Shawn Whalen

Program Director, College Futures Foundation

Shawn joined the College Futures Foundation in September 2015. As program director, he leads the development and implementation of the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy in student-centric practices.

Shawn has extensive experience in higher education as both a faculty member and university administrator. Prior to joining the Foundation, he held the position of chief of staff to the president of San Francisco State University, where he served as a member of the senior leadership team, advised the president on academic policy, student achievement, and strategic planning, and facilitated institutional partnerships. Shawn is professor emeritus of Communication Studies at San Francisco State University. As a faculty member, he was active in university governance and served three terms as chair of the Academic Senate. He also directed nationally ranked speech and debate programs at two institutions and is a past president of intercollegiate debate’s national governing body, the Cross Examination Debate Association. Shawn was elected as a public member to the WASC Senior College and University Commission and began his term July 2020.

Faculty Student Success Dashboard (FSSD)

October 22, 2020 | 2:15pm - 2:45pm

FSSD empowers faculty to proactively engage with their students in ways that promote student success across a variety of indicators. Learn how to use this new tool to increase student success.