Spotlight on Community Colleges

Ep 17: The Community College in Tumultuous Times LIVE Episode

During the Council for the Study of Community Colleges annual conference in April 2026 in Salt Lake City, Spotlight on Community Colleges recorded a live episode featuring a panel of wonderful guests. This conversation focused on the idea of "The Community College in Tumultuous Times: Reflections and Future Possibilities," a period for making sense of the changes unfolding in our institutions over the past 12-18 months. The panel not only reconciles the massive disruptions related to funding, diversity efforts, and institutional value, but also offers some hope of what to embrace in the future amid such uncertainty.  Panelists included Dr. Lorenzo Baber (Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Dr. Deneece Huftalin (former President of Salt Lake Community College), and Dr. Darin Jensen (Associate Dean and Professor at Salt Lake Community College).  Thanks to the Lumina Foundation for their support of this episode.  Spotlight of Community Colleges will return for its third season starting this August. Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/ [https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/].   Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/ [https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/]). Stay Connected With Us: Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com [SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com] Instagram: @spotlightonccs [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspotlightonccs&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559840814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGSO0dni1JpT1iZxUnhrrsgiNk3cNjkl4tISCFez8kI%3D&reserved=0] BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.social [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fspotlightonccs.bsky.social&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559853117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzMth5lsCUhN9bQGow5PdcGkEl%2FgOv1iDgn%2BN%2Bcww9Q%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/], https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/], and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/]   Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!

Ep 16: Community College Athletics

According to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), about 60% of community colleges offer sports programs. This translates to approximately 60,000 student-athletes in community colleges around the United States participating in more than two dozen sports. According to Eddie Comeaux and Eric Davidson, student-athletes have higher GPAs than their non-athlete counterparts; community colleges often provide their athletes with positive, holistic academic support; and while community college athletics programs have expanded in the last twenty years, their overall support for female athletes and their programs has remained stagnant. Yet this component of community college life often remains on the sidelines. Deconstructing community college athletics are three guests who know this world well: Dr. Dan Kinney, President of Iowa Western Community College, a college which has garnered 18 NJCAA National Championships; Dr. Brett Monaghan, Vice President of Championship, Membership, and Sports Governance at the NJCAA, and former athletic director at Indian Hills Community College; and Alaura Sharp, the Head Women’s Basketball coach at Appalachian State and a former community college athlete and coach. Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/ [https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/].   Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/ [https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/]). Stay Connected With Us: Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com [SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com] Instagram: @spotlightonccs [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspotlightonccs&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559840814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGSO0dni1JpT1iZxUnhrrsgiNk3cNjkl4tISCFez8kI%3D&reserved=0] BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.social [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fspotlightonccs.bsky.social&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559853117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzMth5lsCUhN9bQGow5PdcGkEl%2FgOv1iDgn%2BN%2Bcww9Q%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/], https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/], and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/]   Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!

Ep 15: Noncredit Workforce Education

The American Association of Community Colleges estimates that about 40% of headcount enrollment at community colleges is in non credit-bearing courses and programs, yet much remains unknown about noncredit education. On this episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges, we talk about what we know about noncredit occupational training in community colleges - and what we still don’t know. We are going to hear from our colleagues in the colleges about where they are putting their noncredit occupational training efforts, and we will ask about the major challenges and opportunities they are experiencing. Finally, we are going to talk about how everything may or may not be expanded or upended by the implementation of “Workforce Pell” later this year.  Joining today's episode are three experts on noncredit workforce education. Dr. Mark D’Amico is a Professor of Higher Education at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, as well as one of the founders of the Noncredit Research Collaborative. Ms. Molly Dodge is Senior Vice President for Workforce and Careers at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. Dr. Andrew Gardner serve as Associate Vice President for Workforce Strategies for the North Carolina Community Colleges.  Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/ [https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/].   Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/ [https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/]). Stay Connected With Us: Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com [SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com] Instagram: @spotlightonccs [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspotlightonccs&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559840814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGSO0dni1JpT1iZxUnhrrsgiNk3cNjkl4tISCFez8kI%3D&reserved=0] BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.social [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fspotlightonccs.bsky.social&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559853117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzMth5lsCUhN9bQGow5PdcGkEl%2FgOv1iDgn%2BN%2Bcww9Q%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/], https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/], and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/]   Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!

Ep 14: Dual-Career Couples in Community Colleges

There's a lot to love about community colleges, and one of those components is the employees who themselves are in, healthy romantic relationships. The two-body problem, as it is commonly referred to, entails how spouses or significant others must account for finding similarly specialized role in the same geographic area, or if possible, the same institution. On today's episode, we welcome on one dual-career couple to discuss their situation that blends life, career, and love. Dr. Corina González-Stout serves as an associate professor of history at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas. Her husband is Dr. Brian Stout, a professor of biology, also at Northwest Vista College.  Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/ [https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/].   Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/ [https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/]). Stay Connected With Us: Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com [SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com] Instagram: @spotlightonccs [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspotlightonccs&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559840814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGSO0dni1JpT1iZxUnhrrsgiNk3cNjkl4tISCFez8kI%3D&reserved=0] BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.social [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fspotlightonccs.bsky.social&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559853117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzMth5lsCUhN9bQGow5PdcGkEl%2FgOv1iDgn%2BN%2Bcww9Q%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/], https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/], and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/]   Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!

Ep 13: Understanding Campus Climate

Today on Spotlight on Community Colleges we focus on issues related to campus climate in community colleges. In other words, how might faculty, staff, administrators, and other constituents perceive institutional policies, practices, and routines that influence satisfaction, efficacy, and success.  Deconstructing this complicated and nuanced topic is a panel of guests who have a deep understanding of campus climate. Dr. Audrey (AJ) Jaeger serves as the W. Dallas Herring Distinguished Professor of Community College Education and Executive Director of the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University. The Belk Center administers  the PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges. Dr. Daniel West is the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at the Belk Center. Focusing primarily on employee engagement and professional development, Daniel is responsible for administering and helping colleges interpret the PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges. Finally, Dr. Jason Hurst serve as president of Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina. Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/ [https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/].   Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/ [https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/]). Stay Connected With Us: Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com [SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com] Instagram: @spotlightonccs [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspotlightonccs&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559840814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FGSO0dni1JpT1iZxUnhrrsgiNk3cNjkl4tISCFez8kI%3D&reserved=0] BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.social [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fspotlightonccs.bsky.social&data=05%7C02%7CBNACHMAN%40pitt.edu%7C3a74096633e0463d8c7b08dd462eec68%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C638743889559853117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzMth5lsCUhN9bQGow5PdcGkEl%2FgOv1iDgn%2BN%2Bcww9Q%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/], https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/], and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/]   Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!