2021 GlobalMindED
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.
Happy Memorial Day as we all reflect on the service and sacrifice that so many have made for our freedoms. As we end this month of May, we also share with you stories of Asian Pacific Islander leaders and Exceptional Educators who enrich our world. Today we profile Thanh Tran, a brave Vietnamese refugee who after many attempts, escaped the country by boat to the United States. With hard wok, grit and determination he built a life, a family and a successful career. Several of his children have served in the United States Armed Services.

Join us this week for an outstanding line-up of STEM Stars with a special program designed for our faculty, students and business leaders by the NSF Includes Network. All are welcome to attend live this special feature of the ten week long GlobalMindED 2021 Virtual Event. 
Speakers and sign up information is below.
I came here in 1981 from Vietnam, after I tried to escape several times. On one attempt I was caught and put in prison for 3 years. We had to escape. Communist rule emanated any possibility of freedom they prevent you from pursuing your dreams and being a person for you and for your kids. Even though it was hard. Even though we almost died at sea. We had to escape. By escaping, we had the chance, not the guarantee, but the chance to pursue our dreams and be someone with no one preventing me from trying. After weeks at sea we finally found land and stayed in an Indonesian refugee camp where we had to learn a new culture and a new language. When we actually came to the US we found ourselves in a strange land: the language, the culture, the people, it all looked foreign. For the sake of survival, we tried our best. I worked full time while going to school. I got my GED and went to college. My wife was pregnant with our first daughter, and I knew that there was no future for us if I didn’t finish school. If I didn’t take the opportunity to learn more about this country and to take the opportunity to be somebody and work toward my dream. After 3 years, I finished college and found a job. I knew a lot of immigrants and I did my best help them apply for jobs and pursue greater success. I showed them how to find independence in this foreign land.

I’ve been asked how I conquered the language. What I say is that humans are interesting. You don’t have to communicate with speech and there are so many ways to get a message across. I used my actions, attitude, body language and a lot of guessing to figure out what was said. If you have the right intention and try hard enough people will get the basic idea. Just by smiling, your attitude or gesturing, people are smart enough to understand when you need help. I was also asked how I was able to go to school, work full time, and learn a new language while providing for my growing family. I tell them the answer is simple. I was for survival. Not just physical survival of me and my family but for the survival of my dream. The dream to be totally free and to create a life of our own. A dream the founders of this country made possible. What I did wasn’t special. There are plenty of other people who came to this country and did exactly what I did and started out in the exact same position I did. No job, no money, and hopes for a better future.

In this country you can be someone if you just try, work hard, and not be lazy. You must always be willing to learn new things and have the courage to do what you think will fit with your skill sets.

Most of my life has been in the US where I’ve raised 8 kids and I now have a few grandkids – I miss Vietnam a lot. Not only because that’s where I came from, but I think Vietnam is still the country with the people I can emotionally relate to. I’ve lived in the US for over 40 yrs and in my family we communicate in English and Vietnamese. However, we don’t speak the same words. There are times we misunderstand each other completely. Even though we understand each other’s words perfectly on the surface level, how they are spoken, the meaning and emotion hidden between the words are often unshared or missed. Sometimes, I don’t get what my kids are saying, often missing the emotional meaning behind their words. Connecting with people who share the same experiences and who fully understand me, that’s what I miss most about Vietnam. Sometimes I feel lonely, but it is nice to have a wife that we can share the same customs and emotions that we understand each other perfectly.

I hope Vietnam has the same opportunity as the US. I hope the people there will be able to contribute and take ownership of society like I have here. I tell my kids the only thing that they owe me is their safety and the safety of the people around them. They can choose to find success in their own way but as long as they’re safe, I’m okay with anything.

For all of the readers, I want them to know that anyone can do what I did. I’m not special. I think about how my wife and I did a wonderful job raising our kids and building up a safety net by just by taking the right actions daily, being a good person, helping around and doing your best to stay away from trouble in drugs and alcohol. The last thing I want to say is to do volunteer work and make yourself more humble by helping others move up in the world. Always remember all of the people that helped you go from where you started to where you are now and give back.
Join us for National Science Foundation Includes IRME 3 days of Workshop events next week and Health Equity Leaders the following week. To attend GlobalMindED 2021 Virtual events, just click on each image below to register to attend that event. See the video links to all previous GlobalMindED 2021 events since Earth Week in April and extending through ten weeks through middle of June. Join us!
Here are links to view the events this past week:

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

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

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

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
All GlobalMindED 2021 events are on our YouTube channel
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
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
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.
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
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.
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:

  • Communities represented included BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), first generation, living with disabilities, white poverty-affected, LGBTQ+, Veteran, Online, and ESL/Immigrant.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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:

GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org
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