Shows
Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentMeaningful climate action is higher ed’s responsibilityDiscover how higher education serves as a catalyst for climate solutions and societal progress in this live taping of Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent podcast from the 2025 SXSW Podcast Lounge. Leaders in academia, policy, and environmental advocacy will unpack the role learning beyond high school plays in driving innovation, creating climate resilient economies, and preparing the next generation of changemakers. From cutting-edge research to community engagement initiatives, this show explores how higher education leverages resources to tackle climate challenges, advances equity, and builds a more sustainable future. Gain insights into transformative projects and actionable strategies that demonstrate the soci...2025-07-171h 00Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentDo Americans Think College is Worth It?Nearly 9 in 10 Americans that currently do not have a degree believe that earning an academic credential is valuable. And yet, there is waning confidence in higher education across the country, as many people ask if they will get a return on their investment. In this episode, we visit Lupita Trujillo, a mother of three, who shares how these decisions sounded in her household. We also review the latest Gallup-Lumina Foundation reports about perceptions of higher education with Dr. Courtney Brown. REPORTS: The State of Higher Education 2025 - https://www.gallup.com/analytics/644939/state-of-higher-education.aspx ...2025-05-3058 min
Ready for Work58 - From Gridlock to Growth – Better Pathways to Partnership ImpactWhat does it take to transform education and workforce systems in a way that truly reflects local needs? In this episode, we explore the Talent Hub designation—a model-agnostic standard recognizing excellence in cross-sector partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels. Born from Lumina Foundation’s work with 75 pioneering partnerships, Talent Hubs represent a new way of thinking about collaboration. National thought leader Dakota Pawlicki joins us to share lessons learned, practical strategies for scaling what works, and bold ideas for the future of talent development partnerships.Voices of Excellence in Episode 58:Da...2025-05-2116 min
Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentAI is Unable to Outpace Higher EducationThis live session, taped at SXSW 2025, explores the interplay between higher education and artificial intelligence, delving into how academic institutions are responding to the proliferation of AI in the workplace and economy. Leaders from academia, economic development, and industry discuss how universities and colleges are advancing research and equipping students with the skills to lead in an AI-powered future. From addressing social inequities to preparing cities for the economy of the future, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI when nurtured within higher education, and the tradeoffs that must be made in an education system wired for the...2025-04-291h 01
Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentWhat’s a Primary Driver of U.S. Prosperity?In this special edition, we have a conversation on how to drive economic growth, strengthen civic life, and equip individuals to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Experts from workforce, higher education and philanthropy will dive into how learning after high school cultivates a skilled workforce, fosters innovation, and improves quality of life for American communities. This show was recorded live from the podcast lounge at SXSW. 2025-03-3155 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentMascots, Marketing, and Making MovesCommunity colleges play a critical role in America, but many struggle to tell their own story. This episode dives into how schools are using SEO, branding, and mobile-friendly marketing to reshape perceptions and connect with their communities. Guests from Iowa Lakes, Great Falls, and marketing firm TrendyMinds share insights on innovative strategies—including how a mascot helped one college rebrand. Listen in to hear how community colleges are changing the way they communicate. Show Links: The Social Media InstituteIowa Lakes “Get To It” CampaignMo the River Otter Steal These Strategies by Mar...2025-02-261h 36Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentHow FAFSA Got FixedIn a word, the 2024 FAFSA season was rough. Released late, riddled with errors, and issues with processing led to a chaotic college enrollment season for schools and families. With the 2025 FAFSA now released, we took some time to catch up with James Kvaal, Under Secretary of Education to learn how they went about fixing the form. We also talked with Sam Aleinikoff and Dr. Corey Sheffield of College AIM, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, that participated in a pilot group to test the 2025 form. Show Links: College AIM - https://collegeaim.org/Ron Lieber’s Piece about...2025-01-3049 min
FutureMakers Talent TalkWorkforce Development: Rural work and thoughts on why developing expertise in rural communities is importantDakota Pawlicki is the Director of Talent Hubs with CivicLab. Talent Hubs are designated exemplars that stand out for their efforts to ensure that residents of all backgrounds receive education and training after high school. On this episode of Talent Talk, we discuss rural work, the importance of developing expertise in rural communities, and the future of Talent Hubs. In his role as Director, Dakota brings expertise in postsecondary education, collective impact, stakeholder engagement, and change management to a network of nearly 100 cross-sector partnerships, supporting their efforts to improve the human condition. He also hosts Lumina Foundation’s podcast To...2024-10-2546 min
FutureMakers Talent TalkWorkforce Development: Rural work and thoughts on why developing expertise in rural communities is importantDakota Pawlicki is the Director of Talent Hubs with CivicLab. Talent Hubs are designated exemplars that stand out for their efforts to ensure that residents of all backgrounds receive education and training after high school. On this episode of Talent Talk, we discuss rural work, the importance of developing expertise in rural communities, and the future of Talent Hubs. In his role as Director, Dakota brings expertise in postsecondary education, collective impact, stakeholder engagement, and change management to a network of nearly 100 cross-sector partnerships, supporting their efforts to improve the human condition. He also hosts Lumina Foundation’s podcast To...2024-10-2546 min
FutureMakers Talent TalkWorkforce Development: Rural work and thoughts on why developing expertise in rural communities is importantDakota Pawlicki is the Director of Talent Hubs with CivicLab. Talent Hubs are designated exemplars that stand out for their efforts to ensure that residents of all backgrounds receive education and training after high school. On this episode of Talent Talk, we discuss rural work, the importance of developing expertise in rural communities, and the future of Talent Hubs. In his role as Director, Dakota brings expertise in postsecondary education, collective impact, stakeholder engagement, and change management to a network of nearly 100 cross-sector partnerships, supporting their efforts to improve the human condition. He also hosts Lumina Foundation's podcast Today's...2024-10-2546 min
The Rural ImpactThe Impact of Collaboration Between Community Colleges and Civic Partnerships with Dakota Pawlicki and Elaine MorganIn part one of the final episode of this series, Michelle met with Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs with CivicLab. In this role, he serves exemplary cross-sector partnerships focused on postsecondary attainment that have met rigorous standards for partnership health, equity, and systems change. He brings his expertise in postsecondary education, collective impact, stakeholder engagement, and change management to a network of nearly 100 partnerships, supporting their efforts to improve the human condition. Dakota also hosts Lumina Foundation's podcast Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent, which features conversations with newsmakers and leaders in the field of learning after high school.
2024-10-2444 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentRedesigning College AdmissionsColleges and universities are facing a demographic shift now dubbed the “enrollment cliff.” Concerns over a decline in the number of traditional age students has led some institutions to rethink admissions processes. Lumina Foundation’s Melanie Heath joins Rathi Sudhakara from the Washington Student Achievement Council and Jonathan Gagliardi from Northern Arizona University to discuss innovative new practices and policies. Lessons from the Great Admissions Redesign: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/the-great-admissions-redesign-three-things-we-learned-when-we-asked-the-nation-to-redo-college-admissions/2024-08-131h 16Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe Dismantling of DEI EffortsStates across the country have proposed or enacted legislation that hampers or eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on college campuses. These efforts range from removing diversity statements from job posting to outright elimination of student support services. Erin Gretzinger and Maggie Hicks from the Chronicle of Higher Education gives us a national overview and Veronica Selzler from Hattaway Communications talks about a new toolkit designed to help bridge the communications gap. The Chronicle’s Tracker - https://www.chronicle.com/article/tracking-higher-eds-dismantling-of-dei Communicating about Racial Equity - https://www.luminafoundation.org/talking-about-racial-equity-and-racial-justice/racial-equity-framework/ Making...2024-06-111h 17Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentA Stronger Nation, Year After YearRecently released data on Lumina’s Stronger Nation tool shows that the national education attainment rate has reached 54.3 percent. The country has increased in education attainment by 16 percentage points since 2008. Dr. Courtney Brown and Dr. Chris Mullin of Lumina Foundation share the stories, insights, and considerations under these banner numbers.2024-04-091h 14Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe Demand for Career PathwaysThere is a staffing crisis in healthcare - a crisis that is so bad, that some are calling it a national emergency. To meet today’s and tomorrow’s labor demand, leaders need to provide clear and supported career pathways to adults already in the workforce. In this episode, Dr. Jill Buban of EdAssist joins us to talk about their work developing new career pathways, and describes what it takes to make a talent-focused partnership work. Dory Manner of Yale New Haven Health and Gerard Camacho of Atrium Advocate Health discuss the important steps healthcare employers need to take to attract, d...2023-08-221h 15
IEDA In Your EarCivicLab PodcastLaunched in 2012, CivicLab is a unique nonprofit institute, founded to leverage the lessons of community collaboration learned and fine-tuned over many decades in Columbus, Indiana. Led by J. Irwin Miller Cummins CEO, arts patron, industrialist and civil rights activist, the Columbus community became a leader in creating unique public-private partnerships and CivicLab seeks to spread the model to other communities, using what has become internationally known as ‘The Columbus Way.’
In this podcast Jack Hess, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CivicLab, and Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs talk about their unique approach to addressing community challenges by cr...2023-04-2454 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentAddressing Mental Health on College CampusesA new report from NASPA and Uwill sheds light on the growing need and urgency to provide mental health services on college campuses. In this episode, we discuss the findings from this national survey, discuss a state-wide initiative in Texas to improve mental health and wellbeing, and hear from two campus-based practitioners. Guests include: David Arnold, NASPA Michael London, Uwill Jenny Achilles, Trellis Foundation Leilani Lamb, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Dr. Nina Enriquez, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley Allexa Zwinck, Panhandle Community Partnership Show Notes: NASPA’s and Uwill’s College Mental Report T...2023-03-281h 17Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentState and Federal Policy Round UpListen in as state and federal policy experts weigh in on the major themes from 2022 and expectations for 2023. Julie Peller from Higher Learning Advocates walks through the major movements at the federal level, and Paola Santana from Lumina Foundation discusses state-level priorities for the upcoming year. Catch up with state leaders from Arkansas, California, Kentucky, and Michigan as they reflect on key ideas from a late 2022 state policy retreat. Guests include: Julie Peller, Higher Learning Advocates Paola Santana, Lumina Foundation Aaron Thompson, President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Lande Ajose, Vice President & Senior Fellow, Public Policy Instit...2023-02-281h 00Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentUnderstanding Public Narratives About Workforce and Higher EducationMainstream media and industry news shapes, reinforces, and redresses commonly held narratives - those underlying beliefs and attitudes that drive human behavior - about higher education and the workforce. Dr. Rita Parhad and Emily Keane from Protagonist discuss the major narratives and counter narratives that exist in America today, what drives them, and the implications these narratives have on individual and institutional behavior. Show Links: Economic Opportunity and Social Mobility Landscape Report 2022-10-2751 min
Rural MattersStrengthening Educational and Professional Outcomes in Rural Communities (Part I of Ascendium Series)In the first episode of our new series with Ascendium, Michael chats with the following experts on working toward stronger educational and workforce outcomes in rural communities: Kirstin Yeado, Program Officer at Ascendium; Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners; Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab; Justin Burch, National Director of Workforce and Small Business at Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and Will Coppage, Executive Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance. The group discusses goals surrounding achieving better postsecondary opportunities and outcomes, how they’re utilizing meaningful partnerships and working toward th...2022-09-291h 04Rural MattersStrengthening Educational and Professional Outcomes in Rural Communities (Part I of Ascendium Series)In the first episode of our new series with Ascendium, Michael chats with the following experts on working toward stronger educational and workforce outcomes in rural communities: Kirstin Yeado, Program Officer at Ascendium; Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners; Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab; Justin Burch, National Director of Workforce and Small Business at Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and Will Coppage, Executive Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance. The group discusses goals surrounding achieving better postsecondary opportunities and outcomes, how they’re utilizing meaningful partnerships and working toward th...2022-09-291h 04Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentWhat it Takes To Return: Adults in Higher Education - Part 2Institutions and non-profits across the country are providing new kinds of services and redesigning policies and practices to support more adults in higher education. In part 2, we talk with Malik Brown and Sena Owereko from Graduate Philadelphia, and from Dr. Ed Mills and Kaley Martin at Sacramento State University about how they are changing outcomes for adult learners.2022-09-0650 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentWhat it Takes To Return: Adults in Higher Education - Part 1Millions of adults in the US have some college credit but never finished their degree. The path back into school a second time is much harder to navigate. We begin a two-part series by talking with adult students and their coaches to learn about what it takes to return to school. Listen as Juquilla Henry, her coach April Mesa, and Jamar Izzard share their stories of returning to higher education. Show Links: Veering Off-Track: ‘Some college, no degree’ numbers spike to 39 million Learn more about FutureMakers Navigator support in southwest Florida. 2022-08-2358 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe Mental Health Crisis and Higher EducationA new study conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation found that three-fourths of students in bachelor’s programs and two-thirds of adults seeking associate degrees have considered taking a break from college due to emotional stress. Dr. Zainab Okolo of Lumina discusses the growing mental health crisis across the country and explores how it is having a great impact on adults and students of color. Dr. Jo Blondin, president of Clark State College, discusses how they are supporting students, staff, and faculty through a culture of care. Show Links: Pandemic Exacerbates Mental Health Issues for Black Stu...2022-05-2459 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe Power of State NetworksAligning the work of state agencies, colleges, universities, community organizations, and philanthropy towards common goals takes trust, a neutral intermediary, and a focus on what is best for students. State-level networks across the country are leading efforts to make their state’s education and workforce systems better. Ryan Fewins-Bliss of the Michigan College Access Network, Chandra Scott of Alabama Possible, and Laura Winter of the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network discuss the ways their networks build trust, advance postsecondary policy and practice, and improve equitable outcomes for students in their home states.2022-04-261h 14Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentRacial Equity in Higher Education PolicyStates across the country are re-examining higher education laws, policies, and regulations to better serve the needs of Today’s Students. Scott Jenkins, Lumina Foundation’s strategy director for state policy, talks about Lumina’s state policy agenda, the flaws with current state funding for higher education, and how he and his colleagues are supporting policymakers around the country. Commissioner Carlos Santiago of the Massachuettes Department of Higher Education shares how his agency designed and implemented an Equity Agenda - a multi-pronged approach to addressing racial equity in higher education. Santiago gives specific examples of policies that have been updated a...2022-02-2258 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent2021 Wrap UpJoin us as we wrap up the major higher ed news from 2021 with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of the Washington Post, Elissa Nadworny of NPR, and Katherine Wheatle of Lumina Foundation. Together, we talk about the important and sometimes strange stories inside higher education, and consider themes to watch for in 2022. 2022-01-181h 10
FutureMakers Talent TalkWorkforce Development: Scaling TalentIn this episode we hear from Dakota Pawlicki, the Director of Talent Hubs at Civic Lab. He was also our guest in Season 2. Dakota believes that the greatest change happens at the local and regional level. This is significant when it comes to systems change for students who are disadvantaged. He discusses the launch of Talent Hubs at Civic Lab as a way of expanding civic collaboration with support to regions and cross-sector partnerships. The Talent Hub designation continues to strengthen collective work that is focused on educational attainment beyond high school. Dakota also shares his perspective on the val...2021-12-0158 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentTelling Our Own StoriesLumina’s Fall 2021 issue of Focus Magazine, titled Native Excellence, relied on an experienced team of Native American journalists and photographers. Suzette Brewer and Hondo Louis join us to talk about their process, reporting during the pandemic, and about the importance of Native American representation in journalism.2021-11-1657 minRural MattersPostsecondary Partnerships in Rural America with Sheila Martin, Dakota Pawlicki, and Gretchen Schmidt (Ascendium Series, Part VI)In Part VI of this landmark series produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle discusses the challenges and opportunities involved in postsecondary partnerships in rural America with three recognized experts in the field: Dr. Sheila Martin, Vice President for Economic Development and Community Engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; Dakota Pawlicki, the Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab; and Dr, Gretchen Schmidt, a Senior Fellow with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement and a national leader in higher education transformation. Martin works with university leaders and policy stakeholders to improve universi...2021-10-2544 minRural MattersPostsecondary Partnerships in Rural America with Sheila Martin, Dakota Pawlicki, and Gretchen Schmidt (Ascendium Series, Part VI)In Part VI of this landmark series produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle discusses the challenges and opportunities involved in postsecondary partnerships in rural America with three recognized experts in the field: Dr. Sheila Martin, Vice President for Economic Development and Community Engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; Dakota Pawlicki, the Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab; and Dr, Gretchen Schmidt, a Senior Fellow with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement and a national leader in higher education transformation. Martin works with university leaders and policy stakeholders to improve universi...2021-10-2544 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe Current State of Campus PolicingMarking our 30-episode anniversary, we visit the issue of campus safety and policing. Last year, the murder of George Floyd forced communities, campuses included, to examine how policing helps and harms the communities it intends to serve. We speak with Charles H. F. Davis, III, Nadine Jones, Wisdom Cole, Marlon Lynch, and Jael Kerandi to learn about how communities are working together to address campus safety. Lumina Strategy Officer, Katherine Wheatle, joins as co-host. Resources discussed during the show: Racist Roots of Campus Policing by Dr. Eddie R. Cole’s Washington Post Op-Ed NAACP Toolkit Michigan St...2021-10-191h 28Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentSupporting Parenting StudentsNearly 1 in 4 college students today have children or care for dependents. Colleges and universities are often not set up to support parenting students. Nicole Lynn Lewis of Generation Hope, and Buffy Tanner and Janet Hubbard of Shasta College join us to talk about what is being done to support parenting students. To learn more about student parents, check out the following resources: Who are Today’s Students? Read the 2020 Hope Center Report, surveying the views of more than 23,000 parenting students. Check out “Pregnant Girl”, Nicole Lynn Lewis’ memoir. Learn more about Shasta College’s award winning ACE program...2021-09-141h 05Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentThe State of Short-Term CredentialsShort-term credential programs are rapidly expanding around the country, and the trend is likely to continue through new federal and state investments in workforce development. Yet concerns about racial and gender inequity, and concerns about program and credential quality surround this growing postsecondary option. We talk with experts, policymakers, and practitioners on today’s show to understand the current landscape of short-term credential programs and the key issues that need to be addressed while these programs expand. Guests include: Kermit Kaleba, Strategy Director at Lumina Foundation; Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA); Jesse O’Connell, Strategy Director at Lumina Foundation; Randy Stam...2021-08-101h 26Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentChanging the Narrative on Borrowers of ColorStark differences by race and ethnicity in student borrowing trends are well known, but real progress depends on setting up a different conversation. Dr. Amanda Tachine and Amanda Martinez offer insights on how we can better understand the experiences of Native and Latino student loan borrowers. Co-host Dr. Katherine Wheatle dives deep into truths v. tropes of borrowers of color. Learn more by visiting here. 2021-07-201h 19Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentInnovation: Using what we have to make what we need.Innovation is a buzz word we can’t get away from. But with so much “innovation” happening in higher education, how do we know what is truly unique and impactful? Professor Youngbok Hong, journalist Paul Fain, and president Dr. David Wilson share their ideas on how institutions can use what they have to make what they need. [00:01:54] Professor Youngbok Hong [00:25:15] Paul Fain [00:47:57] Dr David Wilson2021-06-151h 26
FutureMakers Talent TalkWorkforce Development: Bold GoalsBuilding a skilled workforce has been an important focus for not only FutureMakers Coalition, but businesses and organizations across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Talented workforce is just one of the topics our guest Dakota Pawlicki discusses in this episode of Talent Talk. Dakota was the Strategy Officer for Community Mobilization at Lumina Foundation at the time of this recording, another important organization in analyzing talent attraction. Currently, he is the Talent Hub Director at CivicLab. He shared with us Lumina’s philanthropic strategy behind assigning Talent Hub designations, which are communities across the nation that are exemplars for signif...2021-03-2400 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentLooking Ahead to 2021 w/ Danielle Douglas-Gabrielle, Jesse O’Connell, and Amanda DeLaRosa“I think it’s fantastic that we are seeing equity creep into conversations about what higher education policy should look like. But, I’m really concerned that I’m already seeing it creep on out,” Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Jesse O’Connell, and Amanda DeLaRosa offer their optimism and concerns about higher education in 2021.2020-12-171h 04Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentSupporting Veterans and the GI Bill: A conversation with the Cyrus family, Dr. Eddie R. Cole, and Carrie WoffordThe GI Bill provides education, housing and other supports to veterans, but not everyone benefits equally. On this Veterans Day show we talk with veterans, historians, and advocates focused on improving education opportunities for those who have served. Hear from Joe and Joey Cyrus, a father and son duo that served in the US military and used their benefits to earn higher education while balancing work, raising a family, and separating from the armed forces. Dr. Eddie R. Cole, associate professor at UCLA and author of The Campus Color Line discusses the historic exclusion of Black veterans from GI Bi...2020-11-111h 01Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentCollege Admissions (And What’s a ‘Good College,’ Anyway?)Authors Jeff Selingo, Melissa Korn, and Jennifer Levitz join Dakota and expert commentator Andre Phillips in a discussion about what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s illegal in college admissions. This episode aired live on August 18, 2020.2020-09-221h 00
EduThirdSpaceEpisode 8: Skills-Based Education and Community PartnershipsIn this episode, Samantha speaks with Dakota Pawlicki about community partnerships for education, competency-based learning, and his vision of the future of education and work.Dakota Pawlicki is a strategy officer at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. In that role, he leads Lumina’s community mobilization work, which focuses on leveraging cross-sector partnerships to make major gains in education beyond high school.Check out Lumina Foundation’s podcast, Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent, hosted by Dakota for more con...2020-06-0900 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentResponding Today, Preparing for Tomorrow – Harrison Keller, Cathy Longstreet, & Juan SalgadoTo understand the impact of COVID-19 on communities across the nation, we talk with three guests responsible for responding to student needs and preparing for recovery. Guests include: Cathy Longstreet, a high school counselor from Hastings, Mich.; Chancellor Juan Salgado who leads the City Colleges of Chicago; and Dr. Harrison Keller, the Commissioner for Higher Education in Texas.2020-05-111h 09Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentIt’s what you learn, not how long it takes: Competency-based education with Charla Long, Natalie Schwartz, and Zainab OkoloEducation in the United States uses time as a measurement for learning. My guests talk about changing this paradigm to value knowledge, skills, and abilities over how long it takes to learn. Dr. Charla Long of the Competency-Based Education Network, Natalie Schwartz of Education Dive, and Dr. Zainab Okolo of Lumina Foundation discuss the current state of competency-based education.2020-04-071h 04Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentGoing back to college after 30 years - Johnathan Williams and Charletta Thomas37 million adults in the United States have some college credit but have yet to earn a degree. The first step in re-engaging these adults is to listen and learn from them. On today’s show, I am joined by Johnathan Williams and Charletta Thomas, two people who returned to school to complete their degree.2020-03-0240 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentSix Predictions for Higher Ed in 2020 w/ Jesse O’ConnellCollege affordability, education for justice-impacted populations, the continued growth of mega-universities and the closure of small institutions are some of the issues likely to dominate education policy and generate headlines in 2020. Jesse O’Connell, strategy director for federal policy at Lumina Foundation, shares his six higher ed predictions for 2020. 2020-02-0331 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentU of California sued over SAT use in admissions. Does the SAT predict college success? A conversation with Elissa Nadworny of NPR and Elaine Allensworth of UChicago Consortium.For over half a century, the SAT has been used by colleges and universities in admissions decisions. A lawsuit filed in December 2019 against the University of California system challenges this long held practice, calling the use of SAT scores in admission decisions illegal, discriminatory, and unconstitutional. On today’s show, we are joined by Elissa Nadworny, reporter and editor for NPR’s Education team who has been following the lawsuit. We are also joined by Dr. Elaine Allensworth from the UChicago Consortium on School Research, who recently wrote a paper showing a student’s grades are four times more predic...2020-01-2131 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentChambers and Presidential Campaigns w/ David Rattray, Paola Santana, and Jesse O’ConnellChambers of commerce can be a champion in education and business, and a growing subset of the roughly 4,000 chambers across the United States are doing just that. Today we talk with David Rattray of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Paola Santana at Lumina Foundation about the growing movement of chamber-led education initiatives. On segment two of the show, our recurring guest Jesse O’Connell joins us to review the most recent Democratic Presidential Debate.2019-12-0234 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentA Conversation with the Brookings Institution, Institute for Higher Education Policy, and the Pell Institute.Three new reports highlight what’s going well and what we need to fix to meet tomorrow’s education and workforce needs. Joe Parilla from the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program discusses how economic development organizations can catalyze education and workforce training programs around the country. Julie Ajinkya and Leanne Davis from the Institute for Higher Education Policy share insights on four partnerships boosting college enrollment and completion rates for youth and adults in rural communities. Finally, Margaret Cahalan and Laura Perna, authors of the latest Equity Indicators report, discuss how Pell funding has not kept up with demand.2019-11-0456 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“I don’t even know what to ask.” – What Veterans Need for Success in EducationService members leave the military with substantial training and education, but very little of that knowledge and experience counts in higher education. Our guests today include Navy veterans who shared their experiences and advice in navigating higher education, and leaders of organizations focused on improving outcomes for service members and veterans across the country. Guests: Lauren Runco, Lumina Foundation; Tanya Ang, Veterans for Education Success; Brandon Nivens, US Navy Veteran; Michele Poitier, US Navy Veteran; John Sullivan, US Navy Veteran.2019-10-0739 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Community providers are essential” – Race, jobs, and the American postsecondary systemMarc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, believes that community-based education providers are critical to America’s success. Morial shares his thoughts on how greater attention and investment in community-based programs can address structural racism and produce the talent America needs. Also joining this episode is Dr. Jasmine Haywood, who shares lessons from the field on operationalizing equity.2019-09-0944 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“We can see the change coming, but we haven’t moved fast enough” – Preparing for the FutureLumina Foundation’s President and CEO Jamie Merisotis returns from sabbatical with fresh ideas and reflections about America’s future. We talk about what he learned while abroad, what climate change can teach us about talent development, and whether we are talking about the right issues in the 2020 election.2019-08-0534 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Now we question what truth is” – Getting to Truth Through Pop Culture and Inclusive ResearchPop culture permeates our lives—whether it’s music blaring from car windows, billboards we see or watching Netflix in the evening. Professors can use the information their students are exposed to as a way to meet students where they are and make learning relevant. I’m joined by Dr. Katherine Wheatle, Lumina’s strategy officer for finance and federal policy, and Bridget Yuhas, director of student affairs assessment and planning at Butler University. Bridget studies the use of pop culture in higher education and helps extend Katherine’s episode 3 segment “Pop Ed”. Liz Dozier, founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond, a...2019-07-0240 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Nobody is coming to save us” – Companies Cultivating Their Own TalentOn the job training is a billion-dollar industry, yet many employer-based training programs fail to deliver results. This episode features employers that have designed effective programs that serve the individual, the company, and society. We begin with Jon Kaplan, former Chief Learning Officer of Discover Financial, who describes national trends of employer supported learning. Rob Lauber, Senior Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at McDonald’s Corporation, shares that McDonald’s wants to be a person’s “best, first job”, and discusses their Archway’s to Opportunity program designed to propel employee’s success. Linda Carpenter runs Cigna’s Education Reimburseme...2019-06-171h 11Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“It’s not one thing, it’s the whole thing.” – Providing Supports for Community College Students37 percent of today’s college students are 25 or older. Nearly two thirds of college students work. Half of today’s students are on their own financially with many supporting family members and children of their own. Helping today’s students requires a different kind of college experience then what we see in movies; one that supports more than academic needs. We feature two successful programs working to provide comprehensive support to community college students. Nadine Browne, Director of Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, or ASAP, at Bronx Community College talks about her experience implementing the successful program in New York. P...2019-06-0353 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“The business model of higher ed is broken” – Impacts of College Closures: Part 2In this second part of our series, we explore college closures from the perspective of those in the industry. Laura De Veau talks about her recent blog and experience closing Mt. Ida college. Jamienne Studley, president of WSCUC, discusses her role as an accreditor and how their role must shift to better support their members. And Brad Kelsheimer, Vice President and CFO of Lumina Foundation, explains how the business model of higher education is broken, and describes three drivers of college closures.2019-05-201h 13Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“I’m not jobless, I’m careerless” – Impacts of College Closures: Part 1Hundreds of colleges have closed or consolidated in recent years, including public and private, nonprofit and for-profit schools across the country. These closures impact students, faculty, staff, communities, and our nation, especially when poorly managed. In part one of our two-part series, we explore how one college closure left Unique Johnson with debt and no prospects of continuing her education where she left off. Scott Jaschik, editor at Inside Higher Ed, discusses the reasons many colleges are facing closure and what we might expect from the future. Finally, Senator J.D. Ford of Indiana discusses his ideas for how Indiana...2019-05-0645 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s TalentPolitics and Policy, Coast to CoastOur guests Scott Jenkins and Jesse O’Connell give a coast-to-coast roundup on politics and postsecondary policy. Join us as we discuss which federal and state leaders to keep an eye on, how political party shifts may impact legislation and regulation, and what to expect from the 2020 election. Scott Jenkins is Strategy Director for State Policy at Lumina Foundation. Jesse O’Connell is Strategy Director for Federal Policy at Lumina Foundation.2019-04-2238 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Living up to the Designation” – Hispanic Serving InstitutionsAs of 2016, the Latino population in the United States has reached nearly 58 million people. Latinos now account for 18% of the population and are the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the United States. We have dedicated today’s show to talk about those colleges and universities that are serving Hispanic students. Known as Hispanic Serving Institutions, we explore what they are, how they are working, and what more they can be doing to live up to their mission. Our first guest today is Beatriz Ceja-Williams, Division Director at the U.S. Department of Education, who leads the Department’s Divisi...2019-04-0837 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Education is Public Safety” – Supporting justice-involved learnersThe United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world with more than 2 million Americans incarcerated at any point in time. Each year, our prison system releases nearly 600,000 individuals back to their families and communities. Our guests today are focused on ensuring that all those impacted by incarceration – the individual, family, community, and America broadly – have the support and opportunities inside and outside of prison to lead a successful life. We begin with Dr. Danette Howard and Haley Glover from Lumina Foundation who provide a national perspective on this work and describe Lumina’s emergi...2019-03-2549 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“Love the students you have, not the ones you wish you had.” – Making college accessible and affordable for adultsAcross the country, leaders in education are working to make college accessible and affordable—not only for traditional students but for adults who want to go back to school to complete the degrees that in many cases they started years ago. Join us as we talk with Dr. Shanna Jackson, president of Nashville State Community College, Dr. Rachelle Sharpe, deputy director of the Washington Student Achievement Council, and Ben Cannon, executive director of the Oregon Higher Education Commission, about their plans to support adults’ postsecondary plans.2019-01-2235 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“I decided to keep going.” – High school dropout to college freshmanFor many, the speed of change in academia is too slow, and the process too exclusionary. Students themselves are often left out of these important conversations - that is until they insert themselves through organizing and advocacy to make sure their voices are heard. Our guests today are no strangers to inserting student voice into important policy and practice decisions. Through their efforts, they are making sure students are heard and accounted for in education reform. Join us as Lauren Schandevel talks about her student-led activism to better support low-income students at the University of Michigan, followed b...2019-01-2242 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“I decided to keep going.” – High school dropout to college freshmanOver 30 million working-age adults lack a high school diploma. There are few employment opportunities in today’s economy for these Americans as most jobs require some kind of education or training after high school, there are even fewer pathways for adults who were failed by the K-12 system to earn their high school diploma, let alone a postsecondary credential. The Goodwill Excel Centers are changing that for thousands of adults each year, giving people a chance to earn a high school diploma, college credit, and/or an industry-recognized credential. Betsy Delgado, Vice President of Mission an...2019-01-2244 minToday’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent“I know my price.” – Investing in majority-black communitiesThere are 1,200 majority-black places in the United States. Each community has economic, social, and political strength, yet lacks investments commensurate with its assets. Dr. Andre Perry, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains that it is not talent the prevents black communities from thriving; It’s inequity.2019-01-2230 min
The Digital Workplace PodcastWork Minus Separation with Dakota PawlickiLumina's goal is to see 60% of Americans with a high quality post-secondary credential by 2025. How are they going to do it? A lot fewer walls and silos. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.2018-12-0625 min