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In The Margins

In The Margins

By: Diverse Education
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Summary

 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
  • EP167: The Future of Community Colleges: Leadership, Funding, and Student Success | Jee Hang Lee

    EP167: The Future of Community Colleges: Leadership, Funding, and Student Success | Jee Hang Lee
    May 7 2026
    In this episode of In The Margins, Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, host of Discovering Your Mission, sits down with Jee Hang Lee, President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), for a timely and unfiltered conversation on the future of community colleges, leadership, and student success. Drawing from his journey from Capitol Hill to leading one of the most influential organizations in higher education, Lee shares a national perspective on the growing pressures facing community colleges, from funding uncertainty and political complexity to increasing competition across the education landscape. He challenges leaders to rethink how institutions define value, emphasizing that programs must translate into real economic opportunity for students. Their conversation dives deep into what separates high-performing governing boards, the evolving role of college presidents, and why leadership today requires far more than academic expertise. Lee also unpacks the importance of long-term strategic thinking, workforce alignment, and building systems that truly support students, especially those navigating complex life circumstances. At its core, this episode is a call to action: for leaders to stay mission-driven, think systemically, and ensure that community colleges remain not just a point of access but a pathway to lasting success. KEY POINTS: Jee Hang Lee's journey from public policy to leading ACCT and advocating for community colleges The growing pressure to prove the economic value of higher education programs in a post-pandemic world Why community college programs must align with real wages and workforce outcomes The shift toward stackable learning and incremental education pathways for modern students The 3 core governance principles (duty of care, loyalty, obedience) that define high-performing boards How funding instability and state-level decisions are reshaping institutional strategy The expanding competition from four-year institutions entering workforce and associate degree spaces Why today's college presidents must operate as advocates, fundraisers, communicators, and crisis managers The importance of long-term strategic planning, including demographic shifts and enrollment pipelines Why community colleges may be the "first and last door" to higher education for many students Leadership requires a mission beyond compensation to sustain impact and longevity QUOTABLES: "We have to do a better job of showcasing the earning potential… and really showcase that there is substantive value for our students." – Jee Hang Lee "Politics has always… permeated public institutions of higher education." – Jee Hang Lee "You have to have a grounding of why you do your job." – Jee Hang Lee "Providing that opportunity to build your educational platform… is something that we should be focusing on." – Jee Hang Lee GUEST RESOURCES: Jee Hang Lee | ACCT ItsDrMordecai.com - Official Website of Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee 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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    31 mins
  • EP166: Meet Dr. Michael Baston, Recipient of the 2026 The EDU Ledger Champions Award

    EP166: Meet Dr. Michael Baston, Recipient of the 2026 The EDU Ledger Champions Award
    Apr 9 2026
    In this episode of In The Margins, we sit down with Dr. Michael Baston, President of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) and recipient of the 2026 EDU Ledger Champions Award, for a timely conversation on leadership, student success, and the future of community colleges. Drawing from his journey as a first-generation college student and former public interest attorney, Baston reflects on how personal experience shaped his commitment to building institutions that don't leave students to "figure it out" on their own. He shares how community colleges serve as powerful engines of opportunity, particularly for working, adult, and underserved learners navigating complex life demands alongside their education. The conversation, with host David Pluviose, explores how institutional design, not just intention, drives student outcomes. From rethinking enrollment and retention strategies to embedding support directly into academic pathways, Baston outlines a bold, systems-level approach to improving completion, scaling support, and aligning education with workforce realities. He also challenges leaders to move beyond performative partnerships and toward outcome-driven collaborations with K–12 systems, employers, and transfer institutions, which ensure students are supported from entry through career. This conversation is a call for intentional leadership: building culture first, designing systems around real student needs, and creating pathways that turn access into lasting opportunity. KEY POINTS: Baston's journey from public interest law to higher education leadership First-generation student experiences highlight the need for institutions to provide structured support Retention is a primary driver of enrollment growth Institutions must design systems that meet students where they are, especially working and part-time learners Embedding academic, financial, and career planning into programs is essential for completion Traditional higher education systems often create unnecessary barriers (language, bureaucracy, and process) Strong partnerships must produce measurable outcomes for students Community colleges should align with workforce needs, from upskilling to employer partnerships Leadership requires building institutional culture before implementing large-scale change QUOTABLES: "The power of possibility happens in community colleges for communities." – Dr. Michael Baston "I think about all the stuff I didn't have, all the mentors I didn't have, all of the organized support I didn't have when I came into college." – Dr. Michael Baston "We then have to design an institution that puts people in the best possible position to succeed." – Dr. Michael Baston "For too many colleges, it's easier to get out of school than to get in school." – Dr. Michael Baston "Partnerships are not taking pictures in front of banners… they have to have real outcomes." – Dr. Michael Baston GUEST RESOURCES: Dr. Michael Baston Awards/Honors > Champions Award | The EDU Ledger 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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    33 mins
  • EP165: Black Woman on Board: Power, Access, and the Legacy of Claudia Hampton

    EP165: Black Woman on Board: Power, Access, and the Legacy of Claudia Hampton
    Mar 19 2026
    In this powerful episode of In The Margins, our newest content partner Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, host of Discovering Your Mission, sits down with Dr. Donna J. Nicol, Associate Dean for Personnel and Curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts at California State University Long Beach (CSULB), and author of Black Woman on Board, to explore the remarkable leadership story of Dr. Claudia Hampton – the first Black woman appointed to the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees. Drawing from her research and personal reflections, Nicol unpacks how Hampton navigated the complex power dynamics of higher education governance during a pivotal era for affirmative action and institutional access. Rather than relying solely on confrontation, Hampton employed what Nicol describes as "sly civility" or a strategic leadership approach that balanced diplomacy, influence, and long-term vision to expand opportunity for underrepresented students. The conversation moves beyond biography to examine broader lessons about leadership inside systems not originally designed for inclusion. From board politics and racial dynamics to strategic advocacy and mission-driven service, Nicol offers a powerful framework for emerging leaders navigating institutions today. At its core, this episode explores the enduring question of leadership: when to speak, when to build capital, and how to use influence to create lasting change. KEY POINTS: Nicol's academic journey and her commitment to equity and leadership in higher education How Black Woman on Board uncovers the overlooked story of CSU trustee Dr. Claudia Hampton Hampton as the first Black woman appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees Understanding "sly civility" through building trust and influence before deploying power Board politics, race, and gender shaped the dynamics of higher education governance in the 1970s and beyond How Hampton strategically negotiated resources and leadership decisions to advance affirmative action and institutional access Effective leadership requires understanding when to speak forcefully and when to build alliances quietly The importance of mission-driven leadership and serving students QUOTABLES: "I've always believed that every person has a mission. It's something you discover through experience, through challenge, and through a deep commitment to serving others." – Dr. Mordecai Brownlee "I stayed with a major that I was passionate about, as opposed to one that I thought might be lucrative." – Dr. Donna J. Nicol "Sly civility requires you to be civil with the people who have power in order for you to gain access to their institutions." – Dr. Donna J. Nicol "My personal mission is to provide the greatest good for the greatest number." – Dr. Donna J. Nicol GUEST RESOURCES: Dr. Donna J. Nicol ItsDrMordecai.com - Official Website of Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee 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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    30 mins
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