Shows
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminSpecial Re-release: Other Side of The MicTrimeka Benjamin brings back one of the most meaningful episodes of Deep Dives: The Other Side of the Mic. When it first aired, she didn’t realize how much it would reveal about her own journey, or how deeply it would resonate with listeners.As we gear up for a brand-new special episode, this revisit is a reminder of what Deep Dives is all about: real impact, honest storytelling, and pushing higher education forward.Whether it’s your first listen or a fresh one, this episode is worth the dive.
2025-11-211h 15
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminA Message from Trimeka BenjaminDeep Dives returns with a powerful message from Trimeka Benjamin, President & CEO of Swim Digital Group. In this chapter-opening episode, Trimeka shares the heart behind founding Swim, what’s broken in higher ed, and why true transformation requires integrity, alignment, and a relentless focus on students.It’s purpose-driven, honest, and a grounding reminder of why this work matters. The next chapter starts here.
2025-11-1404 min
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminEpisode 5: Leveraging Legislative Partners to Expand Workforce DevelopmentCommunities in the Appalachian Region often experience isolation and economic disparity due to the geography of the region and the decline of the coal industry. Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), talks about the funding initiatives provided to communities within the region to revitalize the economy. She shares how the programs are focused on strategies that connect students to the automotive industry, reintegrate members of the community affected by the Opioid crisis, and expand broadband access throughout the region.
2023-03-2233 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminEpisode 4: Cultivating Entrepreneurship in Workforce EducationStudents living in rural communities have an entrepreneurial mindset because they are already accustomed to having a lack of access to resources. Today, Dr. Rebecca Corbin talks about her work at NACCEE and details how their projects support community colleges in their effort to expand access to education. She discusses their work with students who are experiencing the digital divide in order to educate them and increase their generational wealth through partnerships with organizations such as Verizon.
2023-03-0614 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminEpisode 3: Business Partnerships & ApprenticeshipsStrong business and community partnerships are essential to the success of Workforce Development programs in higher education. Dr. Micheal McDonough talks about approach to building strong business partnerships at the New Jersey Consortium of Community Colleges and at Raritan Valley Community College. He discusses internships, apprenticeships and job opportunities that contribute to student success; and alignment of course curriculum with labor market needs.
2023-02-2730 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminThe Future of the Workforce Student“If we don’t do something and do it now, we are going to have some problems down the road” says Dr. Daria Willis, President of Howard Community College. Dr. WIllis discusses the importance of community colleges that are able to be agile and flexible in order to respond to the needs of the community that the college is located, and the critical need to focus on student success rather than transfer rates to four-year institutions, as well as the integration of all students into the larger college community.
2023-02-2017 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminCreating a Cycle of Lifelong LearningDr. Kimberly Moore is a trailblazer for workforce development, and in this episode, she’ll share lessons learned in her decade of experience. Dr. Moore discusses the importance of building an integrated workforce system in order to keep up with the constantly changing labor market, and shares examples of how Tallahassee Community College is doing just that by working with formerly incarcerated students and forming new partnerships with Amazon.
2023-02-1315 min
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminConfessions of an Internal CandidateDr. Williams explores the journey to become the president of St. Petersburg College as an internal candidate. She'll share the work she put in at St. Petersburg College prior to becoming president, her willingness to fail to achieve her goal, the community of care platform she developed, why the employee experience is as important as the student experience, challenges she faced and more.
2021-11-1825 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminBreaking the Mold: Innovation in Workforce Training OpportunitiesBroward College President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. shares how the Broward UP model was created to better the community through an educated workforce. He discusses how partnerships were built with local non-profit organizations, municipalities and businesses to create an improved pathway that better prepares Broward residents to successfully enter the workforce.
2021-10-2133 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminInnovation in Building Pathways for Working LearnersAs a follow-up to the conversation with Dr. García in Episode 2, Dr. Neal will share the work done with program efficiency, flexible schedules and career assessments to improve success rates of working learners.
2021-10-1637 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminBuilding Success for the “Working Learner”A first-generation college student herself, Dr. Linda García is now the executive director for the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE). In this episode, Dr. Garcia shares how CCCSE is providing institutions with research, best practices and tools to build strategies for “worker learners.” She will share insights from her research among 25,000 working students at 74 different institutions, and how that guided the development of the three questions you should ask your leadership team.
2021-10-0726 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminWhat It Means to be the “First:” The Journey, the Accolades and the BurdensIn the Season 2 premiere, Trimeka is joined by President Madeline Pumariega, the president of Miami Dade College. President Pumariega will share her journey - all of the challenges and lessons learned along the way - that prepared her for this presidency. She will share the decisions that fueled her heart and drove her passion for helping students attain an education, and how she is using that passion at MDC.
2021-09-3032 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminThe Other Side of the MicDr. Russell Lowery-Hart returns to "Deep Dives with Trimeka Benjamin" to lead the conversation by interviewing Trimeka about her college experience and how that shaped her passion for helping higher education institutions make improvements that better guide students through their journey.
2021-09-021h 04
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Casey Sacks: Collaboration Drives Dollars: Strategies to Maximize Federal FundingFunding is available for many community colleges around the country, but it doesn’t always have a clear path if you don’t know where to look. In this episode, Dr. Casey Sacks, with the U.S. Department of Education, talks about where to find funding and some advice for maximizing your institution’s funding opportunities. She discusses the Cares Act, finding a competitive edge in funding, and equity in federal funding allocation, among other topics
2021-01-0829 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Michael Baston: Create Real World Ready StudentsWith Dr. Baston at the helm, Rockland Community College (RCC) isbuilding real world ready students. In the episode, Dr. Baston explains what that means as the faculty and staff prepare students for graduation, and how theyhad to shift their approach to instruction and student engagement. He also shares in-depth knowledge on how he led this shift during his first three years at the College through a combination of data, transparency, and organizationalcollaboration.
2020-12-1020 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Russell Lowery-Hart: Invisible Struggles of Homelessness in Higher EducationAmarillo College’s Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) serves as a safe space for students affected by poverty, about 15% of their student population. At one point, however, the program was barely utilized and the issue of poverty was an uncomfortable conversation in the meeting rooms. In the season 1 finale, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President of Amarillo College, walks us through his journey of discovery. How, if ignored, the homeless would continue to be invisible, their struggles would be hidden, and their chance at an education would be lost. Nationally recognized for his work around poverty initiatives, we break down ho...
2020-09-1647 min
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Merrill Irving: The Impact of Race, Social Justice, and the College President’s RoleThe recent murder of George Floyd sparked protests and movements worldwide that continue to make an impact. But how do these tragic events affect the higher education space - the students, the presidents, and the culture of college? In this live episode, Dr. Merrill Irving will discuss his experience, both as a Black male and the President of Hennepin Technical College (HTC). He will dive deep into questions on racial and social justice, providing advice to fellow higher education leaders on their role in all of this. Learn more about Dr. Irving’s story, his career development, and th...
2020-08-2743 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Leigh Goodson: Investing in Community-Wide SuccessWhat does it take to run a successful fundraising campaign as a community college? What roles do investors, students, lobbying and the community play? In this episode, Dr. Leigh Goodson, President & CEO of Tulsa Community College, talks us through the 18-month campaign that raised $20 million for TCC. She discusses the importance of building real relationships with investors, a necessary baseline of community support, and the transformation of TCC in terms of student experience - all factors contributing to her school’s success.
2020-08-2026 minDeep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Michael Baston: Breaking Student Experience BarriersThe American Association of Community Colleges reported that 62% of students hold a job while attending school full-time. So, what role does a community college play in supporting students through the challenges they may face? In this episode, Dr. Michael Baston, President of Rockland Community College (RCC), talks through his definition of experience at RCC. He discusses both the missteps his college has made and the transformation of RCC’s experience design while unraveling the importance of accepting responsibility for student success as educational leaders. Dr. Baston reveals the logistics of the Student Success Team, along with the use of technology in...
2020-08-1031 min
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Karen A. Stout: Tackling the Nation’s Transfer RatesOnly 15% of community college students transfer to four-year institutions after they complete their associate’s degree...nationwide. In this episode, Dr. Karen Stout, President of Achieving the Dream, shares how community colleges increase statistics through organizational processes, relationships with partner universities, and tackling student barriers head-on. In this episode, she will provide actionable solutions on how to get more students ready to transfer and prepare them to complete and successfully earn a bachelor’s degree.
2020-07-2234 min
Deep Dives Podcast With Trimeka BenjaminDr. Tonjua Williams: Constructing the Learning ExperienceSt. Petersburg College created “The College Experience” to transform the way out-of-classroom is provided to significantly improve student success rates. Now President Tonjua Williams is moving that work inside the classroom. In this episode, Dr. Williams shares how she engaged faculty and staff to build “The Learning Experience” and the challenges she faced. She provides honest insight on how the College used transparency and collaboration to engage every member of the College to complete the work, and the lessons learned along the way.
2020-03-2326 min