What if a first-year student could completely reshape how a university talks about mental health? Jasmine Scott didn’t just imagine it, she built it. From reviving a dormant club to leading its expansion beyond campus, Jasmine’s journey exposes what’s really possible when students are empowered to lead.

Mental health’s still a taboo subject for many, especially in communities of color. But Jasmine’s story pushes past stigma, growing both a thriving campus support group and an LLC with a bigger purpose.

Curious how Jasmine fostered peer mentorship, juggled adversities, and learned to say “yes” when everyone else said “no”? Her strategies and mindset will challenge what you think students can accomplish and how lasting change really happens at university.

Episode Highlights:

22:55 - So now we have the club at Marquette, right, that is being led by current students and now we have the business or the LLC that is being run by the four of us who started it. So we are running that so that we can put different black minds at different universities, right? So it's still going to be that community, that connection with peer to peer leadership, right? So we were really appealing to the students with that aspect... Like, we did it, right? Like we started it. I didn't like public speaking. I didn't like all these things, but it flourished, right? So I can say, like, you can do it, too.

32:27 - To trust where they are, trust where your kid is, trust that they will call you, that they will text you if they need something. But other than that, they're in good hands, right?... The more you let go, the more they're able to explore who they truly are really, and who they really connect with.

35:52 - They believe in our mission, they're helping us, they're caring to us. And so it... Ah, yeah. So it just makes me emotional, but it's really... I say those two are really big ones freshman senior year.

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If you think universities are just about classes and dorm rooms, think again. Marquette’s approach to student care is rewriting the playbook.

In this episode, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun breaks down how real, practical support, grounded in love and attention, makes it nearly impossible for any student to go unnoticed or unsupported. The result isn’t just higher retention rates, but life-changing growth for students, staff, and families alike.

What does it look like when a university sees every student as a person, not a number, and actually backs it up with action? Tune in to discover the unique “care packages” that help Marquette students thrive, especially those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Episode Highlights:

03:54 - How are we creating the conditions that everyone feels loved and also feel a response to love one another? ... It's about making sure they have the support that they stay at Marquette, that they graduate, that they're formed, that whatever they need to help them along their journey, that we provide that for them.

07:48 - Look, it is really hard for a student to fall through the cracks at Marquette University. It's almost impossible because somebody is going to notice. Whether it is a faculty member or a staff member or their RA or their roommate, somebody will notice. I promise you that.

13:32 - You can’t do much more to care for a person than to change who they are, what their DNA is, what they value, how they live those values, and how they are able to live out who they're called to become by God. And when they do that, things are limitless that what they can achieve.

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Dr. Kimo Ah Yun

College transitions are tough, but what if the right welcome could change everything?

In this special episode, you’ll hear firsthand how Marquette University sparked instant connection and confidence in its newest Golden Eagles. From the anxiety of first-year class registration to finding your community and facing Midwest winters for the first time, this episode pulls back the curtain on what really helps students thrive. Audrey’s infectious excitement, insider stories from student leaders, and expert staff advice reveal what sets Marquette’s approach apart.

Curious how a simple orientation event can make incoming students feel at home from day one and jump-start their college journey? Tune in to discover the small moments and big systems that shape Marquette’s campus culture.

Episode Highlights:

04:40 - When I walked here, everyone was smiling, everyone was talking. I believe I walked straight through the middle of campus over here. People everywhere, people talking. There were like blankets set out, people were eating. Some of the campuses I'd went to, it was like zombies walking around here. It was just so lively. I was like, this." - Max

20:41 - There is no possible way for you not to feel connected or at home or find your people here. So for parents, like, they got it... Other than that, they will find their friends. For students, take it one day at a time. -Nadiah

27:13 - My biggest hope is that they understand how many people they have supporting them. Especially coming from, I guess, a sort of leadership position... having that sense of no matter what I'm going through, there will be somebody who's there to support me or there will be a group that I can find to get comfortable with. -Nyima

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Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener as they reflect on their time at Marquette and their continued impact in the Milwaukee community.

Wade, a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee and three-time NBA Champion, and Diener, one of Marquette’s all-time great point guards, were key leaders of the Golden Eagles’ historic 2003 Final Four run. Today, they remain connected through their shared commitment to giving back.

In the episode, the duo discusses the evolution of their community initiative, which began in 2023 as a literacy-focused fundraiser supporting the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program. Now expanded into the Wade-Diener Home Court Weekend (July 16–17, 2026), the event includes basketball camps, cultural experiences, and community engagement in partnership with the Wade Scholars Program, Visit Milwaukee, and Marquette University.

Host Kelly Albrecht sat down with Wade and Diener to explore their Marquette legacy and what keeps drawing them back.

For event details and tickets, visit visitmilwaukee.org.

Follow Marquette CARES on Instagram at @marquetteosd.

Kelly Albrecht and Marquette University Assistant Dean of Students, Zabrian Oglesby, pull back the curtain on what makes the Marquette Cares podcast resonate so widely on campus and beyond.

This season finale disrupts the usual higher ed narrative by showing how real talk, intentional outreach, and student-centered care can create a ripple effect through a university community. With no paid marketing, the podcast's reach proves that authentic stories and grassroots support can generate international impact even across digital spaces.

Curious how a podcast became a linchpin for campus connection, redefined care in higher ed, and inspired even the busiest students to excel? Tune in for the episode and discover the method behind the momentum.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - I would really rather us lean into an anthropological approach of these are adults, we have to set them up for success. There are some things that can't be an all in one service. And also, how do you take in being told no in a way that is respectful as well as understanding that there's a limit there because that's also care for you.

15:06 - So often you hear students say, like, well, I was told no, or I was told, like, no, you can't do that. And she has not been told that and she's been encouraged. And I think just hearing her talk about her journey to Marquette and her journey at Marquette, if you are a prospective student and you're thinking about, like, like, why, you know, why would I. Why would I consider that? Why would I consider Marquette as an option? If you listen to her, I don't think it would even be a doubt in your mind.

28:50 - I feel like what we're trying to say about Marquette is that we do care about our students, and we care about them in this really specific, intentional way. And that message I think we're really getting out there. And I get that by people reflecting it back to me when they have listened to the show.

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Mental health challenges among college students are more common and more complex than you think.

In this episode, the Kelly Albrecht sits down with Brenda Lenz, Director of the Marquette Counseling Center, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes when students seek support. Brenda clears up the biggest misconceptions about campus counseling, explains how crisis situations are actually handled, and uncovers the support systems most people don’t realize exist until they or someone close needs help.

What really happens when a student walks into the Counseling Center in crisis? Could understanding these untold truths prepare you or someone you care about to handle a challenging moment on campus? Tune in for specifics you won’t get anywhere else.

This episode features Brenda Lenz on the misunderstood world of university counseling and what caring for students truly looks like.

Episode Highlights:

11:01 - But it's also, I think sometimes when other people don't necessarily know what to do and they're concerned, they should just call us. Putting your head together with somebody else is always a way to think better about next steps. Because I think we care a lot about what happens to our students. And it isn't just one person's job on our campus to take care of students.

25:12 - There are also a wide range of other things that students can do on their own to manage anxiety. And so that's why...the community being knowledgeable about how to help students or how to get them when they feel like they need more is really important.

29:39 - When we have significant incidents on our campus that involve our students, I'm never not impressed with all the folks that are willing to get involved and not only support students, but each other. I think it's about when we know that there might be certain people, staff and faculty are really involved in an incident, the ability for other folks, the willingness for other folks to say, is there something that we can do to help your team?

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Most people think University Advancement is just about asking for donations but Matt Gwin shatters that myth in this episode. Discover how Marquette’s Advancement Team impacts students before they even set foot on campus, supports them throughout their journey, and continues to invest in their future long after graduation.

Advancement isn’t just fundraising, it’s about building a community of support that transforms lives through scholarships, emergency funds, and student wellness initiatives.

Ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes when a student faces a crisis or how alumni are inspired to give back in life-changing ways? Listen in for the insider stories that reveal why Advancement is a vital part of the Marquette experience.

Episode Highlights:

05:58 - We really think of really unique ways to bring the Marquette experience to life with for our alumni, for our supporters, in really thoughtful and strategic ways that I think really set us apart and really stand the test of be the difference.

07:38 - That feeling of being able to provide an experience that changed your life to someone else is not only personally gratifying for our incredibly generous supporters, but I think it really carries the missional piece of Marquette through to others.

22:15 - Our whole purpose here is to really help guide those who are very passionate about Marquette in matching their interests with the priorities of the university. They want to make sure that they can help the next generation have those experiences.

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Additional Resources:

• https://give.marquette.edu/give-to-marquette

• Parent Philanthropy // Alumni // Marquette University

• Contact Matt at [email protected]

Can a single scholarship transform someone’s college journey and maybe even their entire future? Kelly Albrecht sits down with Marquette’s first-ever Wade Scholar, Kennedi Luckett, for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on what true support and opportunity can look like on campus today.

Many students never realize how much staff care or how accessible personal connections are at a school like Marquette, until someone opens the door for them. Kennedi’s story disrupts the old narrative of intimidating universities, instead highlighting how proactive outreach, belonging initiatives, and genuine staff-student relationships can create a launchpad for self-discovery and success.

What would your college experience be like if your wildest ambitions were met not with barriers, but with hands reaching back to help? Hear how Marquette and the Wade Scholarship helped Kennedi Luckett not just survive, but truly thrive.

Episode Highlights:

15:15 - I have like 3 quick things for that. One is Urban Scholars. That is my full tuition scholarship and the groups that I'm a part of just for, because Marquette is a PWI… sometimes it is, you can feel a little ostracized at some points. So being able to be a part of a program where there are a lot of Black and brown students who are dealing with the same sorts of things, being able to be seen in that area and have that community is very much needed. And I feel like it would've been hard to do things at Marquette without that space.

21:12 - Put your mental health first. Cause you're not gonna be able to finish college if your brain is not there. Like if you're mentally burned out, it's just not gonna, it's not going to work out well for you. And you're going to be very upset at how you lived your college life if you didn't actually get to enjoy it. Like I said before, it's genuinely like a safe space for you to mess up or for you to fall without being in real adulthood.

25:37 - I would say my We Are moment has been… Marquette gives you the space to really become whoever you want to become and gives you all, like, the outlets you can and to actually, like, live out what you want if you just go and ask someone. So the support that Marquette in general just has… I would say my We Are Marquette moment is definitely the support that Marquette has shown me with all the endeavors that I want to do, even with like the Visit Milwaukee internship… Just giving me different opportunities to figure out what I want to do or like to grow more into what I want to do.

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Kelly Albrecht welcomes campus ministry veteran Steve Blaha, whose practical wisdom exposes what really happens beyond faith on campus. Discover why "roots and wings" isn’t just feel-good talk. It’s a formula for how Marquette students thrive emotionally, spiritually, and in leadership. If you think campus ministry is only for devout Catholics, prepare to rethink everything.

Steve Blaha breaks down how faith, service learning, and multi-faith engagement converge to build students’ confidence and resilience. He reveals how tough transitions, grief, and personal questioning are met with concrete support, not clichés.

Wondering how a university’s spiritual core shapes students to lead, serve, and heal? Find out how Steve Blaha’s approach to campus ministry sets Marquette apart.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Trust yourselves. Trust your kids. Parents, you got this. You've been doing this really well for 18 years with each of your kids. Keep leaning into that. Keep loving them. Keep giving them space. They're going to grow.

14:16 - Each time one of our students experiences a loss, and many of our students experience very big losses during their time at Marquette, it's just something that we just naturally need to like just wrap them up and support them and care for them and walk with them. And that's not a short-term thing. It is as long as they need us, we really want to be there supporting them.

26:50 - It's part of welcoming everyone in the world to come and study here together, to think on the big questions together, to try to work towards the world's needs together so that when students graduate, they've got that muscle memory. They're able to do that where they live and with whom they work. And that makes the world better. And so we're an important part of that equation.

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Forget everything you thought you knew about college support. Marquette's hidden curriculum is more than just academics.

In this episode, Kelly Albrecht, CARE Team Case Manager, and Zabrian Oglesby, Assistant Dean of Students, get real about the invisible systems and people that remove student roadblocks, from first-gen challenges to crisis management and CARE teams. If you’ve ever wondered who actually “does the intentional care work on campus,” this is your inside look at the stewards behind student success.

Does your university truly support students, or do invisible obstacles hold them back? Find out which critical gaps Marquette bridges for students, parents, and even staff, plus the stories that seldom get told.

Episode Highlights:

13:49 – Don’t ever forget that. Even if you make a mistake, even if you have a setback, that does not mean you are not a successful Marquette student because you do belong here, and we're going to help you get back on track.

25:57 – Students aren't numbers. They're individuals, and we uphold that all the time. For the spirit of equity, some of those folks need more unique support. Now that student is a junior and is thriving and doing amazing things. That was another time to me where I knew I could hand the care of someone, some individual student, to another person and not feel like it was going to fall. Nobody was going to drop that ball.

22:39 – That was like seeing that in action, seeing that happen. I was like, only at Marquette. That is a Marquette moment where we made that happen. I, in that moment was like, I'm not exactly sure what to do here, but I know we can do something right. But that student is going to go on to do amazing things with their life, and I was just proud of being a part of Marquette University in that situation.

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