"A change is gonna come": Paradigm shifts to dismantle oppressive structures

Student affairs professionals committed to principles of social justice continually seek ways to align their values with their professional practice. However, such commitments and aspirational goals are not enough to dismantle systems, policies, and practices embedded in the inequitable and oppressive structures often found in higher education. The Multicultural Change Intervention Matrix (MCIM), as a framework for planned change, can help professionals meet individual and institutional goals of advancing social justice and multicultural transformation on campus. In this article, we apply the core concepts of the MCIM, first-order change and second-order change, to student affairs practice, scholarship, and teaching to demonstrate how a shift in paradigms and deliberate actions can lead to sustained and meaningful change. Illustrations of paradigm shifts in practice, scholarship, and teaching are provided.