It has been just over four months since I last wrote for my “Resident Scholar” column. There are two explanations for this. First, I am on a magnificent, hard-earned sabbatical that I delayed multiple times. My last one was 12 years ago. I have protected this sacred time for reflection and renewal.

Second, the political intensity of 2025 necessitated a break. I am not usually a break-taking kinda guy, but 2025 most certainly was not a usual year. It was disorienting, stressful, devastating and overwhelming. Consequently, I decided to take a much-needed break.

In 2024, the Inside Higher Ed editors and I chose to name my column “Resident Scholar” because I proudly live among the people—meaning, I try my hardest to not be an out-of-touch, ivory tower academician. I aim to write about realities that are relevant, timely and at times taboo. I know the enormous challenges that confront presidents, provosts, student affairs vice presidents, chief diversity officers, academic deans and other higher education leaders, because I talk with several of them every week.

I know what is happening on campuses because I spend time on dozens beyond my own year after year. I talk to students to hear and understand their experiences, expectations and appraisals. It feels like I live among policymakers because I often hear their considerations firsthand. Parents and family members of Black prospective and current students tell me what is on their minds. I do not have to guess what is happening at historically Black colleges and universities because informants on those campuses let me know.

The people told me that 2025 was disorienting, stressful, devastating and overwhelming for them. Consequently, to the greatest possible extent, many of them chose to take breaks.

At first, I did not think that doing so was an option for me. The vicious attacks on U.S. higher education and the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across all industries (including ours) demanded a fight-like-hell response, I thought.

I launched the National DEI Defense Coalition. Also, I dropped everything last spring to travel the country to interview students, faculty and staff for a forthcoming documentary film about the impact of the elimination of DEI programs and positions. I testified twice to Congress last summer; one hearing was specifically about DEI in higher education. I felt then and continue to feel a strong sense of urgency.

But many colleagues with whom I reside at the University of Southern California and elsewhere throughout American higher education modeled something different. Specifically, they showed me how taking breaks is essential to self-care. This break has afforded me space and opportunities to breathe, grieve, process, connect with affected others, consider conservative viewpoints, strategize and reflect on why higher education and our democracy were so easily disrupted in 2025 and the years leading up to it.

It allowed me to reside with my people and do what many of them wisely elected for themselves: pause, take a break. I now feel ready to resume the fight for our democracy, while savoring the seven months that remain in my sabbatical. I acknowledge that elective break-taking is not a privilege that is available to everyone in U.S. higher education.

I genuinely appreciate this “Resident Scholar” platform, mostly because it is an outlet that enables me to represent and weigh in on topics that are on the hearts and minds of actual people on the actual campuses at which I do research and climate assessments, strategy advising, keynote addresses, professional learning activities, and consultations. Those places and the people who live, learn and work at them gave me permission to take a much-needed break in the final months of 2025. I am grateful for this and ready to resume my important role as our field’s resident scholar in 2026 and beyond.