In this episode, we sit down for an insightful conversation with Sarita E. Brown (president) and Deborah A. Santiago (CEO) of Excelencia in Education. Together, they discuss the organization’s mission and its transformative journey over the past two decades.

As co-founders, Brown and Santiago reflect on their decision to create Excelencia with a vision to amplify the Latinx voice in higher education policy. Over the years, the organization has evolved from a focus on providing data and research to forging impactful partnerships with institutions to drive meaningful change. Both emphasize the critical role of trust, intentionality, and shared vision in their leadership model.

Tune in, hear inspiring success stories, and learn more about the Presidents for Latino Student Success Network and recognition for exemplary practitioner-led programs. This episode also explores opportunities for partnerships with civic and community organizations beyond the higher education sector and navigating equity work post-2024 election.

Moderated by Diverse host Ralph Newell, join us as we celebrate two milestones—Excelencia in Education’s 20th anniversary and Diverse’s 40th year—gaining valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to advance equity and success for Latino students.

KEY POINTS:

- Meet the co-founders of Excelencia in Education, learn how they started

- The strategic plan — data & research, evidence-based practices, and leadership

- Mission to drive positive attention to effective programs and practices

- Overcoming infrastructure challenges

- The future of higher education and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs)

- Adapting to policy changes and new administration

- Financial aid impact on Latino students

- Ensuring the Seal of Excelencia remains a valuable tool for institutions

RESOURCES:

Our Story | Excelencia in Education

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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this episode we welcome Dr. Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Listen in as Pérez and Diverse host Ralph Newell delve into the potential implications of the 2024 election on federal education policies, focusing on the challenges faced by underrepresented students. Pérez emphasizes the critical need for equitable access to higher education, and the importance of supporting mental health for students and professionals.

Pérez also explores NACAC's response to the recent Supreme Court rulings affecting college admission policies. Highlighting the organization’s efforts to sustain diversity and equity through strategic partnerships with community organizations.

Don’t miss this timely discussion on a whole host of issues surrounding admissions, leadership and DEI advocacy in higher education in today’s political landscape.

KEY POINTS:

- Impact of the 2024 US Presidential election, especially for underrepresented students

- NACAC's vision for supporting mental health issues on college campuses

- Key steps to address concerns on the Department of Education’s potential elimination

- Growth plan: NACAC’s creation of the Center for Reimagining College Access

- The need for support from corporations, foundations, and a "Coalition of the Willing"

- Perez's journey and how it shaped his approach to equity in higher education

- AI in the admissions process

- NACAC's efforts to help colleges maintain diversity and equity

- DEI progress in higher education and its challenges

-Remembering Frank Burtnett, former NACAC executive director and Diverse contributor

QUOTES:

“We are not only moving forward, we are determined to build what we’re going to need. This is my call to action – we're going to need a coalition of willing organizations.” — Dr. Angel B. Pérez

“It's going to be really important that corporations and those that have resources get involved, because we need to think about these issues, not just through a college access perspective, but through a workforce development perspective.” — Dr. Angel B. Pérez

RESOURCES:

Dr. Angel B. Pérez

NACAC - Meet-the-team

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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this episode, we share a replay of the October 8th roundtable discussion "Justice for Marcus Garvey."

Presented by Broadleaf Books, in partnership with the African American Literary Book Club, The Harlem Writers Guild, and Diverse, this discussion is a tribute to and a rallying cry for one of the preeminent champions of Black pride and self-determination. Join Marcus Garvey’s son, Dr. Julius Garvey along with: Alyssa Miller (moderator), Diane Richards, W. Paul Coates, Dr. Goulda Downer, Safiya Parker-Norman, Rev. Yvonne Hawkins, and Dr. Ayo Sekai.

Discover how the “Black Is Beautiful” movement has been influenced by Garveyism and learn more about the new book Justice for Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind, which features a foreword by acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Tune in as panelists keep the flame of Marcus Garvey's legacy alive and inspire the next generation of social justice activists.

KEY POINTS:

- How Garvey's philosophy of Pan-Africanism, emphasizing the dignity and unity of the African diaspora, inspired later civil rights and independence movements.

- How the Negro World newspaper and the Black Star Line shipping company demonstrated Garvey’s vision for economic self-determination and independence for Black communities.

- The legal case against Garvey, which resulted in his conviction for mail fraud in 1923, was seen as a politically motivated attempt to undermine his influential movement.

- Ongoing efforts preserve Garvey’s legacy and the need to correct historical injustices.

- The pivotal role of scholarship, publishing, and archiving Garvey's works.

QUOTABLES:

“Marcus Garvey articulated a particular philosophy that was African based in terms of the autonomy and the sovereignty of African people in terms of their history, traditions, and culture. The world at that time, certainly, the country at that time was basically quite racist… Capitalism is a racist economical system. It's built on the backs of African people." – Dr. Julius Garvey

"We will not lose courage. We will not lose faith. We will go forward and take advantage of every opportunity and where there's none, we will make it for ourselves." - The Honorable Marcus Garvey; as quoted by Paul Coates

GUEST RESOURCES:

Justice for Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind with a foreword by Ta-Nehisi Coates | Julius Garvey (Editor), Ta-Nehisi Coates (Foreword)

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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this episode we sit down with Michael Heim, the Director of Migrant Education Student Access & Support (MESAS) at Washington State University Pullman (WSU).

Heim has overseen both the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at WSU for seven years. Under his leadership, WSU CAMP has been selected as this year’s Example of Excelencia at the baccalaureate level.

Created in 2005 by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is a national initiative that identifies and promotes evidence-based practices improving Latinx student success in higher education.

Tune in as Heim, and Diverse host Ralph Newell, dive deep into the inner workings of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which supports students from migrant and seasonal farm working backgrounds during their first year of college.

WSU’s CAMP serves a cohort of Latinx students annually, focusing on retention through evidence-based practices that positively impact these students' educational journeys. Despite its successes, the conversation also explores the challenges CAMP faces, such as the need for continued support beyond the first year and the role of community partnerships in sustaining student success.

This is the third feature in our series of four schools being recognized in 2024 by Excelencia in Education. In case you missed it, check out our prior episode featuring this year’s Example of Excelencia at the associate level: Getting to Know the EAP program at Reading Area Community College episode.

KEY POINTS:

- WSU emphasizes diversity, focusing on its growing Latinx population.

- CAMP supports students facing challenges, leading to a 10% higher graduation rate.

- More funding could further boost CAMP’s retention and graduation outcomes.

- How Heim’s work with CAMP has shaped his views on education access for underserved groups.

- Ongoing support from K-12 to higher ed is vital for migrant students.

- The University of Idaho tragedy underscores the need to validate student concerns and build trust.

- WSU and University of Idaho CAMP programs foster community among migrant students.

QUOTABLES:

“CAMP is a program specifically designed to help students who come from a background in migrant and seasonal farm working to have success during the first year and transition into their second year. – Michael Heim

"The stronger the foundation for that student, the more successful they'll be later." – Michael Heim

"The goal is to really serve the state as a land grant institution. We've noticed that at least one sector is kind of growing pretty quickly and that population is our Latinx student population." – Michael Heim

GUEST RESOURCES:

Michael Heim

Examples of Excelencia | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

Tune in as Clarissa Martínez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, discusses the need for accurate information and education to ensure full election participation and encourage eligible Latino voters to register to vote.

Committed to strengthening civil society, De Castro spearheads initiatives that emphasize the significance of ongoing, year-round voter empowerment and engagement efforts. She highlights the importance of voter registration and turnout among Latino youth.

Join in as she, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, take a deep look at how the Latino Vote Initiative works to increase civic engagement and voter registration among Latino communities — registering 150,000 voters by the end of the cycle. Despite being a significant voting bloc, De Castro shares that Latinos often face voter suppression and lack of outreach challenges.

This discussion is part-two of our Election 2024 two-part series. In part-one we looked at Voter Suppression and the Importance of Minoritized Youth Voting in the United States with Dr. Carol Anderson.

KEY POINTS:

- The Latino Vote Initiative seeks to increase understanding and empower communities in the electoral process.

- 8 out of 10 Latinos in the U.S. are citizens, and 9 out of 10 under age 18 are citizens, dispelling common misconceptions.

- The initiative is driving voter registration efforts, including digital outreach to over 150,000 new Latino voters.

- A key focus is educating first-time and young Latino voters on their rights and voting options.

- Voter suppression tactics, such as false immigration voting claims and voter purges, present challenges for Latino voters.

- Economic concerns like cost of living, jobs, and healthcare are top priorities for Latino voters.

- Lack of outreach from politicians and political parties has contributed to apathy among young Latino voters.

QUOTABLES:

"The reality is that the majority of Latinos in this country are United States citizens. Eight out of 10 Latinos are United States citizens." – Clarissa Martínez De Castro

“The work we do on the agency side —- registration, education, and get out the vote, and then on the narrative side – an accurate understanding of these voters. We do very robust polling.” – Clarissa Martínez De Castro

GUEST RESOURCES:

Clarissa Martínez De Castro

UnidosUS - Latino civil rights and advocacy

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Carol Anderson, a renowned professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of five books, including her bestseller White Rage which won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.

Anderson discusses the challenges and strategies for engaging youth voters, particularly in African American and Latino communities. She identifies structural barriers, such as voter ID laws and inconvenient polling locations, that hinder participation, emphasizing the importance of civic education and community organizing.

Tune in as she, and Diverse host Ralph Newell, delve into the implications of the Shelby County v. Holder decision, which removed federal oversight of state voting laws, leading to voter suppression affecting minorities. She shares inspiring grassroots initiatives that have successfully countered voter suppression, like the 2017 Alabama senate election, and urges young voters to register, plan their voting, and use their collective power to drive meaningful change.

This discussion is part-one of our Election 2024 two-part series aimed to empower youth voter engagement, particularly among marginalized communities. In part-two Clarissa Martínez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, joins us for a focused look at the importance of the Latino electorate.

KEY POINTS:

- Anderson's early experiences with injustice shaped her interest in history and politics.

- Voter ID laws and polling location issues limit youth participation, especially in communities of color.

- The gap between young voters' expectations and slow political change can be discouraging, but civic education is essential.

- The end of Voting Rights Act oversight has enabled voter suppression tactics like closures and purges.

- "White rage" refers to backlash against African American progress throughout history.

- Attacks on critical race theory reflect resistance to discussions of race and equality.

- How Anderson encourages young voters to embrace their power despite ongoing challenges.

QUOTABLES:

"The backlash would not be there unless we were fighting for our equality. And as we fight for our equality, we keep moving just an inch further closer to what that equality looks like." – Dr. Carol Anderson

"When you have that massive group coming out voting, then they have to pay attention to gun safety legislation, criminal justice reform, [and] climate change… They have to pay attention to voting rights, reproductive rights, [and] LGBTQ rights." – Dr. Carol Anderson

GUEST RESOURCES:

Dr. Carol Anderson

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

Created in 2005 by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is a national initiative that identifies and promotes evidence-based practices improving Latinx student success in higher education. This year, the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program at Reading Area Community College (RACC) was chosen as the Example of Excelencia at the associate level.

In this episode we are joined by Eleisha Moreno, associate professor and coordinator; and Crystal Schilthuis, full-time faculty member at RACC.

Tune is as they, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, discuss the significance of the EAP program, its impact on Latinx students, and their leadership roles in fostering an inclusive learning environment focused on helping students develop skills for academic success.

The 2024 Examples of Excelencia recognized at the baccalaureate, graduate and community-based level are also being featured on In The Margins this year.

KEY POINTS:

- RACC is named the 2024 Example of Excelencia at the associate level for its English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.

- Over 60% of Reading, PA population is Hispanic/Latino; 50% speak a language other than English.

- How Moreno and Schilthuis found their passion in teaching ESL/EAP students.

- How the EAP program streamlined, improving success in English composition and general education.

- EAP focuses on academic skills, not just language acquisition, which is distinct from traditional ESL

- Challenges in destigmatizing EAP as well as improving communication of its benefits to faculty and students.

QUOTABLES:

"Our classes are considered prerequisites for a lot of 100-level courses, but there are some classes that students can take to fulfill electives or maybe other general education requirements while they're in our classes." – Eleisha Moreno

“Our academic literacy and language center [are] the big things that we do. There are also other things that we do, not necessarily for advanced students, but we offer a free conversation group. Our budget allows for that…more open to the community; and maybe, our students' friends and family members." – Crystal Schilthuis

GUEST RESOURCES:

Eleisha Moreno

Crystal Schilthuis

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LinkedIn

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).