Tricia Shalka, an associate professor of higher education at the Warner School of Education and Human Development, has been named a 2026 Diamond Honoree by the . She is one of 22 individuals nationwide recognized for making significant and lasting contributions to the field of student affairs and higher education.
A leading expert on trauma among college students, Shalka’s research examines how traumatic experiences impact student success and how trauma-informed practices can guide administrators, faculty, and staff in supporting and responding to student survivors. She is the author of Cultivating Trauma-Informed Practice in Student Affairs (Routledge), and her ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ has been published in leading higher education journals. She has also received several awards for both her research and teaching.
Before joining the Warner School faculty, Shalka held roles in higher education administration, including positions in residential life, fraternity and sorority life, institutional assessment, and development and alumni relations. She credits these experiences with shaping her approach to both ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ and teaching.
Shalka was formally recognized as a 2026 ACPA Diamond Honoree Award at the ACPA Annual Convention on March 30 in Baltimore.
Established in 1999, the ACPA Diamond Honoree program celebrates professionals who have made lasting contributions to the higher education profession. Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the ACPA Foundation Board of Trustees.
Each honoree receives a commemorative plaque and a fundraising campaign in their name, supporting ACPA programs, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵs, and grants. These campaigns are championed by colleagues and supporters who believe in the honoree's impact and help raise funds in their honor. Together, these contributions help sustain the ACPA Foundation’s vital support of research, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, and programs that strengthen our field. .