Episode 42: Celeste Suris Rosselli and DJ Meehan on College Access in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is subject to a number of unique barriers to accessing college whether they leave the island or stay. These barriers simply don’t exist for any other US state or territory and are a direct result of its colonial relationship with the United States. It’s an issue close to my own heart and something that I’m really glad to try to emphasize in our national debate about college access along with my guests today, longtime college access professionals and current college counselors in Puerto Rico, Celeste Suris-Rosselli and DJ Meehan.

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Episode 26: Bart Grachan on Community Colleges

6 million people attend community colleges in this country, and yet we somehow don’t tend to consider it as “college.”

Bart Grachan earns his keep doing everything he can to help students succeed at LaGuardia Community College, and also to helping us all change the conversation to include these students, their concerns as well as their successes.

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Episode 16: Rep. Lew Frederick on Race, Politics, and Education

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As a candidate running unopposed for the State Senate of Oregon from a Portland district, Lew Frederick stands to be one of the most if not the most influential black politicians in the state of Oregon, which makes him one of the most influential black politicians in this country. I wouldn’t normally use the qualifier “black” but Lew is one of two elected officials in the state legislature who are black and that characteristic is particularly meaningful especially in this day and age as we consider the direction of society and the politicians who want to direct it. He’s been active in politics his whole life, and active in the politics of Oregon – and apropos of this podcast, Oregon’s systems of education – for decades.

Learn more about Lew and his work here: http://www.lewfrederick.org/

Here is an article referenced in the episode: “This is why finland has the best schools.” http://www.smh.com.au/national/this-is-why-finland-has-the-best-schools-20160324-gnqv9l.html

Episode 05: Dr. Siva Kumari, Director General of the IBO

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The International Baccalaureate, or IB, is the hardest and most thorough preparation for college out there today. Not only is it out there, but it’s really out there as a global curriculum in almost 150 countries, and it’s growing. Dr. Siva Kumari is the leader of this complex and fascinating entity, and she is also an utter delight. She spoke to me via Skype from The Hague…which is not a bad place to have an office.

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Episode 01: What’s the Point of College? With Bill Deresiewicz

 

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So what’s the point of college? Bill Deresiewicz wrote the book “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life” which I’ve come to regard as one of the most important books about college available today. The nature of going to college has changed dramatically from its early inception, and economic forces have shifted the conversation away from developing people into better human beings and citizens, to one based on “return on investment.” What’s the point of going to college, anyways? Bill Deriesewicz has some compelling ideas. WARNING: The F-word gets said one time. By me. Sorry.  Continue reading →

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