“Shoot your shot. I applied to countless internships. I ended up in Iceland. I ended up at Princeton. Never think you're not good enough.” 

In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Laken Chapin, a first-generation graduate from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Accounting. Laken grew up in rural Bad Axe, Michigan, where she learned the values of hard work, community, and perseverance—lessons that carried her through college and beyond.

Laken shares her inspiring journey from a small-town high school class of 52 students to a large university with more than 20,000 peers. She talks about the culture shock of navigating campus life, the hidden curriculum of college expectations, and the very real gaps rural students face when it comes to public transportation, digital literacy, and access to resources.

Laken also opens up about her study abroad experience in Iceland, being selected for a public policy fellowship at Princeton University, and how she’s now applying all she’s learned in her current role as a Community Economic Development Fellow in Cass City, Michigan. From helping write grants to deciding which Main Street trees to remove, Laken is doing work that directly impacts her hometown and the people in it.

This episode is a powerful look at rural resilience, advocacy, and the importance of believing in your worth—even when the world hasn’t shown you what’s possible yet. If you work in higher ed or care about student success, Laken’s story is one you need to hear.

 "I’m a middle-aged mom, and here I was back in college. But I would tell anyone—if you’ve got a goal, go for it. Don’t let the barriers of being a rural student stop you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way." 

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Gina Sheurman, a first-generation college graduate and rural advocate from West-Central Illinois. Gina recently earned her MBA from the University of Illinois–Springfield—more than 20 years after completing her undergraduate degree—and graduated on the same day as her son.

Gina shares her incredible journey through higher education as a non-traditional student, working professional, and parent. From switching majors and returning home to help her family’s business, to balancing work, school, and family responsibilities, Gina offers an honest and inspiring look at what it means to pursue education later in life. She also kept a blog about her experiences in graduate school: "Surviving and Thriving - A Journey of Change." I highly encourage you to check it out. 

Finally, Gina talks about the systemic barriers that rural students face—including limited access to advanced high school courses, transfer student financial aid gaps, and unreliable internet—and calls on institutions to rethink how they support adult learners.

This is a great episode with a lot of practical, real-world advice for current and future rural students. Enjoy!

"I didn’t have the same number of hours in the day as my peers. I was commuting, working, trying to figure out public transportation for the first time. And I was still expected to compete on the same level. We don’t lack drive or talent — we just don’t have the same time." 

That quote comes from Rin Baker, a rural student from upstate New York who joins Dr. Matt Newlin for the latest episode of the Rural College Student Experience. Rin is a first-generation student from Hartford, New York, a small rural town nestled in farmland. Rin is currently completing her M.A. in English at Georgetown University, where her thesis explores working-class autoethnography — a powerful form of memoir that captures the lived realities of working-class individuals in academic spaces. 

Rin shares her incredible journey through the SUNY system, navigating community college, multiple transfers, and the unique challenges of transitioning from rural life to a major city. She opens up about the institutional barriers she faced — from inaccessible public transportation to unfamiliar campus systems — and the resilience it took to succeed in elite academic environments. 

This episode touches on: 

• What it means to grow up with limited access but unlimited creativity
• How SUNY’s transfer system supported her educational path
• The loss and reclamation of her small-town accent
• The invisible costs of higher education for rural and working-class students
• Why rural students are some of the most resourceful, determined learners in the country

Whether you're a rural student, a first-gen scholar, or someone committed to educational equity, this episode will leave you inspired and informed. Rin’s story is one of grit, brilliance, and the quiet power of showing up — even when the odds are long.

“I have a Walmart Index of Rurality. One Walmart? You’re a decent-sized town. More than one? Okay, you’re big.”

In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Stephanie Zackery, a third-year, award-winning Counseling Psychology PhD student at New Mexico State University. Stephanie grew up in a no-stoplight town in rural Oklahoma and is now researching how mentorship shapes the college experience, especially for Black and Native American students from rural communities.

Stephanie shares her journey from a high school class of 24 to pursuing her doctorate, and how early leadership roles in 4-H and public speaking helped her build the confidence and skills to thrive. She opens up about the importance of natural mentors, the unique barriers rural students face, and the need for institutions to stop overlooking rural backgrounds on college applications.

Whether she’s talking about her “Walmart Index of Rurality” or patching up jeans with her grandmother, Stephanie brings humor, honesty, and deep insight to this conversation.

Stephanie is currently recruiting participants for her current research study on Black rural college students. Be sure to check out her work on LinkedIn and her website.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Avery Bass, a first-year student at North Carolina State University majoring in Genetics, with minors in Biotechnology and Microbiology. Avery is originally from Pikeville, North Carolina, a small rural town in the eastern part of the state, and graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School.

Avery shares what it was like growing up in a tight-knit rural community and how her early exposure to science camps—and the support of her family—helped her discover a passion for genetics. She talks about the academic and institutional barriers rural students still face, including lack of access to opportunities, college prep resources, and information about scholarships. Avery also reflects on the critical role of mentorship and representation in her journey toward a career in biotechnology, where she hopes to research new treatment approaches for rare genetic diseases.

We also discuss the importance of belonging on large college campuses and how programs like NC State’s Life Sciences First Year Program can help rural students transition and thrive.

Connect with Avery and follow her journey: Avery E. Bass on LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Rural College Student Experience and don’t forget to rate and share to elevate more rural student voices.

Know a rural student who would make a great guest? Apply at bit.ly/4jNqmS5. 

We’re back! Season 3 of The Rural College Student Experience is here and it's our most powerful season yet. 

Join host Dr. Matt Newlin as we continue to center the voices of rural college students—sharing their stories, their challenges, and the incredible strengths they bring to higher education. 

This season, we’re bringing you: 

• More graduate students than ever before—trailblazing their way through higher ed, social work, law, and more.
• A special mini-series with the North State Student Ambassadors at Chico State, a group of students working to strengthen the bridge between their rural hometowns and the university.
• A thoughtful panel of Rural Admissions Interns from Notre Dame, offering insight into access, outreach, and the future of rural student recruitment at highly selective institutions.

Whether you're tuning in from a dorm, your commute, or your hometown, Season 3 has something for you. If you're passionate about educational equity, rural student success, or just love honest, student-centered conversations—this is your show. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host Mallorie Goodwin to discuss the Heartland Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. Mallorie is a sophomore at Wash U and grew up in Waynesville, Missouri, about two hours west of St. Louis. She is also a Rural Peer Ambassador working to increase enrollment and belonging for other rural students.

Joining Matt and Mallorie is Dacoda Scarlett, Associate Director for Rural Recruitment, Undergraduate Admissions at Washington University in St. Louis. Dacoda shares how WashU is trying to attract and retain more rural students. He also talks about the university's participation in the larger STARS College Network.

Be sure to follow us on X (@rcsepod) and subscribe wherever you get your podcast so you will be notified when a new episode is available. 

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Andrew Wichert to discuss mental health in rural spaces. Andrew comes from Northeastern Ohio and is attending Kent State University. He is currently working on his Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology. After completing his degrees, Andrew plans on continuing with his Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies with a concentration in Nonprofit Studies. He has had various types of jobs including managing amusement parks, working in the construction industry, and being a student employee at Kent State. He plans to continue his career in higher education upon the competition of his Bachelor’s degree.

Joining Andrew and Matt is Dr. Loni Crumb, an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education Program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Professions at East Carolina University and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Dr. Crumb has authored over 80 scholarly publications and professional presentations related to student affairs in higher education, counseling and wellness, and holistic college student development. Her research interests include counseling in rural areas, rural education, promoting retention and persistence of underserved students in higher education, college student mental health, and social justice and multicultural training.

On this episode, creator/host Dr. Matt Newlin discusses the rural working-class identity with co-host Samuel Locklear. Samuel was born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina and is a first-generation working-class college student. He is currently attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke pursuing a degree in Nursing. 

Joining Samuel and Matt in this discussion is Dr. Michele Fazio. Dr. Fazio is Professor of English, director of the Pembroke Mellon REACH Program, and co-coordinator of the Gender Studies Minor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she teaches courses on 20th century American literature, contemporary U.S. ethnic literature, and working-class studies. She has served as president of the Working-Class Studies Association and co-edited the Routledge International Handbook of Working-Class Studies (2021). 

Thank you for listening to this special SPOTLIGHT episode of the Rural College Student Experience. On today’s episode, we have a very special guest, Madison Mellinger. Madison is a senior at Princeton University and is from Chambersburg, PA. She is studying in the School of Public and International Affairs with a focus on education and environmental policy, particularly as such policy relates to rural communities. In 2021, she founded Princeton's first rural student affinity group. 

In this episode, we’re focusing on Small Town to Campus, a student-led conference for rural students which Madison spearheaded. The conference took place virtually in February 2023. I spoke with Madison soon after the conference about how the event became a reality and her future plans. 

As always, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Twitter at @rcsepod. Thank you and enjoy this special SPOTLIGHT episode.