The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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Sachi, what is your personal narrative? What key moments in your life led you to
where you are?
My mother is a physician and I have greatly admired her ability to care for and hold space for others. Growing up in her healing presence and watching her treat patients instilled a strong desire in me to help others. I have always loved science, but did not do well in the traditional classroom model. When I began college, I was a bit lost. I knew that I enjoyed working with people and learning about the natural world, but I didn’t know how to successfully harness that into a career path. My Sophomore year I joined a research laboratory that studied preschool aged children and how their sleep changes throughout development. In this laboratory, I found incredible female mentors that took me under their wing. They helped me recognize and work with my strengths. When I looked at my life after I graduated, I realized that I could continue to foster my interests through graduate school. I am currently a 5th year PhD student in the Sleep and Development Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research focuses on how environmental factors, such as artificial lighting and parenting behaviors, impact young children’s sleep and circadian systems. Most of my work is directly translational and revolves around interventions that can be easily implemented by parents to improve their child’s sleep. In my current role, I have many responsibilities: I teach, mentor undergraduate students, take classes, collect data, work with families, write, and present my research. Being able to help others while remaining dynamic has been deeply fulfilling, and I am incredibly grateful to have found my niche.
In my future career, I hope to use my skill set to translate scientific knowledge to populations it can benefit the most. One of my biggest qualms with academic research is the lack of access of findings to the general population. Most scientific discoveries are published in journals that are only available to fellow scientists, and there is an access barrier to the average person. I truly believe that science can help people and change the world, and I hope to use my science communication skills to facilitate this process.
What challenges have you faced being a woman of color in STEM? How have you
overcome these roadblocks?
Throughout my life, people have made blind assumptions about me for being an Asian American woman. In typical Asian American culture, children are taught to keep their head down and ignore ignorant comments and actions, and I followed this guidance for most of my life. However, in recent years, I have realized remaining silent invalidated my experiences and feelings. It took a lot of inner work to recognize my own racial trauma and understand my triggers. I think prior to this journey I knew when people made me feel uneasy, but I didn’t have the tools or vocabulary to address it. Calling someone out when they do something or say something that makes you uncomfortable is challenging because it requires you to lead with vulnerability. Approaching these conversations with compassion, expressing my feelings, and not being attached to the outcome is how I try to limit my defensive reactions. You might not be validated, and that’s ok, but sticking up for yourself and others and putting that intention out into the world is how we can encourage people to see things from different people’s perspectives. Using your voice and leading with “I feel” statements are powerful tools. I am still learning, and making mistakes along the way, but having open dialogues about these difficult topics has changed the way I see and approach the world.
Throughout your work studying children and environmental factors that impact their sleep, how have you managed to account for potential factors tied to race, equity, and poverty? How do you support families who face challenges related to these factors in their community?
Sleep is a modifiable health risk factor that has profound impacts on child health and development as well as parent health. Improving a child’s sleep cannot be accomplished with a one-size-fits-all approach. The field of sleep research is just starting to understand the role that socioeconomic status plays in sleep health and how we can mitigate some of the nonoptimal environments and sleep related behaviors that children face to promote better wellbeing. Recognizing differences in cultures, environments, and access to resources are key to creating an effective sleep intervention. For example, a parent who does not get home until 11PM might have their child stay up late because nights are the only time they get to see them. In that case, what is the optimal solution for the parent and child, and how can both sleep and quality time be prioritized? While sleep itself is free, time and resources necessary to improve a child’s sleep are not. Widespread education on the importance of sleep, especially in communities where it is necessary to forgo sleep in favor of work and survival, is crucial to closing the health disparity gap.
What advice would you give to future Inclusive Inspirational Leaders?
Thinking about the injustices in the world can be all-consuming, and I sometimes find myself feeling debilitatingly empathetic towards those suffering. Learning how to hold space for others with compassion rather than empathy has helped me show up in a more sustainable way. Empathy can often result in us taking on other people’s pain and feeling stuck in rumination, while compassion allows us to acknowledge our emotions and then turn them into outward actions. Empathy can cause emotional burnout while compassion promotes resilience. This intentional change in mindset has improved my overall well-being and ability to show up for others.
Setting boundaries with my work is also a tool that I utilize often. My parents both came from backgrounds of poverty, and they worked hard and sacrificed a lot to give us a privileged life at the cost of their own well-being. This nonstop work mindset was passed down to me, and it is a pattern I am trying to break. It is easy to get wrapped up in school or your career and push your own needs aside. However, it is important to check in with yourself and dedicate time to doing things outside of your job that fill up your cup. If all of your self worth is wrapped up in your performance, then when things don’t go quite as planned, which they usually don’t, it’s hard to not feel bad about yourself. Fostering other interests is vital. Self-care isn’t selfish, and it doesn’t need to be extravagant. These days my self-care looks like going on a sunset walk or cleaning my kitchen so that future me can enjoy a peaceful environment. Holding space for yourself allows you to hold better space for others, and how you treat yourself has a ripple effect on the world.
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Join us for GlobalMindED 2022 June 22-24
The most diverse education, business, government, Tech, Health, STEM conference with First Gen to college students in attendance. We will have pre-conferences and the Inclusive Leader Awards Dinner June 22.
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To view the complete Reboot Resilience to Rebound Remarkable GlobalMindED 2021 events see below:
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All GlobalMindED 2021 events are also on our YouTube channel.
FIRST GEN WEEK
First Gen Role Models: What Does Success, Inclusive Leadership and Contribution Look Like?
Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy / Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare moderates the panel discussion with Zuleika Johnson; VP of Opportunity and Outreach, El Pomar Foundation, Vanecia Kerr; Chief Impact Officer, Mile High United Way, Kwesi Edwards; Board Member, Foundation for California Community Colleges, Lan Phan; Founder & CEO, Community of SEVEN, Anthony Newton; Microsoft Alumni Entrepreneur, Owner, Ancott, and Serita Liles; Senior Intern Coordinator, North Carolina A&T State University
What Industry Leaders Look for in Students/Graduates: Inside Secrets for Promotion Pathway Success
Ken Epps; CEO, ThreeNineteen moderates this panel with Ken McNeely; President, Western Region AT&T, Kathleen Schaum; Executive Director, University Talent Acquisition, KPMG, Guy Primus; CEO, Valence Community, Al Baker; Vice President, Siemens Enterprise Communications and Steve Zimba; Founder & CEO, Nulia
Where Are They Now? First Gen Leaders’ Insights as Young Professionals
Rocio Perez; Inclusion and Diversity Thought Leader and Trainer, Inventiva Consulting leads the panel discussion with Nima Shahab Shahmir; Application Developer, TC Energy, Betty Hailu; Research Assistant, George Washington University, Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University Residential Programs, and Amelia Mawlawi; Global Product Manager, HP
How to Be a Mentor and How to Be Mentored
Kwame Johnson; President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta leads the panel with GlobalMindED Ambassadors and mentors Shannon Stone; Senior Relationship Manager, AMG National Trust Bank, Hector Ramos Diaz; Mathematics Student, University of Portland, Yonus Harris, Aerospace Engineering student, University of Michigan, and Phuong Dinh; Population Health Program, Manager, University of Colorado Medicine
GlobalMindED/Every Learner Everywhere First Gen Student Ambassadors: Freshman Year Success Secrets
Alicia Sepulveda, PhD; Academic Coach, University of Colorado, Boulder leads the discussion with Tomozia Graves; Peer Advising Assistant and recent graduate, Harford Community College, Hannah Petronek; Undergraduate Research Assistant, recent graduate West Virginia University, and Sochima Ifedikwa; Computer Science Student, Texas Tech Student, Texas Tech
HEALTH WEEK
Isolation to Compassionate Connection, How Organizations Support Their Employees in Crisis and Beyond
Liz Sweigart, PhD; Partner, PwC leads the discussion with Zachary S. Nunn; Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Impact, SurveyMonkey, Tilak Mandadi; EVP, Digital & Global Chief Technology Officer, Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Lizette Ojeda, PhD; Founder, Work-Life Lab, Texas A&M University, Lisa Giuroiu; Vice President, Pharma & Life Sciences, Susan G. Komen, and Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University
Emerging Covid Strong: Resilient Connections and the Indomitable Spirit
Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Dr. Marck Abraham; CEO, MEA Consulting and Principal, Buffalo Public Schools, Rina Patel; Founder & CEO, The Thinkers, Dr. Joe Martin; Founder and Creator, Real Men Connect, and Dr. Latoya Johnson; Special Education Coordinator, Green Tech High Charter School
Women and Alcohol: Epidemic in a Pandemic
Ann Dowsett Johnston; Bestselling Author: Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, moderates the discussion with Lisa F. Smith; Author: Girl Walks Out of a Bar, Saumya Bharat; Biology student, Georgia State, University, Monica Swahn; Dean, Wellstar College of Health & Human Services, Kennesaw State University, and Harshita Yepuri; Graduate Neuroscience Student, Georgia State University
Growing the Diverse Talent Pipeline Across the Health Professions
Carol Carter, Founder, GlobalMindED leads this panel discussion with Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy/Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare, Dr. Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Dr. Sameer Sood; Primary Care Physician, Strive Health, Dr. Dula F. Pacquiao; Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, and student Hana Mawlawi; Colorado School of Mines
NSF INCLUDES WEEK
Next Steps for Increasing Minority Representation in Engineering: Systemic Change
Dr. Miguel Velez-Reyes; Professor and Chair, University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Peter Romine; Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering, Navajo Technical University, Nader Vadiee; Professor, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Mohamed Chouikha; Executive Professor and Executive Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University
NSF Includes and Other Broadening Participation Initiatives
Dr. Don Millard; Deputy Division Director, National Science Foundation, Dr. Christine Grant, Associate Dean Faculty Advancement, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State, and Dr. Tori Rhouloc Smith, Program Director, National Science Foundation
Diversifying Engineering - Deans’ Perspectives
Dr. Clay Gloster, Jr.; Dean of the Graduate College, North Carolina A&T State University moderates the discussion with Dr. Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels; Dean, Div. of Graduate Studies, Jackson State University, Dr. Dana A. Williams; Dean of the Graduate School, Howard University, Dr. Oscar Barton, Jr.; Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University, and Dr. Stephanie G. Adams; Dean, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas, Dallas
Ubuntu: A Non-Western Perspective on How Collective Impact Can Broaden Participation in STEM
Moderator Dr. Kemi Ladeji-Osias; Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Morgan State University interviews Keynote speaker Dr. Ivory Toldson; President and CEO, Quality Education for Minorities Network
Diversifying Engineering: An Industry Perspective
Dr. Kenneth Connor; Professor EMeritus, ELectrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Danyel Wimberly; Senior Director, NetApp, Victor S. Gavin; Head of Federal Technology Vision and Business Development, Amazon Web Services, Robin Getz; Director of Systems Engineering; Analog devices, Toffee Coleman; Global Sales & marketing manager, Fluke corporation, Tim Shepard; Vice president, Business development strategy & operations, Lockheed Martin Space
Innovations in the Engineering Curriculum: K-12 College Pathways
Dr. Kamal Ali; Professor, Jackson State University, Dr. Brittany Chambers; Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, Verizon, Dr. Vemitra White; Education Specialist, NASA Marshall & Stennis Space Flight Centers, Dr. Oludare Owolabi; Assistant Professor, Morgan State University, Dr. Adam Carberry; Associate Professor, Arizona State University, Dr. Medha Dalal; Postdoctorate Research Scholar, Arizona State University
Success and Education in Graduate Mentoring
Dr. Clay Gloster Jr.; Dean, North Carolina A&T State University ; Keynote Speaker: Howard Adams; Founder and President H.G. Adams and Associates
Women in Engineering: Increasing Representation
Dr. Cindy Ziker; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Cheryl Talley; Professor of Psychology at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Heather Metcalf; Director of Research and Constituent Relations, Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Panelist: Dr. Roberta Rincon; Assoc. Director of Research, Society of Women Engineers, Panelist: Dr. Rochelle Williams; Sr. Director of Programs, National Society of Black Engineers
Broadening Participation in the Engineering Pathway: Research on Critical Transitions
Dr. Cindy Ziker ; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Steve Efe ; Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, Panelist: Dr. Pamela Leigh-Mack; Professor & Chair, Department of Engineering at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Julius Davis; Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Bowie State University
Creating a Climate for Post Pandemic Success for Minorities in Engineering
Keynote address by Dr. Gregory Washington, President of George Mason University
STEM Around the World: Student Led Success
Aaron Aaron Cortes; Northeastern Illinois University, Alexandra Agudelo Ruiz; Secretary of Education for Medellin, Columbia, Cüong Trän; NASA Electrical Power Systems Engineer, Dr. Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs; Director of STEM Learning Ecosystems; Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, Jen Iriti; STEM Push Network, and Matthew Cua; Director of Innovation Help, NGO
ONE HE GLOBAL HIGHER ED WEEK
Person-Centered Learning: Teaching the Skills Needed to Support People
Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE moderates the conversation with Dr. Erik Blair; Senior Lecturer, Higher Education Research and Practice, University of West London, Dr. Julie Hulme; reader in Psychology, Keele University, Cleo Keeling Ball; BSc (Hons) Psychology student, Keele University, and Emma Crabb; student, Keele University
Equity Unbound: Building Online Communities
Dr. Mia Zamora; Associate Professor of English, Kean University, Dr. Maha Bali; Associate Professor, American University in Cairo, Autumm Caines; Instructional Designer, University of Michigan
The Future of Higher Education: A Global Perspective
Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Hilligje van’t Land; Secretary General International Association of Universities, Warren Kennard; Founder & CEO ConnectED, and Dr. C. Edward Watson; CIO and Associate VP, Association of American Colleges and Universities
Creating an Inclusive Community - New Faculty and Radical Empathy
Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the discussion with Dr. Terri Givens; Founder and CEO of Brighter Higher Education, Devin Gaines; Account Executive, SurveyMonkey, and Chantelle George; Founder and CEO of CG Consulting
Develop a Growth Mindset in Students: The Challenge and How to Meet It
Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Steve Joordens; Full Professor University of Toronto, Scarborough, and Nadeem Abdi; 3rd Year Neuroscience Student, University of Toronto, Scarborough
HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK
Latinos as Inclusive Leaders in Higher Ed - Working with All People Creates the Strongest Latino Leaders
Jose R. Rodriguez; Partner (ret.), KPMG LLP leads the discussion with David Lopez; First Gen Student, University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Donna Blancero, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Bentley University, Jeffrey Vargas; President & CEO Generationology, Dr. Cristina Alfaro; Assoc. VP for International Affairs, San Diego State University, and Carlos Contreras; Sr. Dir. Americas, Global Partnership and Initiatives Intel Corporation
Infusing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Across the Curriculum: How and Now
Dr. Susan Swayze; Founder & CEO, Diversity Think Tank leads discussion with Nadia N. Butt; Doctoral Student, The George Washington University, Dr. Wendy Cukier; Founder and Director, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University, Dr. Terri Hinkley; CEO, Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, and Dr. Arlen Meyers; President and CEO, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs
HBCUs Leading Innovation, Inclusivity, and Ingenuity: Defining the New Normal Post COVID
Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover; President, Tennessee State University leads the discussion with Bernie Milano; Founder, PhD Project, Cece Rodgers; Student, Tougaloo College, and Dr. Harold Lee Martin Senior; Chancellor, North Carolina A & T State University.
Inclusive HR Directors Improve Life for Higher Ed: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes on College Campuses
Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the discussion with Christina Cecil; Chief Human Resources Officer, Colorado Community College System, Cheng Yu Hou; Chief Human Resources Officer, San Mateo County Community College District, Bill Dial; Chief Human Resources Officer, College of Southern Nevada, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman
Native Higher Education Leaders: Transforming COVID Caused Challenges
Dr. David Yarlott, President of Little Big Horn College leads the discussion with Dr. Twyla Baker, President of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Dr. Carma Claw, Assistant Professor of Management, Fort Lewis College, Dr. Billie Jo Kipp, Associate Director Research and Evaluation, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth, Dr. Joseph Gladstone, Professor of Business Management University of New Haven, and Dominik MorningDove, a current student from Fort Lewis College
K-12 WEEK
Building the Diverse Talent Pipeline in K-12, Master’s, and PhD: First Gen and Diverse Success
Dr. Tania Hogan; Director of Undergraduate Student Success, University of Colorado Denver leads the discussion with Richard Maez; IB Diploma Program Manager - Denver Public Schools, Dr. Maria A. Castro Barajas; Assistant Director, Pre-Collegiate Development, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Robin Brandehoff; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Denver, and Joselyne Garcia-Moreno; student, University of Colorado Denver
Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in K-12: Moving the Big Rocks of Equity Forward
Jonathan Cooper; Superintendent - Mason City Schools leads panel discussion with Soroya Smith; DEI Learning Experience Designer - Mason City Schools, Kori Harris; Online Content Designer - Second Grade Teacher, Mason Early Childhood Center, Amie Switzer; 4th-grade teacher - Mason City Schools, Mariah Norman; Senior, Mason High School, and Bena Kallick; Co-Founder, Institute for Habits of Mind
Developing the Principal and Superintendent Diverse Pipeline in PK–12: Looking Ahead
Dr. Mort Sherman; Associate Executive Director - AASA, The School Superintendents Association leads this panel discussion with Dr. Maria Ott; Executive in Residence, University of Southern California, Dr. Michael Conner; Superintendent - Middletown Public Schools, and Dr. Khalid Mumin; Superintendent - Reading School District. Includes Kid Superintendent video
Latino Leaders as Learning Changemakers: The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just, and Equitable
Adrian Rosado; President - Zion Leadership Group with Yecenia Tostado; Executive Director - Project Azul, Sixcia Devine; Business Development Specialist - Grow with Google, Alissa Santana; McNair Scholar, Senior, Business Major University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Jaime Ivan Lopez-Rivera; VP for Student Affairs - Antillean Adventist University, Puerto Rico. Register below Renay's story.
TECHNOLOGY WEEK
STEPS to Skills on the Go: Cell Phone Learning Advancing Equity for Adult Students
Waukecha Wilkerson; Director of Coaching, Cell-Ed leads the panel discussion with Vickie Hay; CalWORKs Coordinator, Student Success, Orange Coast College, David A. Croom; Asst. Director, Postsecondary Achievement, Aspen Institute, Portia Polk; Director of Learning and Advocacy, Generation Hope, and Rachel Mercott, Student, Cell-Ed STEPS
Driving Change through Intersectional Philanthropy: Increasing Representation and Leadership
Dwana Franklin-Davis; CEO, Reboot Representation leads discussion with Carina Weyer; Program Manager, F5 Global Good & F5 Foundation, Taliah Givens; Sr. Director, Student Professional Development, UNCF, Jamie Schwartz; Director of Major Gifts, American Indian College Fund, and Debbie Marcus; Senior Director, Break Through Tech, Cornell Tech
Student Leaders Speak To College Presidents, CEOs, and Government Leaders
Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere leads the discussion with GlobalMindED Every Learner Student Ambassadors Jair Flores; Student, Colorado State University Pueblo, Serita Liles; Student, North Carolina A&T State University, Hector Ramos Diaz; Student, University of Portland, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman University
Advancing Equity in Highly Selective HS and College Admissions-Ed Equity Lab, Partners, and Students
Alexandra Slack; Chief of Staff, National Education Equity Lab, leads this panel discussion with Asheley Siewnarine; Student Success Director - National Education Equity Lab, Di’Zhon Chase; Student, Columbia University, Michaell Santos; Student, The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, and Favi Olmedo; Student, Bronx Career & College Prep. High School
Tech Empowering Students Before, During, and After Covid: Closing the Digital Divide
Dr. Michael Torrance; President, Motlow State Community College leads panel discussion with Elise Shea; Founder & President, Conversations Unbound, Robert Joseph; President, Team MindShift, Rishi Kanjani; Analyst, Data Insights, Salesforce, and Cala Estes; Director of Education, Blind Institute of Technology
The Benefits of Global Internships: How, Why, Where
Adrian Rosado; President, Zion Leadership Group leads panel with Mara Luna; Director, TRIO Upward Bound. Univ of Puerto Rico, Mitzi Damazo-Sabando; CEO, TinkerHouse Inc., Manila, Philippines, Tree Xu; Community Manager, Education First, Wuxi, China, Erika Aquino; Executive Director, Infinit-O Group Foundation, Raymond Cabrera; Director, TRIO Upward Bound, Univ. of S. Florida, Ayessa Weems; Student, TRIO Student Support, Purdue Univ. NW
EARTH WEEK
International Youth: Strategies for Inclusive, Just, and Equitable Climate Leadership
Ash Pachauri; Co-Founder and Senior Mentor, Protect Our Planet Movement and Drishya Pathak; POP Movement, India lead this panel of international students including Summer Benjamin; POP Movement Peter Gruber International Academy, US Virgin Islands, Caroline Sandberg; Tahoe Expedition Academy, USA, Tsague Dongfack/Willy Endelson; POP Movement, Cameroon, Ricardo Delgado; POP Youth Mentor, Arturo Michelena Univ, Venezuela, and Zoe Ricardo Rivera; CEI Univ, México
How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 1
Courtney Knight; Founder and Managing Member, Capstone Capital Advisors and Susan Kidd; Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College lead discussion with Anamarie Shreeves; Environmental Education Programs Manager, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Eriqah Vincent; Network Engagement Director, Power Shift Network, Dr. Dana Williamson; EPA Environmental Health Fellow, Assoc of Schools and Programs of Public Health, and Gwendylon P. Smith; Exec Director, Collier Heights Association for Revitalization, Resilience, and Sustainability.
How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 2
Dr. Kyle Whyte; Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, leads panel discussion with Ka’illjuus / Lisa Lang; Executive Director, Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation, Dr. Kelsey Leonard; Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Brittany Judson; Just Growth Consultant Partnership for Southern Equity, and AJ (Andrea) Grant; President, Environmental Communications Associates.
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Student Leaders Speak 2021 Report Finds Shift to Remote Learning Hardest on BIPOC College Students
Diverse students felt they did not have a seat at the table when pandemic related decisions were made and call on college leaders to include them. The report is a joint initiative between Every Learner Everywhere and GlobalMindED with support from The Equity Project LLC
(DENVER, CO – May 6, 2021) — A new report based on data-driven surveys of 25 GlobalMindED Ambassadors representing a larger group of 102 students from 47 colleges in 22 states found that without exception, the shift from on campus learning to remote college instruction has most negatively impacted poverty-affected, first generation, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students. Their voices are shared in the report, which concludes that college presidents, CEO’s and government leaders cannot solve problems for these students without including them at the table.
Student Leaders Speak 2021: Student Voices Informing Educational Strategies, conducted via surveys, interviews and informal feedback from mentors, illustrates a lack of national and collegiate preparedness to address the near-immediate shift from in-classroom to remote learning. Students reported a lack of access to an engaged faculty and essential technology while underscoring that their greatest support and strength has come from interaction and collaboration within their dedicated student community. Read the full report here: Student Leaders Speak to College Presidents, CEOs and Policymakers.
Highlights include:
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Communities represented included BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), first generation, living with disabilities, white poverty-affected, LGBTQ+, Veteran, Online, and ESL/Immigrant.
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100 percent acknowledged two or more barriers such as lack of internet access, lack of focused learning environment, no personal device, health concerns, unemployment, language barriers, learning from their beds/bedrooms and/or managing younger siblings.
- 100 percent described absent or unavailable campus support systems beyond the instructor, equating the learning experience and cost of same as being grossly out of alignment.
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80 percent disapproved of the online learning experience, citing inconsistency in faculty ability to educate using technological tools and practices. In essence, the virtual environment was not mirroring or upholding the most important elements of the in-person environment, as some faculty were not adequately trained in the COVID-caused emotional/social needs of students.
- 70 percent relied on peer support as compared to more formal support systems. Students were learning and growing by being together – something critical to note during times of both social and physical distancing.
The report calls on college administrators to implement actionable steps to ease the challenging demands of remote learning and smooth the transition from college to professional careers.
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Colleges should do a better job of providing a platform for the voices of poverty-affected and first generation students to be heard.
- Faculty needs to gain a better grasp of digital tools, technologies and strategies.
- Advisors should recruit student coaches and peers to help newer students from diverse communities.
- Policy makers must improve access to transportation, housing, child care, financing, lower tuition/debt and career opportunities for first generation/diverse students.
GlobalMindED Programs helps with:
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