Boundary Spanning and Community Engagement in Higher Education

This thematic analysis examines the impact of leadership and institutional culture on higher education institutions (HEIs) and their professionals, particularly those engaging with communities. Drawing from over eighty journal articles, dissertations, and the 2024 Engagement Scholar Consortium Alumni Survey, the study focuses on job satisfaction, retention, burnout, and value congruence among community-engaged faculty and staff, known as boundary spanners. The qualitative research identified a need for future research on interventions to reduce burnout and emotional stress among these professionals. It also addresses opportunities for professional associations and universities to create supportive communities and enhance faculty and staff well-being. Using an in-depth review of existing literature, this study highlights the sustained negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the higher education workforce. Some of those negative effects presented as job dissatisfaction, role strain, well-being, and retention within HEIs as reported by survey participants The recommendations include Ensuring manageable workloads and compensation packages that commiserate with position and experience, Supporting workplace-based mental health interventions such as green spaces and focused communities of practice, and Prioritizing well-being in the higher education workforce to improve job satisfaction and reduce burnout.