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In The Margins

In The Margins

By: Diverse Education
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 Achieving equality in higher education. The stakes have never been higher. The issues never more complex. Who graduates, and why? Who is getting hired as faculty and what is their experience? In each episode, we will look at issues surrounding students, faculty, diversity and inclusion, and skyrocketing college costs. From critical conversation to news, numbers, and analysis — we've got you covered. You can count on Diverse's In The Margins to bring you the latest, most relevant thought leadership as it pertains to diversity, inclusion, and equity in higher education. As the national expert, we've been doing this for almost 40 years in print and on the web (diverseeducation.com). Now we are excited to expand the conversation via this podcast. We will tackle these topics, and more, head-on. Listen weekly for a mix of deep dives, short briefs, expert panels, interviews, and more. We are thrilled to bring it to you here, in In The Margins.2020 Politics & Government
Episodes
  • EP161: Beyond the Politics: A New Way to Talk About Equity and Access, with Dr. Kyle Reyes

    EP161: Beyond the Politics: A New Way to Talk About Equity and Access, with Dr. Kyle Reyes
    Dec 18 2025
    Meet Dr. Kyle Reyes, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and former Chief Inclusion Officer at Utah Valley University, whose work sits at the intersection of student success, cultural understanding, and leadership in politically charged times. In this episode, Reyes explores his groundbreaking framework from his book Lenses of Humanity: How Reflection, Connection, and Empathy Can Heal Our World. Drawing from his own lived experience as a former college dropout and first-generation student advocate, Reyes offers a powerful roadmap for navigating higher education's most difficult conversations – especially amid national DEI rollbacks. His discussion with The EDU Ledger host Ralph Newell also unpacks how campuses can continue to support students when identity-based programs are dismantled, why empathy and genuine inquiry matter more than ever, and what it truly means to lead with humanity in polarized environments. Tune in as Reyes dives into the shifting landscape of student support and practical frameworks for educators in higher education despite political pressures. KEY POINTS: Reyes's journey from struggling student and graffiti artist to higher-ed leader How his mixed-race upbringing shaped his work in intercultural understanding The origin of Lenses of Humanity and why reframing DEI through humanity is essential Navigating anti-DEI legislation (while still supporting students effectively) The power of storytelling, empathy, and genuine inquiry to bridge ideological divides The role of institutional culture and cross-training in a post-DEI environment Why identity-based support still matters; and how to sustain it without labels The future of TRIO, GEAR UP, and federally funded access programs Student resilience and the need for holistic advocacy in higher ed QUOTABLES: "Students can perceive care, and they know authentic care when they see it." – Dr. Kyle Reyes "I wanted to dedicate my career to helping students become authors of their own stories." – Dr. Kyle Reyes "This is not some radical agenda. This is a humanity-based effort." – Dr. Kyle Reyes GUEST RESOURCES: Dr. Kyle A. Reyes - Lenses of Humanity LINK TO SPECIAL BOOK OFFER: Purchase The Student Debt Crisis from The EDU Ledger Shop today and receive a signed copy, while supplies last, and a one-year digital subscription to The EDU Ledger. Link: https://shop.theeduledger.com/site/?product=the-student-debt-crisis FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/The-EDU-Ledger X/Twitter: https://x.com/TheEDULedger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEDULedger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheEDULedger Threads: https://www.threads.com/@TheEDULedger Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/TheEDULedger.bsky.social WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEDULedger Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode. In The Margins is produced by The EDU Ledger and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
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    58 mins
  • EP160: Investing in Native Futures: How Native Forward Is Empowering 22,000+ Scholars, with Sara LaBarge

    EP160: Investing in Native Futures: How Native Forward Is Empowering 22,000+ Scholars, with Sara LaBarge
    Nov 27 2025

    Only 16 percent of Native Americans hold a bachelor's degree, but one organization is rewriting that story.

    In this episode of In the Margins, we sit down with Sara A. LaBarge, M.S.Ed., CFRE, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Native Forward Scholars Fund, the nation's largest direct scholarship provider for Native students. A proud citizen of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and an alum of the program herself, Sara shares how Native Forward is breaking barriers in higher education through culturally relevant support, strategic philanthropy, and transformational alliances with federal agencies, tribes, and corporate partners.

    LaBarge discusses how Native Forward has more than doubled its revenue, expanded its reach across all 50 states, and helped over 22,000 Native students from 500 tribes pursue degrees with financial and emotional support tailored to their needs. She also discusses the impact of major philanthropic gifts, such as MacKenzie Scott's $50 million donation, the power of allyship, and the urgent need to fund basic necessities like housing, transportation, and food security to support students' success.

    Key Points:

    - Native student enrollment decline and its root causes

    - How Native Forward has grown its impact and scaled nationwide with 22,000 Native students supported across 500 tribes

    - Tackling food, housing, and transportation needs that hinder degree completion

    - Sara's Story: From Menominee roots to higher-ed changemaker

    - The role of representation and belonging on campus

    - Rising demand, 35% more scholarship applications this year

    - Building cross-cultural alliances and advocating for policy change

    - Transformative Giving: $50M gift fuels scholarships and growth

    - The lasting impact of MacKenzie Scott's trust-based philanthropy

    - How listeners can become allies and support Native education

    - Future Vision? Closing the $150M funding gap for Native scholars.



    Resources:

    Scholarships For Native Students | Native Forward Scholars Fund

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/The-EDU-Ledger

    X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/TheEDULedger

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEDULedger

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheEDULedger

    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@TheEDULedger

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/TheEDULedger.bsky.social

    WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheEDULedger

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

    In The Margins is produced by The EDU Ledger and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • EP159: How the Kaplan Leadership Program Redefines Community College Transfer Success, with Nolvia Delgado

    EP159: How the Kaplan Leadership Program Redefines Community College Transfer Success, with Nolvia Delgado
    Oct 30 2025
    What if community college could serve as a launchpad to the nation's top universities? In this episode, we sit down with Nolvia Delgado, Executive Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF), a former KEF scholar herself, to explore how the foundation's Kaplan Leadership Program helps first-generation and low-income students transfer from community colleges to some of the most prestigious four-year institutions in the country. Delgado shares her own journey from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) to Smith College, and the life-changing mentorship and financial support that made it possible. In conversation with The EDU Ledger host David Pluviose, she unpacks KEF's innovative programs: from the Community College Bridge Program to the digital Transfer Hub, which are closing knowledge gaps, reshaping perceptions of community colleges, and proving that access and excellence can coexist. Don't miss this episode as it offers a masterclass in what real transformation looks like. Key Points: Delgado's Journey: From Dominican-born first-gen student at BMCC to Smith College alumna How KEF is reframing community college as the first two years of a four-year degree, not a lesser path. While only 14% of community college students nationwide earn a bachelor's, over 90% of KEF scholars do. Secret to success: intensive mentorship, transfer guidance, and ongoing support through bachelor's completion. A forthcoming digital platform giving nationwide access to transfer resources and partner school connections. The myth? Elite schools often meet full financial need; KEF scholars graduate with little to no debt. Delgado aims to scale KEF's model so every community college student has a clear, supported path to a bachelor's degree. Quotes: "For us, I think part of our magic sauce is closing that knowledge gap and really working with the scholars so that they understand all the different steps that are required for them to transfer and continuing to support them beyond graduation…we stay with them until they graduate [with] a bachelor's degree." "We teach our scholars that they need to advocate for themselves and make sure that they have everything that they need from their institutions when they get there. That's also part of it." "The goal is really to reach as many students as possible who are entering Community College, and to equip them with the tools, the resources, and the knowledge that they need to close that gap. So, of the 80% of students who are aspiring to earn a bachelor's, we don't have just 30% who are transferring." Resources: Kaplan Educational Foundation Taps KEF Alum Nolvia Delgado as its Next Leader FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edu-ledger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheEDULedger_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEDULedger X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/TheEDULedger WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEDULedger Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode. In The Margins is produced by The EDU Ledger and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
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    27 mins
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