Varying Viewpoints

In this episode, one of our 2022 John Smartt Summer Scholar interns, Lesley Rivas, spoke with Joseph Soares, Professor of Sociology at Wake Forest University. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic higher education institutions were forced to rethink their admissions processes, specifically in terms of standardized exams. As a result, many institutions adopted test-optional policies which has carried over into present day admission practices. Throughout the episode, Joseph defines “college-readiness” for high school students, evaluates the inequities of standardized testing, and proposes a space to re-imagine college preparation in K-12 classrooms. Joseph concludes the conversation by looking at a unique opportunity for educational leaders to critically examine the necessity of the high-stakes assessment.

In this episode, we invited Julie Wu, Maya Patel, and Alexis Vanderhoof to speak on the one major tactic used by students at college and university campuses across the country – action planning. Julie Wu is the Youth Programs Manager & Creative Design Lead at Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote). Maya Patel is a graduate student getting a master's in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Alexis Vanderhoof is a junior at Georgia Gwinnett College and she is a democracy fellow with the Campus Vote Project. They are all affiliated with the Student Learn Student Vote Coalition (SLSV). Julie, Maya, and Alexis shed light on what action planning is, why it is important, and how it has supported their campus civic engagement efforts.

In this episode, Alicia Nani Reyes, a 2022 John Smartt Summer Scholar, spoke with Theresa Stewart Ambo, an assistant professor of educational studies at the University of California, San Diego. The majority of higher education institutions in the United States are settled on stolen Indigenous Land, which has led to those colleges and universities reckoning with their past in the form of land acknowledgments. These settler land acknowledgments address the historical dispossession of Indigenous Peoples, but often forget to recognize that these very communities are still here. Theresa speaks on her experience in engaging in research around critiquing the usage of land acknowledgments and gives her perspectives as an Indigenous person. Theresa also discusses how institutions can refrain from their statements being performative and take direct action, which will advance justice for Indigenous peoples, communities, and students.

In this episode we spoke with Deja Joi Brewster, Program Coordinator at Student Veterans of America (SVA). The conversation reflects on CMSI and SVA’s year-long partnership, which included podcast episodes and a robust social media campaign, how the partnership has benefitted student veterans at MSIs, and what SVA has planned next.

In this episode, Alexis Weatherspoon, a 2022 John Smart Summer Scholar intern, spoke with Ajamu Webster, a professional engineer and president of Du Bois Consultants. Ajamu started his own structural and civil engineering firm in 1988, and has volunteered countless hours to serve Black students and the Black community through his firm. With the majority of civic professionalism research focusing on education professionals shaping the community, there has been an argument that “professionalism” is inaccessible to other communities, thus giving them less agency to solve systemic injustices. What happens when professionals within the community take on the responsibility to promote civic engagement and create a “third space” that allows for unlearning, critical consciousness, and exposure to different career outcomes? Ajamu shares his personal and professional experiences while starting his career as an engineer.

In this episode, the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institution (CMSI) has a conversation with their new partner Fordham Center for Cybersecurity’s -Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative (CEDI). In this introductory discussion, we spoke with CEDI Co-Chairs, Thaier Hayajneh and Amelia Estwick. Thaier and Amelia provide an overview of CEDI’s mission, accomplishments, and goals. They address the importance of diversification in cybersecurity, the pathways to cybersecurity success for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), as well as the necessity of constructing a professional pipeline within the cybersecurity workforce. In part of this partnership, CMSI is conducting targeted outreach via social media to increase awareness of CEDI’s programs. Additionally, CEDI offers MSIs the opportunity to develop cybersecurity programs through an application process you can find here. The conversation concludes with the mutual benefits for MSIs considering these programs and the importance of the innovative and cross-sector partnership between CMSI and CEDI.

In this episode, Naziema Jappie, a visiting scholar at the Proctor Institute and the Director of the Center of Higher Education at the University of Cape Town, talks with Marybeth Gasman, the Executive Director of Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute and Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, about the complexity of social justice, diversity, and inclusion in South African higher education systems. Naziema delves deep into the history of South Africa and how it has played a significant role in the formation of higher education institutions today. She also discusses her journey in higher education, her justice-oriented research on Black women collegians, and the critical systemic change that leaders in higher education must make within colleges and universities in South Africa.

In this episode, Leah P. Hollis, a visiting scholar of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice, invited Tara Blackshear, Assistant Professor at Towson University, Equity Scholar, and Educational Consultant of Health, Physical Activity, and Education, to join her for a conversation. The discussion explores physical, social, and economic structures impeding health and physical activity in Black communities, specifically among Black girls and women, across the United States. Tara provided insight into the intricate connections between racial inequities, physical engagement, and success in academics. Their conversation concludes with Tara discussing her upcoming book Critical Race Studies in Physical Education with co-author, Brian Culp. Inspired by true events, Critical Race Studies in Physical Education depicts the joy, humanity, and prosperity of Black youth in educational settings based on teacher pedagogical practices and beliefs through various case studies. The publication is designed for students and teachers in education programs as well as a tool for professional development.

In this episode, Anna-Kaye, one of our Visiting Scholars, invited Tierney Bates, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Special Projects and Executive Director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to join us. Anna-Kaye and Tierney discuss career mapping for professionals that work in higher education and why colleges are having trouble retaining employees. In the conversation, Tierney challenges the often bureaucratic policies in higher education and unpacks why he believes the policies are preventing talent advancement within the field. When advising those on the job market, Tierney breaks down performance and relationship currency and how they both benefit candidates pursuing careers in higher education. He begs the question “what does your success look like?” and advises the audience to be intentional when career mapping and go where people and talent drive the culture.

In this episode, we invited Elliot Felix, founder and CEO of brightspot strategy, to join us. Higher education has changed dramatically over the last decade. Specifically when it comes to defining student success, from an academic standpoint, a social stance, and a career stance. Building on Elliot Felix’s new book, How to Get the Most out of College, this podcast explores the concept of higher education today and how students can design their college experience and tailor it to fit their needs.