the higher education and student affairs (hesa) concentration in the master of arts in educational leadership program focuses on developing reflective practitioners for entry- and mid-level positions in higher education. the program emphasizes a practitioner-scholar model to combine a broad-based student development and leadership theory core with required individualized field experiences. distinctive to the program is an emphasis on the centrality of diversity and inclusiveness in higher education. one of the ways this is actualized is through a required and individually designed diversity cognate.