Real Talk: A Diversity in Higher Ed Podcast

In this opening episode, KC and Jamil discuss upcoming guests, share some big news, and talk about the work to come. 

KC and Jamil reflect on the 15 episodes and 20+ guests they talked with in season 4. Thank you to everyone who tuned in and joined us for hours of innovative conversations. And, of course, they drop a few hints about what's to come this fall in season 5!

KC and Jamil are proud to to host the first stop on Dr. France Winddance Twine's book tour, talking about her new work Geek Girls: Inequality and Opportunity in Silicon Valley. They discuss the beginnings of her tech-focused research, mythologies surrounding Silicon Valley, marginalized representation in tech, coding boot camps, primary concepts in the book like “geek capital” and “glass walls” and more. Dr. Twine (Muscogee - Creek Nation) is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is an ethnographer, documentary filmmaker, a feminist race theorist and a visual artist whose research on race, class, and gender inequalities is intersectional, international and innovative. Twine is the author and editor of eleven books. For more info, see her website at https://www.francewinddancetwine.net/ (https://www.francewinddancetwine.net/).

KC and Jamil meet with Liz Ellcessor, associate professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, about her new book In Case of Emergency: How Technologies Mediate Crisis and Normalize Inequality. Together they discuss emergency media, surveillance technologies, safety on college campuses, and much more. Dr. Ellcessor is a Senior Faculty Fellow at the Miller Center for Public Affairs at UVA. She is also the author of Restricted Access: Media, Disability, and the Politics of Participation and co-editor of Disability Media Studies. More about Liz and a discount code for the book at https://www.lizellcessor.org/ (https://www.lizellcessor.org/)!

Jamil and KC talk with Ines Reardon and Peter Dimoulas from the Bioscience Academic and Career Pathway (BioPath) about their community efforts to increase students of color entering STEM fields through mentorship, job opportunities, and specialized classes. They are joined by Lionel Meda (Pfizer) and Legairre Radden (Boehringer Ingelheim), who talk about their career growth, educational journeys, barriers to success, and the need for more black scientists.

Post-Graduation Blues: Finding Your Path. KC and Jamil talk about common anxieties that surround graduating from college with guest Michael King. Together they address feelings of hopelessness, worries about not finding employment, societal pressures, and ways to overcome these troubles. Michael King is a storyteller, educator, and a campus advisor for the JED Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults.

KC and Jamil talk about the power of using friendship to fuel activism. They are joined by Tony Ferraiolo and Dru Levasseur, who share the story of their friendship, which allowed their co-founding of the Jim Collins Foundation and has supported them through struggles with burn out so many of us face. Tony and Dru's dedication to uplifting the trans community will inspire anyone to create light even in the darkest places. Dru is currently the director of DEI for the National LGBTQ+ Bar, and previously directed Lambda Legal's Transgender Rights Project for ten years. He has served as counsel in landmark impact litigation cases and amicus briefs in federal courts, including the Supreme Court, and is a national and international spokesperson who has appeared in dozens of media outlets. Tony is the Director of Health Care Advocates International's Youth and Family Program, a long-time life coach, trainer, speaker, and facilitator of youth and family support groups. Tony is the subject of the award-winning documentary “A Self-Made Man” and the author of the book series Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth.

KC and Jamil give their unsolicited advice to some questions circulating around social media about higher ed. Sit back, relax and enjoy their banter!

In this episode we discuss the rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-CRT bills regarding K-12 education and how to prepare future educators on politics of curriculum. Dr. Roni Jo Draper, lifelong educator, joins Jamil and KC to to talk about how to create classroom spaces so all students will thrive, including rethinking teaching practices in mathematics. Dr. Draper was a math and science teacher before she became a professor in the School of Education at Brigham Young University. She recently retired from BYU as a full professor. She is the president of the board of the ACLU of Utah, active with PFLAG, a co-founder of WeExist.lgbt, and, most recently, a filmmaker.

Jamil and KC are joined by Dr. Antija Allen and Justin Stewart, co-editors and authors to talk about their forthcoming book We're Not Okay: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies. Check them out here! https://linktr.ee/notokbookproject

KC and Jamil highlight university counseling services and discuss cultural barriers to mental health care in Black and Latinx communities, debunk common myths about counseling, and talk about how to approach healing as a community with guests Dr. Randolph Brooks, Multicultural Programming and Outreach Coordinator, and Stephanie Perez, MS, LPC, NCC, assistant counselor, both at Southern Connecticut State University.

KC and Jamil begin to discuss mental health on university campuses and how to take care of ourselves along with our communities featuring guest Micah Wolf.

KC and Jamil discuss the complexities of being disabled in higher education by virtue of identity, visible and invisible disabilities, accessibility, and perceptions, featuring guests Sarah Rizzuto and Aura Fortier. You can listen to/read some of Aura's work here: The Illusive Men (https://youtube.com/channel/UCEqnBYms--G9c5uXPQdPItg (https://youtube.com/channel/UCEqnBYms--G9c5uXPQdPItg)), Recusant's Sigil (https://youtube.com/channel/UCjMoinzM5Eoo0G2loLA5Vyw (https://youtube.com/channel/UCjMoinzM5Eoo0G2loLA5Vyw)), and Forever Intertwined (https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Intertwined-Aura-Fortier-ebook/dp/B08HQZZG6P/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9781098322496&qid=1601916276&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Intertwined-Aura-Fortier-ebook/dp/B08HQZZG6P/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9781098322496&qid=1601916276&sr=8-1))

KC and Jamil discuss the Divine Nine, particularly highlighting the legacy of historically Black sororities and their importance on predominantly white campuses. They are joined by Dr. Audrey Kerr, professor of African American literature, and Tishana Williams, president of the Sigma Gamma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc.  

KC and Jamil are joined by three student activists who helped raise awareness towards gun violence in the New Haven area. How can it be prevented? And how can more people go out there and make a difference?

KC and Jamil are joined by guest Andreina as they talk about the highs and lows of working in Congress, and the best ways to navigate current issues talked about on the Hill.

School is back in session! KC and Jamil are here to welcome you all to a new season and a new semester; with some tips and tricks to keep you sane along the way.

Don't worry, we'll be back in a month. But it's that time of year for reflection, and we're doing our due diligence here at Real Talk. See you in the spring semester!

When you don't have someone to guide you, transitioning to college can be a stressful and isolating process. From finding resources and navigating the college admissions process to learning to ask for help, this week we unpack the hidden pressures and burdens on students who are the first in their family to attend college, and get some advice from fellow first gens Dr. Diane Ariza and a variety of Southern students. Let us know what you think of this episode on Instagram and Twitter @realtalkscsu. #realtalkscsu

This week, we take on a big question: What does it mean to be American? KC and Jamil invited twelve people from around campus to answer this question. In this episode, you'll hear the diverse voices of folks from many perspectives and walks of life—immigrant and U.S. born; younger and older; determined and despairing. Here to have the conversation with them in the studio is Nivonchel Bramble, a junior transfer student majoring in Computer Science—a biracial woman in STEM with a powerful voice and much to contribute to the discussion.

We've all heard both sides of the argument, and have likely felt the humanity in pro-life and pro-choice perspectives. But this week we talk about what's often left out of the conversation, and why it's more complicated than any of us actually thought… Dr. Abigail Adams received her PhD from the University of New Mexico and is a medical anthropologist who focuses on human rights, global health, the LGBTQAI community, indigenous epistemologies, borderlands, food justice, and feminist ethnography. Her geographical specializations are Latin America, the U.S. Southwest, and Appalachia. She is an associate professor of anthropology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she is also the director of the Global Health Program, the LGBTQ Program, and the Chair of the Native American Awareness Council. In this episode, Abbie refers us to:   https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/ (Kaiser Family Foundation)   https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.guttmacher.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7Caadams%40iup.edu%7C184a6dee6856450c7c1508d99b014e60%7C96704ed7a3e14bb8ba918b63ee16883e%7C0%7C0%7C637711252187778650%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ffCOo5QA64Mvm9Qnogc9U5mI3TkozHfMXfWg5jAiF2Y%3D&reserved=0 (Guttmacher Institute)  https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plannedparenthood.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7Caadams%40iup.edu%7C184a6dee6856450c7c1508d99b014e60%7C96704ed7a3e14bb8ba918b63ee16883e%7C0%7C0%7C637711252187778650%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=M6UjmtPnVaLNFkjlx9XG7H%2FuWi8FOz9pg2x%2FHY%2B538Q%3D&reserved=0 (Planned Parenthood)  https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lilithfund.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7Caadams%40iup.edu%7C184a6dee6856450c7c1508d99b014e60%7C96704ed7a3e14bb8ba918b63ee16883e%7C0%7C0%7C637711252187788645%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jGATtUgRpTZ9hFGKoWQQ9Sl3IGkUMt8EigND2GrZnEs%3D&reserved=0 (Lilith Fund) 

KC and Jamil visit with President Joe Bertolino to discuss the return to campus, the future of vaccinations and COVID-19, and the state of social justice at the university. Appointed as the university's 12th president in July 2016, President Joe Bertolino oversees an institution of about 10,000 students, 440 full-time faculty, and 1,100 staff. His first day at Southern was Aug. 22, 2016. President Joe has been a social justice educator for 25 years, and is passionate about student success and access to higher education. During his short time at the helm of Southern, he has outlined the following priorities: raising the University's profile, expanding community outreach and partnerships; strategic enrollment recruitment and retention; and streamlining students' path to earning a degree. Early initiatives include a new marketing program that is reintroducing the University to the region and beyond; the University's first comprehensive enrollment plan; and new community partnerships at multiple levels to establish Southern as a good neighbor.

Love em or hate em – Halloween is coming and we're here for the horror movies. Renea DaCosta from the podcast team joins KC and Jamil this week to talk about Get Out, Candyman, The Conjuring, and more...

What is Academic Freedom and why does it matter? What's the big deal with tenure - and who, other than faculty, even cares? Professor Tony Rosso shares concerns over the future of academic freedom at universities and what's at stake if it's lost. Dr. Tony Rosso received degrees in English from Ohio State University, San Francisco State, and the University of Maryland. He's been teaching at Southern since 1987 and has been a long-time member of the AAUP, serving as Academic Freedom officer for many years.

After talking with Ala and Dr. Meyerhoffer last week, we couldn't wait to continue the allyship conversation at the student level. Today we hear from recent Southern grads about their experiences while students and perspectives on allyship since graduating. Gabriela Vazquez is a first-generation student-turned-graduate and graduate intern for Southern's Office of University Access Programs. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Gabriela's outstanding athletic and academic performance landed her at Southern, where she earned her undergraduate degree. She is currently pursuing a M.B.A. in Finance. Camryn Arpino-Brown is also a first-generation student-turned-graduate and AmeriCorps VISTA for Southern's Office of University Access Programs. As an undergraduate, Camryn served as an Orientation Ambassador, Orientation Coordinator, Resident advisor, and Diversity Coordinator. She was also involved in OLAS, N.A.A.C.P., SGA, and S.I.S.T.A.S. In her final fall semester, she co-hosted the university's Black Lives Matter March. In May of 2021, she received her bachelor's in psychology, also earning the prestigious Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award, the Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa Service Award, the University Leadership Award, and the Diversity Scholar Excellence Award.

BUT who comes out just once? Honestly... Here's a hot take on National Coming Out Day 2021!

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”                                                               - Dr. Steven Covey If you've wondered how to wade into the current social justice conversations but aren't sure where to insert your voice, the answer just might be: don't. Yet. In this episode, we talk with Ala Ochumare, youth program director of the New Haven Pride Center, and Dr. Cassi Meyerhoffer, professor of sociology, about what it means to become an ally to your peers and contribute to the causes you believe in. Cassi Meyerhoffer received her Ph.D. from The State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of systemic racism, racial residential segregation, and the role of race in American policing. She is currently working on her book: American Racism: Law Enforcement, Residential Segregation, and Public Education. Dr. Meyerhoffer's recent work has been published in Journal of Urban Affairs, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, and Sociological Forum. Ala (she/her) has spent that past thirteen years working for a variety of organizations and advocating for various minority communities and systematically oppressed groups. Ala is one of the founding members of https://blacklivesmatternewhaven.com/ (#BlackLivesMatter New Haven) and one of the facilitators of the Marsha P. Johnson Summer Camp for LGBTQ+ Black and Brown Youth organized by a group of community organizations including City Wide Youth Coalition. In addition to her work at the https://www.newhavenpridecenter.org/ (New Haven Pride Center), Ala works as a Community Recovery Assistant in Crisis and Respite and Long-Term Services programs for Continuum of Care INC. in New Haven. Ala recently completed a year-long fellowship for community organizers through CEIO, is a CT Core Organize Now! New Haven Chapter leader, and was recently accepted to the Yale University and Southern Connecticut State University https://www.carenhv.org/ (CARE New Haven) Health Leader program.

It's Season 3. We're back. And we're all in a bit of a weird place as we work toward a new campus "normal." Oh -- and Jamil got a new job! Let us know your thoughts and questions for this season at RealTalk@SouthernCT.edu and @realtalkscsu on Instagram .

Connecticut high schools will be required to offer African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies beginning in Fall 2022 – becoming the first state in the nation to do so. Here to discuss the significance of this new law, signed into effect in December 2020, is Carlos Torre, professor of curriculum and learning and former president of the Board of Education for New Haven Public Schools. Torre earned a master's in education, a certificate in advanced study, and a doctorate of education from Harvard University. He is also an elected member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Puerto Rico, which awarded him the Academy’s Medal of the Academician.

The podcast team debriefs last week's conversation on transgender rights and adds some personal experiences from the college campus.

You keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means... Yes. We're pulling from our good friend Inigo Montoya to help us spell out the "T" in LGBTQIA+, because some of the misconceptions we're hearing today are truly inconceivable... As the transgender community continues to fight for public space, at least 28 state legislatures are weighing measures that would bar transgender youth from participating in sports or receiving medical treatment. Our guests help break down the political context, possible implications of passage, and some of the myths that are reinforced about trans identity in these conversations. Karleigh Chardonnay Webb is a journalist and contributor to https://www.outsports.com/ (Outsports), a trans organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a competitive cyclist, runner, and multi-sport athlete, and a staff operator for https://translifeline.org/ (Trans Lifeline). Eliot Olson is a queer and trans New Haven-based organizer currently attending Columbia University virtually while working at the New Haven Pride Center as the Transgender, non-binary, and intersex program officer and serving as the Waterbury, CT based non-profit Life In My Days Director of Development and Communications.

The podcast team debriefs last week's conversation on cancel culture and adds some personal experiences from the college campus.

Afraid of being cancelled for saying the wrong thing? Our podcast guest D Howden thinks that's much less likely to happen than you think... Today we'll explore the deep roots of cancel culture and its displaced meanings in the modern media landscape. We'll also talk about the real victims of cancel culture, how the tables can be turned, and the close relationship between platforms, power, and accountability to differentiate between public repercussions and actual "cancellation." D Howden (they/them) D is a queer, gender non-conforming autistic human who supports victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. They have been doing this work for about five years, and part of their role is around PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act. They also actively participate in mutual aid and community care to uproot white supremacy in themselves and in their community. They live in Oregon, and yes, they love the outdoors and flannel. Mentioned in today's show: https://www.akpress.org/we-will-not-cancel-us.html (Adrienne Marie Brown: We Will Not Cancel Us)

The concept of home is fluid for many undocumented students in America, especially in today's political climate. What role can higher education play in helping to stabilize policy for students? And more broadly, why do policy decisions change from administration to administration? All that and more on today's episode, featuring: Dr. Carmen Coury is an Assistant Professor of Latin American History at Southern Connecticut State University where she teaches courses on Colonial and Modern Latin American history. Dr. Coury has employed archival research and oral histories to uncover the histories of individuals at the margins of state power (and beyond the nation’s borders) who often elaborate alternative visions of the nation, which are often rooted in local and regional experiences and which often serve to break open univocal and linear official national stories. She is in the early stages of researching her second monograph, which will examine the historical origins of Costa Rica's whiteness mythology and its more contemporary consequences, especially, for the nation's Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean citizens. Esteban Garcia serves as the co-chair of the Dreamers Action Alliance at SCSU and is on the board of directors for Connecticut Students for a Dream. Esteban has helped SCSU respond to the needs of students by identifying and breaking down barriers faced by undocumented students and their families; engaging the campus community in conversations about immigration issues, and educating the community about the realities of being an immigrant in the United States; and advocating for policies that support students at the campus, state, and national levels. Dr. Loida Reyes is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. Before joining the university in 2018, she worked as a program manager for the state of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families for 25 years. Learn more about https://www.southernct.edu/undocumented-students (Southern's commitment to supporting undocumented students).

Jamil and Renea explore the the invisible labor and emotion it takes to progress social justice. Being an activist, it takes emotional, intellectual, and physical work. They cover the concept of "reverse racism," affirmative action, and the normalization of Black trauma in our everyday lives.

By day, Dr. Jaye Gardiner is working as a postdoctoral fellow in pancreatic cancer research, mentoring up-and-coming STEM students, and teaching in the http://www.tripinitiative.com/ (Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP) Initiative) through the Fox Chase Cancer Center. But believe it or not, that still leaves plenty of time for her other passion: increasing science exposure, access, and literacy through comics. Joined by SCSU student and fellow cartoonist Lupita Barajas, we explore the important role of comics in examining diverse human experiences and provoking social change. You can see more of Jaye's work on https://www.jayegardiner.com/ (her personal website) and the JKX Comics page. Learn more about JKX's forthcoming comics anthology Gaining Steam: Illuminating Research through Art https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jkx-comics/gaining-steam-illuminating-research-through-art/description (here)!

Six Asian women were murdered in Atlanta this week amidst a surge of anti-Asian discrimination and hate crimes. While investigations are still underway in Georgia, we couldn't miss this opportunity to have some real talk. In this bonus episode, you'll also get a first look at our behind-the-scenes crew! #StopTheHateAAPI

Early Drop

Yes. We have (and love) the Sage Center. But it still seems like some things are missing... Listen in and add your suggestions @realtalkscsu on Instagram!

After an inspiring conversation last week with Dr. Evans about the evolution of black culture and faculty on university campuses, we return with students Renea and Antione to talk about black student experiences - from seeing yourself reflected (or not) in your professors to codeswitching, navigating the college experience, and creating spaces for black joy.

Dr. Marian Evans, professor of public health at Southern Connecticut State University, breaks down her years working in the medical field and higher education, and the changes she's seen in multiculturalism and professional support for black faculty on campus. We'll also break down some of today's news about Cornel West, Smith College, and more.

What keeps us from having authentic, meaningful conversations about racism, discrimination and bias in the classroom? Learn about the foundations of diversity conversations in higher ed and how they are actually experienced by people of color. Meet your hosts: https://www.southernct.edu/directory/councilork1 (KC Councilor) https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fjamil-harp-2021&data=04%7C01%7Colearya2%40southernct.edu%7C734223fca4c449aac58108d8d8a57a65%7C58736863d60e40ce95c60723c7eaaf67%7C0%7C0%7C637497552526054441%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=FIK7VAgtCrBOPIFyIPUsUY4BqX0iykXeuTKdaFghxkg%3D&reserved=0 (Jamil Harp)

Dr. Joe Bertolino joins Diane and Shanté to look back at how far higher ed has come, how far we have to go, and what his experience has been leading the university during challenging times.

Dr. Randolph Brooks joins us again to talk about the prevailing mental health stigmas across cultures and why they're more important than ever to break.

This week Diane and Shanté bring in Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette to discuss healthcare access and utilization amongst minority communities, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed long-standing health inequities. Dr. Everette is the executive director of Health Equity Solutions, an organization that advocates for change through legislation and regulatory actions, and ensures that decision-makers are aware of key health equity priorities in Connecticut.

People are hurt. People are in trauma. We have two presidents and no idea when we will only have one.... COVID is spiking, families are in dire economic straits... so how are YOU doing? Dr. Randolph Brooks is the Multicultural Programming and Outreach Coordinator in the Counseling Center at Southern Connecticut State University. His research focuses on increasing marginalized and underrepresented students’ utilization of mental and physical health care services.

As we round the corner on one of the most contentious political season of our times, many of us are left to wonder what's next. Dr. Jonathan Wharton helps us break down what's going on in the world and what to expect (and not expect) after election day.

In 2020, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officers are rapidly becoming the real MVPs at colleges and universities across America. As Southern Connecticut State University's first chief DEI strategist, Dr. Diane Ariza brings more than two decades’ experience of administrative leadership in social justice and a background of teaching and research in ethnic studies to address issues of documenting and amplifying equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression work. Dr. Ariza holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology with a concentration in ethnic and race relations, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology. Her bachelor’s degree is in history and Spanish. A Southern alumna and CT's deputy commissioner of housing, Shante Hanks is a thought leader, educator, community advocate, political strategist and author. Her grassroots approach allows her to connect the dots between policy and the pulse of the community. Ms. Hanks has a Bachelor of Science in History and Secondary Education, Master of Science in Elementary Education, Sixth-Year Degree in Educational Foundations with a focus in Urban Studies & Curriculum, and is currently a doctoral student. 

The role of journalism as a non-partisan checkpoint has been largely called into question during the rise of social media and accusations of fake news, with conversations often curving back to the question of, “Who gets to own the truth?” Professor Frank Harris, III, joins us this week to discuss how this criticism is affecting conversations on diversity, and the ability of news media to be seen as arbiters of objective truth. We'll also explore the role of higher education at this intersection and to best serve our students. Professor Harris' Websites: https://www.nwordinamerica.com/ (The n-Word in America) https://www.the400th.com/ (2019: The 400th)

Diane and Shante talk with two student activists, Jamil Harp and Elijah Ortiz, about the ongoing work to move past performance activism and into the realm of effecting systemic change, beginning at their own university.