"Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice, and Excellence" is a podcast that focuses on P-20 education pathways and offers an in-depth look at research and leadership that promotes educational equity, justice, and excellence for all students.
This podcast is a product of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Listen to the podcasts via the platforms below, or scroll down this page to select a podcast to listen to.
OCCRL Democracy's College podcasts are not currently being created, but we look forward to bringing our listeners new episodes in the months ahead!
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Strategies to Cultivate a Foster-Friendly Culture on Community College Campuses
Episode 51, June 1, 2023
In this episode, Chequita Brown talks with Kate Danielson of the organization Foster Progress, as well as with Anna Wandtke and Tricia Wagner of Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. The group discusses how to cultivate a foster-friendly culture at Illinois community colleges.
The Importance of the Humanities in Community Colleges for Student Learning, Mobility, and Employability
Episode 50, June 11, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Francena Turner talks with humanities educators at community colleges in California and North Carolina about the importance of the humanities to community colleges and to community college students. The guests also share the challenges they've faced during COVID-19, as well as the challenges they've experienced in introducing students to skills learned through the humanities that contribute to student learning, mobility, and employability.
Key Elements to Successfully Connecting Foster Care Youth to Educational Resources for Postsecondary Success
Episode 49, May 1, 2021
In this episode, Nathaniel Stewart talks with Mauriell Amechi, Regina Gavin Williams, and Blayne Stone Jr. about how the transitions and pathways to postsecondary education are similar and different for Black former foster care students. The scholars also discuss key elements to successfully connect foster care youth to educational resources that help advance the postsecondary education opportunities for this student population.
Working Together to Create a Transfer-Receptive Culture
Episode 48, March 2, 2021
In this episode, José Del Real Viramontes talks with Santiago Bernal, Alfred Herrera, and Dimpal Jain about how community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities can work together to develop and enhance a transfer-receptive culture.
Critically Examining Whiteness and Explaining and Addressing Racism
Episode 47, January 27, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Nolan L. Cabrera joins OCCRL Director Eboni Zamani-Gallaher to examine whiteness and discuss various areas of racism. Dr. Cabrera is an associate professor of educational policy studies and practice at the University of Arizona.
Working Toward Equity for Underrepresented Individuals in Career and Technical Education and the CTE Workforce
Episode 46, December 4, 2020
In this episode, OCCRL Director Eboni Zamani-Gallaher talks with Rita Ali and Jennifer Foster about implementing paths toward equity for underrepresented individuals in career and technical education and in the CTE workforce. Ali is the vice president of workforce and diversity at Illinois Central College, and Foster is the deputy executive director for the Illinois Community College Board.
The Possibilities and Challenges of Open Educational Resources
Episode 45, November 19, 2020
In this episode, Nina Owolabi, a research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Heather Blicher about the many possibilities as well as the challenges of open educational resources for instructors and institutions. Blicher is a coordinator of librarian services for two campuses at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia.
Additional resource: Blazing Equitable Pathways for Community College Students Through OER
Racial justice, Educational Philanthropy, and the Needs and Roles of Community Colleges in the Postsecondary Landscape
Episode 44, September 29, 2020
In this episode, Heather McCambly and Lorenzo Baber talk about the intersections of racial justice, educational philanthropy, and the needs and roles of community colleges in the COVID-19 postsecondary landscape.
College Readiness in Math and Curricular Alignment
Episode 43, August 26, 2020
In this episode, OCCRL Director Eboni Zamani-Gallaher talks with Dr. Ann Edwards about college readiness in math and about curricular alignment. They also discuss issues related to placement and developmental mathematics courses, guided pathways, math pathways, and student participation in STEM.
The Multiple and Nuanced Ways Universities Perpetuate Settler Colonial Aims of Erasure for Indigenous Students
Episode 42, July 6, 2020
In this episode, OCCRL Director Eboni Zamani-Gallaher talks with Dr. Heather Shotton about the multiple and nuanced ways that universities perpetuate settler colonial aims of eraser for Indigenous students.
Additional resource: Dean's Diversity Lecture: "Reimagining Higher Education for Indigenous Students"
Conceptualizing ‘Sense of Belonging’ Among Students From Historically Minoritized Racial Groups Within Higher Education
Episode 41, May 1, 2020
In this episode, Colvin Georges Jr., a research associate at OCCRL, talks with Dr. Nidia Ruedas-Gracia about what it means to have a sense of belonging and discusses her research in this area. They also discuss how a sense of belonging affects college students from historically minoritized racial groups.
Additional resource: Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups 2018
How Youth-in-Care in Illinois Can Access Educational Resources to Pursue a Postsecondary Education
Episode 40, April 1, 2020
In this episode, OCCRL research assistant Chequita Brown continues the conversation on foster care youth by talking with Patricia Palmer about accessing available resources in Illinois for youth-in-care who want to pursue a secondary education.
The Impact of Campus-Based Support Programming on Foster Care Collegians’ Postsecondary Access and Retention
Episode 39, March 2, 2020
In this episode, OCCRL research assistant Chequita Brown talks with Maddy Day about the Fostering Success Michigan initiative and the impact of campus-based support programming on foster care collegians' postsecondary access and retention.
Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Education
Episode 38, February 3, 2020
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, the director of OCCRL, talks with Dr. Paul Gorski about advancing racial equity work, as well as about diversity and inclusion efforts in education.
Additional resources:
Advancing Equitable Outcomes in Higher Education with a Focus on Transfer
Episode 37, January 6, 2020
In this episode, Dr. Marci Rockey, a project coordinator at OCCRL, talks with Betsy Barefoot and John Gardner about their efforts to support higher education institutions in advancing equitable outcomes for students, especially as it relates to transfer.
Additional resource:
Seven Principles of Good Practice for Student Success Partnerships
Implicit Bias and Policy Practices in Higher Education
Episode 36, December 2, 2019
In this episode, Krystal Andrews of OCCRL talks with Dr. Penny Pasque about implicit bias and policy practices in higher education. Dr. Pasque is a professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Ohio State University.
Video presentation: Understanding Implicit Bias and Identifying Action Strategies Toward Change
Intergroup Dialogues About Race, Civility on College Campuses, and Student Support
Episode 35, November 5, 2019
In this episode, Jason Keist of OCCRL talks with Dr. Stephen John Quaye about what prompted his journey into higher education. Keist and Quaye also discuss issues pertaining to student support, issues related to intergroup dialogues about race, and about civility on college campuses. Dr. Quaye is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Ohio State University.
Videos:
Engaging in Difficult Dialogues About Race and Racism
Dean's Diversity Lecture video: Scholar Activism and Self-Care in an Era of #BlackLivesMatter
Democracy's College blog post:
Dr. Stephen John Quaye Speaks on Scholar Activism and Self-Care in an Era of #BlackLivesMatter
Racial Battle Fatigue
Episode 34, October 6, 2019
In this episode, Colvin T. Georges Jr. of OCCRL talks with Dr. William A. Smith about racial battle fatigue. Dr. Smith is a professor and the chair of the Department of Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah.
Video presentation: Understanding the Corollaries of Offensive Racial Mechanisms, Gendered Racism, and Racial Battle Fatigue
Culturally Responsive School Leadership
Episode 33, September 3, 2019
In this episode, Kristal Raheem interviews Dr. Muhammad Khalifa about culturally responsive school leadership. Dr. Khalifa is a professor and Beck Chair of Ideas in Education at the University of Minnesota.
Additional resource:
Dean's Diversity Lecture at Illinois: Culturally Responsive School Leadership
Integrating Equity Into Program Review
Episode 32, August 1, 2019
In this episode, Dr. Amanda Smith talks with Dr. Heather Fox about integrating equity into program review. Smith is the dean of transitional opportunities and career education at Rock Valley College.
Democratizing Higher Education Through Community Colleges in Hong Kong
Episode 31, July 10, 2019
In this episode, HyeJin Tina Yeo, a research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Dr. Hei-hang Hayes Tang about democratizing higher education through community colleges in Hong Kong.
Reclaiming the Racial Justice Meaning of Equity
Episode 30, May 21, 2019
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, at OCCRL, talks with Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon about reclaiming the racial justice meaning of equity. Dr. Bensimon is a professor of higher education at the Rossier School of Education and the director of the Center for Urban Education at the University of Southern California.
Racial Justice or Racial 'Just Us' Among Asian-Americans
Episode 29, April 22, 2019
In this episode, HyeJin Tina Yeo, at OCCRL, talks with Dr. OiYan Poon about racial justice among Asian-Americans and the current attacks on affirmative action. Dr. Poon is an assistant professor of higher education leadership at Colorado State University.
Transnational Whitelash in Educational Policy and Practice
Episode 28, March 13, 2019
In this episode, Marci Rockey at OCCRL talks with Dr. Claire Crawford, BRIDGE Research Fellow at the Center for Research in Race and Education at the School of Education at the University of Birmingham, about transnational whitelash in educational policy and practice.
Asset-Based Approaches to Developmental Education
Episode 27, February 12, 2019
In this episode, Chauntee Thrill at OCCRL talks with Dr. Asif Wilson, associate dean of instruction at Harold Washington College, about asset-based approaches to developmental education.
Engaging and Supporting Male Students of Color
Episode 26, January 15, 2019
In this episode, Jason Keist at OCCRL talks with Dr. J. Luke Wood, associate vice president for faculty diversity and inclusion and Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University, about engaging and supporting male students of color.
Race, Decolonizing Practices, and Community Engaged Education
Episode 25, December 17, 2018
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher talks with Dr. David Stovall, professor of African-American Studies and Education Policy Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago, about race, decolonizing practices, and community-engaged education.
The Lived Experiences of Immigrant, Migrant, and Multicultural Populations in Postsecondary Education
Episode 24, November 19, 2018
In this episode, Dr. Heather L. Fox at OCCRL talks with Dr. Elvira Abrica, assistant professor of higher education and organizational change at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, about the lived experiences of immigrant, migrant, and multicultural populations in postsecondary education.
Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education
Episodes 22 and 23, October 16, 2018
This two-part series features Chaddrick Gallaway from OCCRL talking with James Felton III, chief diversity officer at SUNY Cortland, and Michelé Smith, associate provost and special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion at William Rainey Harper College, about chief diversity officers in higher education.
Listen to the podcasts:
Equity-Minded Approaches to Mathematics Education
Episode 21, August 21, 2018
In this episode, Dr. Vilma Mesa, an associate professor of education at the University of Michigan, talks with Dr. Tatiana Melguizo, an associate professor at the University of Southern California, about equity-minded approaches to mathematics education.
Additional resource:
Transitioning Learners to Calculus in Community Colleges
Student Affairs Strategies for Supporting Diverse Community College Collegians
Episode 20, July 30, 2018
In this episode, Francena Turner from OCCRL talks with Dr. Amelia Parnell, the Vice President for Research and Policy at NASPA, about strategies that student affairs professionals can engage in to support diverse community college collegians.
Additional resource:
NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
Supporting Trans Collegians
Episode 19, June 13, 2018
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher of OCCRL talks with Dr. Z Nicolazzo, an assistant professor of higher education and student affairs in the Department of Counseling Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Nicolazzo's research centers on college student development, postsecondary access, diversity, equity, and culture. Dr. Nicolazzo is an expert on trans collegians with an emphasis on trans student resilience and kinship building.
Bronx Community College’s Democracy Project
Episode 18, May 7, 2018
In this episode, Fredrick Douglass Dixon talks with Dr. Mara Lazda, a professor of history, and Dr. Lisa Amowitz, a professor of art and music, about Bronx Community College's Democracy Project.
Undocumented Students’ Identity and Hyperdocumentation
Episode 17, April 19, 2018
In this episode, Angel Velez talks with Dra. Aurora Chang, an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago, about undocumented students’ identity and hyperdocumentation.
Responsive Mathematics Pedagogy
Episode 16, March 14, 2018
In this episode, Chauntee Thrill talks with Dr. Jennifer Banks, coordinator of mathematics and science at Washtenaw Intermediate School District, about responsive mathematics pedagogy.
Additional resource:
Where to Start: How Community Colleges Can Scale Up Their Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Episode 15, February 15, 2018
The purpose of the episode is to bring together community colleges and other partners who are working to scale up their registered apprenticeships. This informative panel includes Matthew Feuerborn, the Dean of Career Technologies Division at Kishwaukee College, Dr. Rebecca Lake, the Dean of Workforce and Economic Development at William Rainey Harper College, Dr. Henry Bohleke, the Dean of The School of Business and Technology at Triton College, and Joshua Seeberg, the Midwest Manager of the German American Chamber of Commerce’s Skills Initiative. The panel was hosted by Dr. Anjale Welton and Devean Owens.
Additional resources:
Equity in Mathematics Education
Episode 14, January 17, 2018
In this episode, Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher of OCCRL talks with Dr. George Reese, the director of Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, about equity in mathematics education.
Additional resources:
The Experiences of Undocumented Immigrants Who Navigate Into and Through Higher Education
Episode 13, December 13, 2017
In this episode HyeJin Yeo talks with José Ángel N., the author of Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant, about the experiences of undocumented immigrants who navigate into and through higher education.
Additional resource:
Retention, Success, and Identity Development of Latina/Latino College Students and the Role of Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Episode 12, November 21, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher of OCCRL talks with Dr. Gina A. Garcia, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Policy Trends and Resources that Support Adult Learners
Episode 11, October 17, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Anjalé Welton talks with Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, the director of Upskilling Policy at the National Skills Coalition, about policy trends and resources that support adult learners.
Additional resources:
Diversity in STEM
Episode 10, September 10, 2017
In this episode, Edmund Graham III talks to Dr. Dimitra Jackson Smith, an assistant professor for Higher Education at Texas Tech University, about diversity in STEM.
The Potential of Reverse Transfer Initiatives to Address Inequity in Higher Education
Episode 9, August 15, 2017
In this episode, Marci Rockey of OCCRL talks to Leslie Daugherty, the transfer coordinator at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, about the potential reverse transfer initiatives to address inequity in higher education.
Additional Resources
Equity-Minded Approaches to Mathematics Education
Episode 8, July 19, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Heather Fox talks with Dr. Helen Burn, a mathematics professor and director of the Curriculum Research Group at Highland College, about equity-minded approaches to mathematics education.
Additional resource:
Visit the Transitioning Learners to Calculus in Community Colleges web page to learn more about this topic.
Cultivating the Gifts and Talents of Faculty of Color
Episode 7, July 19, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Anjalé Welton talks with Dr. Linda C. Tillman, Professor Emerita of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, about cultivating the gifts and talents of faculty of color.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Tillman as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.
Scholar Activism and Self-Care
Episode 6, June 15, 2017
In this episode, Chaddrick Gallaway talks with Dr. Stephen John Quaye, an associate professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at Miami University in Ohio, about scholar activism and self-care.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Quaye as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.
Advancing Equity and Diversity in Higher Education Leadership
Episode 5, June 15, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Heather Fox talks with Dr. Pamela Eddy, a professor in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership at the College of William and Mary, about advancing equity and diversity in higher education leadership.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Eddy as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.
Engaging Black Women in Institutional Transformation in Education
Episode 4, May 23, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher of OCCRL will talk with Dr. Lori Patton Davis, a professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University, about engaging Black women in institutional transformation in education.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Davis as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.
Educational Achievement and Outcomes along the Academic Life-Course of Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Episode 3, May 22, 2017
In this episode, Angel Luis Velez, a research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Dr. Michelle M. Espiño Lira, an associate professor of Higher Education at University of Maryland, College Park, on understanding community context and institutional responses associated with educational achievement and outcomes along the academic life-course of racial and ethnic minorities.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Lira as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.
Reframing Racial Equity
Episode 2, April 17, 2017
In this episode, Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher interviews Dr. Dian Squire, a visiting assistant professor at Iowa State University, about reframing racial justice.
Additional resources:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Squire as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series. Additional publications and resources on this topic can be found on Dr. Dian Squire's academic profile. Additional sources for information on the topic as recommended by Dr. Squire include:
Racial Equity and Justice in Educational Settings
Episode 1, April 17, 2017
In this episode Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher interviews Dr. Dafina-Lazarus Stewart a professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at Bowling Green State University about racial equity and justice in educational settings.
Additional resource:
Watch the lecture presented by Dr. Stewart as part of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series at the College of Education at Illinois.