You’ve probably seen the name pop up if you spend any amount of time in the higher education circles of LinkedIn. Natasha McCombs isn't just another profile in a sea of "passionate educators" and "strategic leaders." She’s become a bit of a case study in how to actually build a career in student affairs and academic counseling during one of the most volatile eras for universities.
Honestly, the higher ed landscape is a mess right now. Between the DEI backlashes at major institutions and the shrinking enrollment numbers, people are looking for professionals who actually know how to talk to students—not just manage spreadsheets.
Who Is Natasha McCombs?
Let’s get the basics out of the way first. Natasha McCombs is a higher education professional whose career trajectory looks exactly like what modern grad students aspire to. She didn't just stumble into the field. She built it.
She started at Temple University, where she grabbed a Bachelor’s in Strategic Communication. That’s a key detail. Most people in higher ed come from a background in education or psychology. Having a "comm" background means she actually knows how to brand a program and talk to stakeholders, which is exactly why she stands out on platforms like LinkedIn.
After Temple, she headed to New York University (NYU) for her Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs. While there, she wasn't just sitting in a lecture hall. She was on the ground as a graduate intern at Pace University’s LGBTQ and Social Justice Center.
The Move to Farmingdale State College
By 2021, the world was still reeling from the pandemic. Higher ed was desperate for people who could handle the "new normal." McCombs landed at Farmingdale State College as an Academic Counselor for the RAM Program.
Why does this matter for your LinkedIn feed? Because the RAM Program is designed specifically for first-year students who need extra support. It’s high-touch, high-stress work. When you see her name or her posts, it's usually rooted in this "on-the-ground" experience of helping students navigate a system that often feels designed to fail them.
The "McCombs" Confusion: Austin vs. New York
If you search for "McCombs LinkedIn higher ed," Google is going to try to give you a bunch of results about the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin.
It's annoying.
The McCombs School of Business is a massive, top-tier MBA powerhouse. It makes headlines for things like leaving the Consortium or its massive ROI statistics. But Natasha McCombs is a person, not a business school.
One is an institution in Texas dealing with billion-dollar endowments and corporate recruiting. The other—the one we’re talking about—is a professional navigating the human side of education in New York. Don't let the SEO noise fool you. If you’re looking for the person, you’re looking for the NYU alum with a focus on student advocacy and social justice.
Why Her Profile Actually Matters for Your Career
LinkedIn is full of "thought leaders" who haven't stepped foot in a classroom in a decade. Natasha McCombs represents a different shift.
- Social Justice Roots: She won the Marc David LGBTQ Scholarship at Temple. This wasn't a "resume stuffer." It was the foundation of her work at Pace and NYU.
- Transformational Leadership: This is a buzzword people love to use, but in her case, it refers to her work in academic counseling—specifically helping underrepresented students find their footing.
- The Comm Influence: Because of her Strategic Communication degree, her LinkedIn presence is polished. She understands that in 2026, a higher ed professional is also a brand ambassador for their institution.
The Research Connection
She’s also been published in the Journal of Student Affairs (NYU, 2022), specifically looking at the psychological and sociological effects on students. This gives her a level of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that most "career coaches" lack. She’s not just giving advice; she’s looking at the data behind student success.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Networking in Higher Ed
Most people think LinkedIn is just for finding your next job. They think you just connect with Natasha McCombs, send a "hey, I'd love to chat" message, and wait for a referral.
That's not how it works anymore.
Higher ed is a small world. It’s a "who knows who" industry. If you’re looking at her profile, look at who she engages with. She’s often connected to the Klein College of Media and Communication alumni network and the NYU higher ed cohorts. These are the "hidden" networks where the real hiring happens.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Career
If you’re trying to replicate this kind of trajectory or connect with leaders like Natasha McCombs, stop doing what everyone else is doing.
Focus on a niche. McCombs didn't just do "higher ed." She did higher ed and social justice and student affairs. Pick a intersection.
Bridge the gap between comms and education. If you can't explain what you do to a donor or a nervous freshman, your "expertise" doesn't matter. Learn how to write for people, not just for academic journals.
Leverage your grad school connections early. McCombs was working at Pace and researching at NYU while still a student. If you wait until you have the degree to start your LinkedIn "presence," you’re already three years behind.
Audit your profile for "Institutional Value." Does your LinkedIn show that you help the university stay relevant? Or just that you have a desk there? High-level professionals like McCombs show they are active participants in the university's mission—whether that's through the RAM program or social justice advocacy.
Your Next Moves
- Check your search filters. If you’re looking for her on LinkedIn, filter by "New York" and "Higher Education" to filter out the thousands of UT Austin McCombs School alumni.
- Read her research. Look up her 2022 paper in the NYU Journal of Student Affairs. It’ll give you a better talking point than just "I like your profile."
- Update your own "Strategic Comm" skills. Even if you aren't a communication major, taking a basic course in brand messaging will make your higher ed career move twice as fast.