Co-edited by Stephanie Hernandez Rivera and Jonathan A. McElderry, the book shares the stories of identity-centered practitioners as they advocate, build community, navigate change and support students in higher education.
And the table is still being shaken!
Less than a year after the release of “Shaking the Table,” Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Higher Education Program and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor, and Jonathan A. McElderry, dean of Student Inclusive Excellence and assistant professor, are continuing their work to amplify the voices of identity center practitioners in higher education with the release of “Still Shaking the Table.” The second volume builds on the strong response from identity center practitioners to their initial call for contributions to “Shaking the Table.”
“It was clear to us after receiving the overwhelming response that the first volume would be a starting place,” Hernandez Rivera said. “There were definitely more stories and insights to share.”
“Shaking the Table” created space for identity center practitioners to speak their truth and share their experiences. “Still Shaking the Table” builds upon those conversations, focusing on how practitioners advocate, build community, navigate change and show up for students.
“To release a second book less than a year later speaks to the urgency of these conversations and the generosity of practitioners willing to share their stories,” McElderry said. “These books are about more than publications—they are about community, visibility, and affirming that this work and the people doing it continue to matter.”
Like volume one, “Shaking the Table,” the mission of “Still Shaking the Table” is to help identity center practitioners feel affirmed and empowered to continue engaging in culture and identity work, with support from institutional leaders and colleagues who will champion them.
Both Hernandez Rivera and McElderry hope readers can see themselves in these stories throughout volume two. However, they also hope for something even more transformative.
“I also hope the book pushes institutions to think differently,” McElderry said. “We cannot simply celebrate practitioners for being resilient. We have to create environments where they can thrive.”
Hernandez Rivera echoed McElderry’s hope, stating the stories reveal the realities practitioners experience in their campus communities, and how they navigate them with care, strength, dedication and strategy.
“To me, this text reflects the continued evolution of that commitment and how we have remained grounded in our initial intention,” she said.
“Still Shaking the Table” is available for purchase online, continuing Hernandez Rivera and McElderry’s mission to create space for identity center practitioners to share their stories and experiences.