In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez, Director of the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), sits down in the pod to talk about STEMM education, workforce development, equity, and policy advancement.

From growing up in Indiana to earning her PhD in immunology, Rodriguez shares how a teacher’s spark changed the trajectory of her life — and informs her work to empower future scientists.

In this conversation, with Diverse host Ralph Newell, she dives deep into the challenges and opportunities facing STEMM education, including funding cuts, threats to DEI, as well as the crucial role of community colleges.

Rodriguez explains how she leads SOA’s national strategy to create seamless, equitable STEMM pathways, especially for underrepresented communities, and shares how 280+ organizations are supporting in coalition to build a more inclusive, innovative STEMM future.

Ready to understand the movement building tomorrow's diverse scientific workforce?

Press play and be informed.

KEY POINTS:

- Rodriguez’s Midwest upbringing and the reason behind her passion for science

- Her transition from immunology research to policy, education, and systemic change

- Why she believes “luck” shouldn’t determine access to STEMM careers

- The STEMM Opportunity Alliance’s mission: to grow a diverse STEMM workforce by 2050

- The five pillars of SOA: engagement, inspiration, discovery, innovation and opportunity

- How funding cuts are impacting research, equity, and student opportunity

- The critical and evolving role of community colleges in STEMM training and apprenticeships

- Facing challenges in DEI efforts and how SOA is helping partners to adapt and persist

- What’s next? Implement co-created strategies and build coalition resilience

Quotes:

“If your organization is involved in helping people get from curiosity to learning to career in STEMM, then there are resources and community available inside of the STEMM Opportunity Alliance.” – Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez

“The goal here is to make sure that the needs of one are being supported by the system that is doing the work — downstream and upstream.” – Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez

Resources:

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | Stephanie Rodriguez

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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

Today, Diverse sits down with Dr. Carrie Kisker, president of Kisker Education Consulting and director of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges, delving into the critical role of community colleges in providing social mobility for marginalized groups.

Kisker shares her journey from soccer goalkeeper to education researcher, inspired by her mentor Arthur Cohen. In conversation with Diverse host Ralph Newell, she also explores the current challenges facing higher education, including attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Kisker offers insights into how educators, administrators, and students can resist these challenges while maintaining core educational values. She also emphasizes the importance of understanding shared values and communicating the true purpose of DEI initiatives as well as the fight for equity. Furthermore, she dives deep into the fundamental role of community colleges in protecting democratic ideals and providing equitable access to education.

Don’t miss this episode as Kisker discusses institutional autonomy, academic freedom, her summer plans, and more. Tune in now.

KEY POINTS:

- Kisker’s background, growing up in Colorado, and her passion for soccer

- Key inspiration to focus on community colleges, through mentor Arthur Cohen

- The challenges community colleges face in the current US administration

- Public policy and the role of community colleges in helping marginalized groups

- The importance of DEI in higher education

- The significance of students advocating for DEI programs and policies

- The need for institutional autonomy and academic freedom

- Potential elimination of the Pell Grant for part-time students

- How senior leaders can support DEI via connection, resistance, and innovation

- Common misconceptions about DEI

- The difference between equal and equitable distribution of resources

QUOTES:

"There has been a systematic and very intentional effort over many years to tear down the pillars that hold up our system of higher education." – Dr. Carrie B. Kisker

"If we can focus on stakeholder needs and we have a solution that meets one stakeholder's set of needs, but not another's—it's not a real, lasting solution." – Dr. Carrie B. Kisker

"When people are taught how to think critically and for themselves, it threatens autocratic rule." – Dr. Carrie B. Kisker

"We want students to be safe on campus. We do not want to discourage anyone from attending college. We want to do everything we can to help them afford it and be successful in it." – Dr. Carrie B. Kisker

Resources:

Kisker Education Consulting

Center for the Study of Community Colleges

Council for the Study of Community Colleges

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WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

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Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).

In this honest and intimate episode, we celebrate 2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year Jayo Adegboyo from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His story highlights the power of networking, persistence, and interdisciplinary learning.

As a first-generation pre-med student, Jayo shares enthusiastically about the Meyerhoff Scholars program and its support for students like himself pursuing STEM careers. Jayo is a biochemistry major with a physics minor and a member of the track and field team specializing in 200m and 400m events.

Tune in as he shares his experience balancing academics and athletics, and his aspirations for neuroscience research (particularly in migraine studies), with Diverse host Ralph Newell. Their conversation also explores Jayo's approach to making lasting impacts in communities, fostering relationships with mentors, and advocating for patients with neurological disorders.

KEY POINTS:

- Jayo's background as a first-generation medical student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

- His involvement in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which supports diversity in STEM fields

- His track and field specialization, influenced by his father's athletic background

- Jayo’s passion for migraine research inspired by his father's long-term struggle with migraines

- Jayo’s acceptance into an MD/PhD program

- Networking and building relationships with mentors who guide his research opportunities

- Jayo’s commitment to advocating for patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders

- Jayo’s strategic approach to managing time and priorities as a student-athlete

- Seeking to elevate and enrich communities, leaving them better than he found them

QUOTES:

“I want to not only flourish myself, but also leave whatever space I enter better than I found it.” – Jayo Adegboyo

“There's only 24 hours in a day, and you should allocate those hours in a way that whatever is the most pressing matter at that time you can focus on that.” – Jayo Adegboyo

“I'm someone who likes to think a lot, even during my races, I'll be thinking as I'm running.” – Jayo Adegboyo

“I'm interested in the future mostly… advocacy for people with neurological disorders and psychiatric disorders, just because there is a lot of negative stigma for people with those. Even for people with migraines, sometimes their neurologists either don't believe them in terms of what pain they're facing, or don't believe that they're actually taking the medication that was prescribed to them.” – Jayo Adegboyo

Resources:

Diverse’s Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars program

Meyerhoff Scholars Program – UMBC

Academic Pipeline Programs for Underrepresented Students That Work | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/diverse-issues-in-higher-education

Instagram: http://instagram.com/diverseissuesinhighereducation

Facebook: http://facebook.com/DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation/

X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/diverseissues

WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation

Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).