty, he made two important decisions: 1) student affairs professionals should be required to possess a master’s level education and, 2) student affairs professionals should be granted student development faculty status. Student affairs personnel were recognized as teachers whose classrooms were the residence halls, counseling offices, and student government meeting rooms of the campus, and therefore, those serving in such roles should be identified, trained, and positioned as educators.

As a result, many former undergraduate students chose to pursue graduate education and careers in student affairs. One such graduate is former Taylor University president, Dr. Eugene B. Habecker, who received a PhD in higher education administration, serving in several student affairs leadership roles before assuming the presidencies of Huntington University and later of Taylor University.

The vision to establish a graduate program in student development became a reality in 2005 when President Habecker proposed, as part of his 2016 Vision and Plan, the development of new graduate programs at Taylor University. The provost enlisted the support of Tim Herrmann, Skip Trudeau, and Randal Dodge to conceptualize and implement a graduate program in student development. The team successfully developed the MAHE program, obtained the necessary curricular approvals, and launched the program in 2007.

National student affairs conferences regularly attract large numbers of Taylor graduates who are serving in student affairs roles at a variety of colleges and universities throughout the county. There is a clear interest in and demand for professionally trained educators who have been exposed to Taylor’s unique brand of whole person education.