All In: Student Pathways Forward

The Season 3 finale of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast features an engaging panel discussion with three inspiring students and graduates enrolled in or having completed high quality credential programs from different community and technical colleges: Lucy Briseno, a current student at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon; Monique Sallis, a current student at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, and an apprentice with Aon; and Cha Zong Yang, a graduate of Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin.Throughout the conversation, these students share their experiences participating in innovative, high-quality credential programs at their colleges that have helped shape their career pathways. They highlight the resources, supports, and services from their respective colleges and employers that have made an impact on their progress and success. From knowledgeable, dedicated, and accessible faculty to work-based learning opportunities to available financial assistance and strong career services, the panelists offer a firsthand perspective on what makes a difference for today's learners. The students also provide thoughtful recommendations for college leaders, policymakers, employers and other students based on their own experiences. Their insights offer a compelling call to action for strengthening pathways that connect education, employment, and lifelong success.These three remarkable individuals previously shared their community/technical college stories and insights this past fall at national and Oregon state conferences as part of plenary student panel discussions. Cha Zong spoke at the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers  (NCATC) conference in September about short-term industry recognized, advanced technology programs and unique student supports such as the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Monique joined the student panel at the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) conference in October in Minneapolis on transformative workforce education programs, including apprenticeships, that offer pathways from college into careers. Lastly, Lucy offered her perspective during the student panel at the Oregon Pathways to Opportunity statewide summit in October on the critical topic of student basic needs insecurity and elaborated on different resources and supports that can help address common student realities. The podcast conversation was an opportunity to explore these topics in more detail and culminate this season featuring students in quality credential programs. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

This episode features interviews with Klamath Community College student Reyna Cunningham, the president of Klamath Community College Dr. Roberto Gutierrez and Dr. Theresa Anderson, a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute. Reyna, a dedicated student parent pursuing a pathway in Early Childhood Education, describes her experience in a quality non-degree career pathways credential program at the college, and highlights the importance of holistic supports for students on campus and through community resources.President Gutierrez reflects on Reyna's interview and the broader significance of non-degree credential programs at KCC. Dr. Gutierrez discusses how critical community partnerships are, especially in rural areas, in supporting student success and economic development, and sheds light on Klamath Community College's plans for a new childcare facility on campus to address a priority need for student parents at the college and in the overall community.   Theresa provides insights into Urban Institute's national work focused on student parents at higher education institutions sharing more on the Data-to-Action Campaign for Parenting Students and the Student-Parent Action through Research Knowledge (SPARK) Collaborative, both initiatives helping shape more inclusive programs and policies at community colleges across the country.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Bishop State Community College graduate Ms. Andrea Heningburg McCants, Bishop State Community College President Olivier Charles and Ms. Michelle Burris, Fellow and Cohort Manager for The Industry and Inclusion Team at The Century Foundation.Ms. McCants shares both of her chapters as a student at Bishop State, particularly her most recent when she enrolled in and completed a quality non-degree credential program as a working professional enhancing her skills and credentials that have opened up new business opportunities. President Charles reflects on Ms. McCants interview and describes how the College's non-degree credential programs meet the needs of both students and regional employers and have been designed in a supportive and inclusive way creating accelerated educational pathways for adult education students, working professionals, parenting students, recent high school graduates and other community members to quality jobs and careers in regional high demand industry sectors. Ms. Burris offers more information about the Industry and Inclusion Cohort project that Bishop State Community College is a part of that focuses on creating better access to manufacturing careers for historically underrepresented populations including people of color and women through quality community college manufacturing programs in partnership with regional employers that are committed to broadening their talent pool and workforce. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is supported by the Lumina Foundation and part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This episode features interviews with Olive-Harvey College Rivian Technical Trades program graduate Kyle Johnson, Olive-Harvey College president Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth and the Illinois Community College Board Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Foster. Kyle describes how the Rivian Technical Trades program met his needs as a returning student by providing accelerated training that led to an industry recognized credential in the emerging field of electric vehicles and a clear pathway to a job and career with Rivian in an apprenticeship program model that worked well for him.Dr. Hollingsworth offers helpful reflections from Kyle's interview and shares more on the responsive transportation, distribution and logistics programs at Olive- Harvey that include various supports and resources available to students such as Project Evolve, the college's Workforce Equity Initiative program.Deputy Executive Director Foster elaborates further on the Workforce Equity Initiative in its origins, design and goals to close historical opportunity gaps for African American students across the state of Illinois reducing potential barriers to enrollment and completion in community college quality non-degree credential programs.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode in honor of Mother's Day, we revisit some clips from past All In podcast student guests who are moms. The host Marc Goldberg also interviews his own mom, Nancy Yelenik Goldberg, who describes her experience as a returning, parenting student at the local community college in the 1970's taking classes in the emerging field of computer science. She elaborates on the trailblazing career she had as as a programmer and eventual executive leader in the technology field and talks about the civic engagment she is involved in these days.  The first All In clip is from an early season one episode of the podcast during the pandemic with Nellisha Moore, a student from Chemeketa Community College. The next one is from a conversation with Cristina Cruz, an early childhood education career pathways student from Lane Community College. Following that are highlights from an interview with Shalease Williams from Portland Community College in season one. The  next clip is from Emily Geise, a graduate of Klamath Community College and employee of Cascade Comprehensive Care. Lastly, there are highlights from an interview with Lynne Hamblin, a student at Rogue Communtiy College. Each of these All In moms share different thoughts about the intersections between their community college experiences and their own children and families. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Lane Community College Culinary Commercial Cooking Certificate program graduate Barbara Graham-Adams, college president Dr. Stephanie Bulger and CEO and President of NACCE, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, Dr. Rebecca Corbin. Barbara talks about her experience as a returning student who enrolled in a culinary career pathways program to enhance her skills for her existing food cart business, Irie Jamaican Kitchen, which has now led to new opportunities through the college. She offers helpful insights to college faculty and staff on additional ways to meet the needs of parenting students and gives great advice to other community college students. Dr. Bulger shares her reflections from Barbara's interview and touches on different programs and supports the College provides for small and emerging businesses through the Small Business Development Center, entrepreneurial academic programs and even through the College's procurement process. Dr. Corbin describes how NACCE supports colleges across the country in developing an entrepreneurial mindset with students and through college programs and touches on the power of this national network to learn together, co-create and take innovative action. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Clark State College nursing graduate Lemohang Mokhalinyane and then a follow up conversation with both Clark State College President Dr. Jo Blondin and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) President Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley.Lemoh describes her experience as a student in the nursing pathway at Clark State - first in the Licensed Practical Nursing program leading to employment and then the Registered Nursing program. She highlights the incredible support and guidance she received from college faculty and staff as a student and the culture of meeting students where they're at. Lemoh also describes  the benefit of enrolling in and completing a non-degree credential of value in her educational journey at Clark State.Dr. Blondin and Dr. Gellman-Danley, both transformative, student-centered leaders with expertise advocating and shifting systems at the local, state and national level, share their reflections from the interview with Lemoh and elaborate on the topic of quality non-degree credentials. Dr. Blondin describes how Clark State has established meaningful on-ramp and off-ramp credential programs to support student goals. Dr. Gellman-Danley offers expertise and insights from the lens of an accrediting board and how HLC has prioritized non-degree credential programs in their work with member institutions. Both Dr. Blondin and Dr. Gellman-Danley emphasize the importance of centering students and student intent when considering policies and practice at the institutional and national level. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Treasure Valley Community College student Jessica Schooley, Treasure Valley Community College president Dr. Dana Young, and the head of design programs at Education Design Lab, Dr. Leslie Daugherty.Jessica talks about the value  of stackable credentials in her Natural Resources program along with the holistic supports provided by college staff and faculty and partner agencies like Worksource Oregon. She also describes the work-based learning internship that has led to a great employment opportunity in her field. President Young shares her reflections from Jessica's interview and emphasizes the importance of employer partnerships for the college, especially in a rural community to provide upskilling and reskilling training for residents, and how they support overall economic vitality of the region. Leslie describes Education Design Lab's work collaborating with colleges across the country focused on new majority learners, non-degree credentials of value and rural colleges grounded in their human centered design approach that generates new solutions for learners, employers and communities. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

This episode features interviews with Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) graduate Kwame Presley, GRCC President Dr. Charles Lepper and Melissa Goldberg, the Director of Competencies and Credentials at Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, a national non-profit  development organization that partners with government, business, education and community leaders to connect workers with education and good jobs. Kwame shares his experience as a parenting student in an accelerated quality non-degree credential program in the IT sector that has led to a fantastic career opportunity with a local employer. He provides important recommendations to college leaders and students towards student success. President Lepper offers his reflections from Kwame's interview and describes how GRCC has developed responsive non-degree credential programs in strong partnership with regional employers and workforce organizations. Melissa shares more on the work Corporation for a Skilled Workforce leads on quality non-degree credential programs across the country including the ACE-UP grant that Grand Rapids is a part of focused on strategies colleges can employ to help their industry partners create more inclusive workplace environments.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this introductory episode for season three, host Marc Goldberg interviews Dr. Michelle Van Noy, the Director of the Education and Employment Research Center (EERC) at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. As a leading scholar in the world of quality non-degree credentials, Dr. Van Noy provides important context on this topic to ground us in this season's podcast theme. She shares research she has led at EERC on the quality non-degree credentials ecosystem and growing interest and investments by states and institutions. This includes the recent publication Making Sense of Quality in the Non-Degree Credential (NDC) Marketplace- Implications for Policymakers and Practitioners. Dr. Van Noy elaborates on the elements of quality non-degree credentials, highlights additional research and resources on this topic, including states that are leading the way and offers insights on questions to explore with upcoming guests - students, college leaders and policymakers on non-degree credentials of value. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this season finale episode, host Marc Goldberg moderates a panel discussion with four key workforce development and higher education leaders in Oregon discussing the topics of job quality, college and industry partnerships and the Future Ready Oregon legislation– the most significant state investment in workforce training in the state's history. The panelists include Oregon State Senator Michael Dembrow, Chemeketa Community College President, Dr. Jessica Howard, Advanced Economic Solutions, Inc. Owner, Marin Arreola III, and the Director of the Oregon Workforce Talent & Development Board, Todd Nell. The panelists offer great insights on how Future Ready Oregon came together with support from multiple stakeholder groups and how these investments have centered equity and encouraged and incentivized partnerships to increase Oregonian's access to skills training that results in careers with economic mobility. They also share examples of how the Future Ready funds have prioritized equity and integrated holistic supports. This all ties in with our conversation on the topics of job quality and college and industry partnerships.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Tillamook Bay Community College graduate and current college Success Coach and adjunct welding faculty Jude Schlotzhauer, college President Dr. Ross Tomlin and Laura Dresser, associate diirector at COWS, a research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jude discusses how transformative her college experience was as a student and how she is now able to reciprocate the same culture of care with other students in her roles as a success coach and faculty member. She describes how her work at the college is the best quality job she's had before and offers really interesting ideas on how employers and colleges can listen to students and workers in authentic ways. President Tomlin elaborates further on how the college supports job quality for its employees with different strategies connecting it all back to student success. He also shares the importance of external partnerships for the college with employers and economic development organizations to support economic equity and vitality in their region of the state.  Laura offers insights on the COWS definition of high road employers with good job quality and how colleges can collaborate with employers to promote job quality and employee retention through benchmarking effective strategies from these high road employers. She emphasizes the critical role community and technical college career pathways programs play in creating access and support for students and workers towards careers with economic mobility. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Clatsop Community College student Taylor Falconer, Astoria Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David Reid and Clatsop Community College President Chris Breitmeyer. Taylor is a working student who participated in the college's Clatsop Works internship program last summer gaining invaluable experience towards her Business degree. She offers great insights on her own definition of job quality having worked in the restaurant industry for many years and discusses the impact of her education and training at the College.David shares more on the key role the Chamber of Commerce plays in regional economic and workforce development and highlights the important partnership with Clatsop Community College including the Clatsop Works program. President Breitmeyer reflects on the interview with Taylor emphasizing the critical role faculty and staff play at the College in supporting students holistically to achieve their academic and career goals. He elaborates further on the Clatsop Works program which creates more access and opportunity to quality jobs for students while supporting regional employers in developing a future workforce.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This special episode features an interview with Steve Jurch, Director of Center for Policy and Practice at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and continues the dialogue with workforce development leaders aiming to transform policies and practice to improve job quality, equity and college and industry partnerships.Steve highlights a number of initiatives ACCT has in place under the Center for Policy and Practice providing technical assistance to ACCT college members including a Non-credit/Credit Alignment Lab project, another assisting rural colleges and state systems in becoming SNAP E & T third-party providers to support students in completing college, and a skills based hiring initiative. Steve elaborates on ways ACCT supports job quality with its member institutions as well as how the organization integrates student voice into their policy work. He provides additional insights from his experience as a workforce development practitioner at Community College of Baltimore County prior to joining ACCT. The All In: Student Pathways Forwardpodcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This special episode features an engaging and thought-provoking discussion with Clair Minson, a leading voice and expert on workforce system transformation and the Founder and Principal consultant at Sandra Grace LLC, a change management firm that provides training, consulting and thought partnership to organizations seeking to embed racial equity into their practice and policy work. Clair highlights the intersectionality of job quality, racial equity and systems change work required across the community college and workforce development ecosystem to provide equitable pathways for careers with economic mobility. She shares valuable insights on how critical it is to truly center student, worker and learner voices, and how practitioners need to recognize the expertise that comes through student and worker lived experience and navigating systems that were not designed by or for them. Clair talks about the importance of breaking down silos across the workforce and higher ed ecosystem that maintain white supremacy and structural racism impacting Black and non-Black learners and workers of color.The discussion moves to how colleges can integrate racial equity into their partnership work with employers aligning with the company's talent development priorities.  This special episode along with the next are a chance to go deeper with workforce development policy and practice experts on the topic of job quality.The All In: Student Pathways Forwardpodcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) graduate and current CHI-St. Anthony Hospital employee, Sheri Warnock, St Anthony Hospital Chief Executive Officer Harry Geller and Blue Mountain Community College President Dr. Mark Browning. Sheri shares her impactful experience as an adult returning student at BMCC and the incredible amount of support she received from faculty and staff throughout her educational journey. She offers her views on how both of her current jobs in the healthcare industry are quality jobs. Harry elaborates on the various ways St. Anthony Hospital promotes job quality for their employees. He emphasizes the important role Blue Mountain Community College plays in Eastern Oregon in providing a future talent pool and shares how the hospital is partnering creatively with the College to address the nursing instructor shortage. Dr. Browning reflects on the interview with Sheri and describes innovative ways the College is developing responsive programming for residents to meet regional workforce needs in collaboration with regional employers.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This special episode was recorded live at the 2022 Oregon Adult Basic Skills Conference in Salem, Oregon on October 24 organized by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Podcast host Marc Goldberg moderates a panel discussion with Rogue Community College (RCC) student and past GED graduate Lynne Hamblin and Columbia Gorge Community College president Dr. Marta Yera Cronin. Lynne shares her own journey through the adult education programs at RCC and what supports have been most helpful to her in continuing her education towards a college certificate and degree. Dr. Cronin speaks to the importance of adult education students and programs as core to the mission of community colleges and describes her past work leading and championing adult education programs. Both panelists answer questions from the live audience of over 200 adult education faculty, staff and administrators from the seventeen Oregon community colleges. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Oregon Coast Community College graduate Cameron Vasquez who shares more about his experience in the nursing program at OCCC and now working as a registered nurse at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. He emphasizes the value of clinical rotations as part of his nursing program and how he views his employment at the hospital as a quality job. This is followed up with engaging conversations with the CEO of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Dr. Lesley Ogden and OCCC President Dr. Birgitte Ryslinge both reflecting on Cameron's interview and sharing the importance and mutual benefit of the long standing partnership between the college and hospital to support both economic mobility for residents and employer workforce needs in a rural coastal region of the state. 

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews three graduates from Columbia Gorge Community College's Electro-Mechanical Technology program, who are all currently employed at General Electric (GE) Renewable Energy. Brian Irwin, a site supervisor, and Colby Williamson, a wind turbine technician, speak to how valuable the hands-on, practical education and training was at CGCC while also sharing their perspectives on the quality of their jobs and careers at GE. Senior services manager, Tyrel Quantrell, highlights the benefits of partnering with the college, participating in CGCC's program advisory committee and offering work-based learning opportunities. Dr. Marta Yera Cronin, the president of Columbia Gorge Community College, reflects on the interviews and discusses different ways the college advances racial equity and economic mobility by prioritizing job quality within the college and working with employers to advance good jobs and careers in the region. She also elaborates on how Future Ready Oregon 2022  and other state funding can assist the college in developing new programs that are responsive to changing industry skill sets and occupations. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

In the next episode of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast, host Marc Goldberg interviews Klamath Community College (KCC) graduate and current Cascade Comprehensive Care employee Emily Geise, Cascade Comprehensive Care CEO Tayo Akins and KCC president, Dr. Roberto Gutierrez.  As a worker and college graduate from the Health Information Management (HIM) program, Emily shares her definition of job quality and highlights how her current position and career at Cascade Comprehensive Care aligns, in contract to another job she held prior to returning to college. She also speaks to the power of college work-based learning (internship) opportunities for students, and other policy and program components that support college completion and connection to quality careers.Cascade Comprehensive Care CEO Tayo Akins reflects on the interview with Emily and talks about the incredible asset that KCC is to Klamath Falls employers in supporting their workforce capacity, broader economic development and retaining local skilled talent in the region like Emily.  KCC president Dr. Roberto Gutierrez discusses the importance of strong employer partnerships like the one with Cascade Comprehensive Care and the critical role faculty and staff play in preparing and supporting students to achieve their academic and career goals. Dr. Gutierrez also shares his own personal community college story as the starting point for his own career as a college president. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

The All In: Student Pathways Forward season two launches with an introductory episode featuring a conversation with Maureen Conway, the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Economic Opportunities Program. This season will continue to elevate Oregon community college student voices to shape inclusive policies, practice and partnerships, but shifts the discussion to job quality and equity from season one's focus on student basic needs insecurity. Job quality was a common issue raised by community college students during the first season, and a key  motivator for students in returning to college and pursuing postsecondary credentials. Maureen sets the stage for this season by offering an expansive definition of job quality that is guided by workers and shares more information on the Aspen Institute's Job Quality Tool Library. She discusses the connections between basic needs insecurity and the lack of quality jobs for students while sharing opportunities community colleges and workforce development agencies have to influence job quality with their employer partners. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network. It can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast sites. 

In the season finale of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast, host Marc Goldberg facilitates a panel discussion with leaders in Oregon who were instrumental in landmark legislation that funds Benefits Navigators at all 24 public community college and universities to help students access benefits and resources that will support them to complete college and gain careers with economic mobility. The panelists include: Venus Barnes, Organizer-Community Food Justice at Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Elizabeth Guzman Arroyo, Statewide Pathways to Opportunity and Community College STEP Consortia Director, Dan Haun, Director of Self Sufficiency Programs at the Oregon Department of Human Services, Emma Kallaway, former Government Relations Director at Portland Community College and Kate Kinder, State Strategies Director at the National Skills Coalition.These colleagues share their reflections on what led to the passage of Oregon House Bill 2835 highlighting the role student voices and broad-based coalition had in compelling policymakers to pass this inclusive, student-centered policy. Panelists also describe the implementation of the Benefits Navigators bill to date and related wins from Oregon's 2022 short legislative session.  

In the next episode of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast, host Marc Goldberg interviews Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) student Zac Warner, college president, Dr. Patty Scott, and The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield. Zac is a parenting student studying electrical engineering, who began in the college's GED program. Zac speaks to the culture of care on campus sharing insightful recommendations on how colleges can support parenting and working students career pathways.SWOCC college president Dr. Patty Scott discusses the critical role faculty and staff play in encouraging and mentoring students. Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield summarizes recent federal policy developments as well as The Hope Center's 2022 priorities to support #RealCollege students like Zac. She highlights Oregon's cutting edge career pathways and STEP program and the recent Benefits Navigator bill. TheAll In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This is part II of this All In: Student Pathways Forward episode that includes the second half of an interview by host Marc Goldberg with Portland Community College (PCC) President Mark Mitsui and then a conversation with Kermit Kaleba, the Strategy Director for Employer Aligned Credential Programs at Lumina Foundation.Both President Mitsui and Kermit share reflections on the featured interview in part I with PCC Career Pathways student Shalease Williams. President Mitsui speaks further on the systemic barriers students face and how the statewide Pathways to Opportunity Initiative is helping Oregon community college students maximize benefits and resources, especially students experiencing basic needs insecurity. Kermit discusses the Lumina Foundation's commitment to racial equity and how the Foundation is investing in various state and college projects that support adult students in earning quality stackable credentials leading to good jobs. He highlights great work in Oregon with the STEP (SNAP Employment and Training) grant in which Shalease and many other students have accessed while taking coursework at the community college.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network. 

In the latest All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Portland Community College Career Pathways student Shalease Williams as well as President Mark Mitsui. Shalease speaks passionately about the value of stackable credentials for adult students and lifts up the resources and holistic faculty and staff support that are essential for adult and parenting students. President Mitsui reflects on the interview with Shalease and elaborates on the systemic barriers students face and solutions like Oregon's statewide Pathways to Opportunity initiative and Career Pathways framework. This two part episode will also feature additional insights from the Lumina Foundation's Kermit Kaleba, who discusses the organization's commitment to racial equity and how the foundation is investing in various state and college projects that support adult students to earn quality stackable credentials, increasing college completion and access to good jobs.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network. 

This special edition of the All In: Student Pathway Forward podcast is focused on federal policy with a featured guest who is one of the strongest legislative champions in Congress for community colleges and workforce development, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, serving Oregon's 1st congressional district. Congresswoman Bonamici discusses how her federal policy work supporting community college students and workers has been shaped by her own community college student experience at Lane Community College. The Congresswoman talks about her leadership on current legislation that addresses the unmet financial need of community college students and emphasizes the different paths a student or worker can take to thrive including community college and workforce development programs but also registered apprenticeships.  Katie Spiker, the Managing Director of Government Affairs at the National Skills Coalition, provides a valuable update from the Hill on the historic passage of the infrastructure bill and describes the status of the Build Back Better Act. She offers a helpful summary of what funding can assist higher education students, workers, apprentices and small and medium sized businesses in these two key pieces of legislation. Katie also shares how important it is for community college students, faculty, staff and champions to continue to advocate for legislation towards an inclusive economic recovery. The interviews with Congresswoman Bonamici and Katie Spiker were recorded prior to the House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act on Friday, November 19. 

This episode features an interview with Clackamas Community College student Jacob Sieler who is studying Machine Tool Technology as a parenting student at the college. Jacob talks about how different staff and faculty at the college have helped him address financial constraints through accessing resources available to students including the STEP grant, Tech Hire and Metallica Scholars Initiative grants.Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook shares his reactions to Jacob's interview and highlights the unique Metallica All Within My Hands Foundation grant that has supported students at the college while generating excitement about career technical education programs.Renee Richardson, Associate Director of the Metallica All Within My Hands Foundation, and Jen Worth, Senior Vice President of Academic and Workforce Development at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) elaborate on how the Metallica Scholars Initiative came about and the flexible approach the Metallica All Within My Hands Foundation and AACC have taken with community college grant recipients to tailor it to their students' needs, local economies and respective CTE programs while encouraging additional community partnerships to address student basic needs insecurity. 

This episode features an interview with Rogue Community College (RCC) student Lynne Hamblin who returned to school to get her GED and enroll in the college's award winning co-enrollment/integrated education and training program that offered simultaneous access to credit courses and additional wraparound supports.  Lynne was honored as the selected student speaker for the 2021 College Commencement ceremony last spring.RCC College President Dr. Cathy Kemper-Pelle talks about the importance of adult education programs and how the co-enrollment model directly supports the college mission, strategic plan priorities, and the college shifting to being student ready. She also discusses the recent passage of Oregon HB2835, the Benefits Navigator Bill, and other critical resources.  Dr. John E Roueche, Executive Director of the John E Roueche Center for Community College Leadership at Kansas State University, and nationally recognized higher education leader and scholar, shares insightful community college history and reflects on the importance of being open access institutions that are also equally focused on student success. Dr. Roueche emphasizes the importance of faculty and staff taking a human-centered and holistic approach to supporting students.

This episode features an interview with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) student Dray Aguirre, who offers great insights from his advocacy work at the local, state and national levels focused on student basic needs insecurity. Dray emphasizes the importance of students shaping policies and shares some of his own lived experience as a student facing basic needs insecurity. Dray was highlighted in a recent KLCC NPR story focused on food and housing insecurity among college students in Oregon.  COCC Instructional Dean, Jenni Newby, and Pathways College and Career Success Coach, Marcus LeGrand, talk about college-wide strategies to support students holistically through their Pathways to Opportunity work and how critical it is to listen to students like Dray to understand more clearly where COCC needs to prioritize their efforts.Bri Nguyen and Natasha Bennett from SJI (Seattle Jobs Initiative) share information on their Student-Centered Design initiative in collaboration with colleges in Oregon and across the country and describe a variety of ways they engage students in this work to improve access to benefits and resources.  

This episode features Lane Community College (LCC) student Maria Cristina Cruz, who is enrolled in an innovative Early Childhood Education program that integrates Career Technical Education coursework with foundational skills leading to a college credential. Cristina is a parenting student who has found employment in her field of study while still in school and has accessed different resources at LCC to make it all work. Lane Community College President Dr. Margaret Hamilton shares her enthusiasm and commitment to the statewide Pathways to Opportunity framework as a racial equity strategy and discusses the importance of the Navigator role to help students maximize benefits to complete college.Judy Mortrude, Senior Technical Advisor at National College Transitions Network/World Education, Inc, talks about the importance of adult integrated education and training career pathways programs, like the PASS Lane Early Childhood Education program at LCC, and how these efforts are part of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 and fit in with broad college-wide Guided Pathways initiatives.

This episode features a conversation with Mt. Hood Community College student Bakr Alkarawi, who shares how his own experience as a student facing housing insecurity has propelled him to take action and work with college leadership, policymakers and community partners towards a bill in the Oregon legislature that would fund services and support for students facing houselessness. Bakr offers helpful perspective on what resources and staffing support have assisted him while taking GED and college-level coursework at Mt. Hood including the STEP grant, MHCC Foundation scholarships, and guidance from key faculty and staff along the way. Mt. Hood Community College President, Dr. Lisa Skari, discusses different strategies the college has taken to address student basic needs insecurity integrating student voices in this work. Lastly, Katie Brown, Director of Government Relations, at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), talks about the current federal policy landscape related to community colleges and addressing students' unmet financial need. This community college priorities document from ACCT (and AACC) for the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan legislation is a helpful summary and guide from the conversation with Katie. 

In this episode, Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) student, James Toms, talks about his experience as a returning student to college and how different programs and supports on campus have helped him pursue a Medical Assisting certificate at the college and a new career in healthcare. He shares great suggestions on how the college can continue to help students facing unmet financial need. Afterwards, the President of TVCC, Dr. Dana Young, discusses the importance of the statewide Pathways to Opportunity initiative which helps connect students with benefits and resources. She shares her own family journey through higher education and how much she can relate to students facing basic needs insecurity.Lastly, Chloe Eberhardt from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, talks about how and why the organization's advocacy efforts have centered on higher education students who have faced disproportionate food insecurity in Oregon. Chloe provides more information on a current bill in the 2021 Oregon legislative session, HB2835, which would provide a benefits navigator at each of the community colleges and public universities to assist students in maximizing benefits and resources available to them. 

Nellisha Moore, a student parent at Chemeketa Community College, shares her inspiring educational pathway at the college from the GED program to pursuing a career in healthcare. She details resources and programs that have made a difference to her as a single mom and how  faculty and staff have been most helpful. Nellisha offers great suggestions on how the college can continue to support adult students with inclusive policies that provide more access to education opportunities. Afterwards, Chemeketa Community College President Dr. Jessica Howard talks about her observations from the conversation with Nellisha and shares more about why college leaders need to focus efforts on student basic needs insecurity. Dr. Howard elaborates on the importance of higher education as a pathway out of poverty and creator of upward mobility.  She highlights various ways that Chemeketa Community College has integrated student voices into policy and planning work across the institution. 

In this Intro episode, I have the chance to speak with Melissa Johnson from the National Skills Coalition and Kate Kinder from Portland Community College to set the stage for this new podcast centered on elevating Oregon community college student voices to shape inclusive policies, programs and partnerships. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's SkillSPAN advocacy work with National Skills Coalition and tied to the broad statewide Pathways to Opportunity coalition that is helping students maximize benefits and resources to complete college and gain economic mobility. Listen in to hear some really helpful context setting and overall insights from Melissa and Kate before I begin chatting with Oregon community college students in upcoming episodes.

Hope you'll listen in to this new podcast focused on Oregon community college students. Please subscribe now and stay tuned for future episodes.