When Values Meet Reality: The First-Gen Challenge

Faith, AI, and the Future of Higher Ed: Visions for 2030

n this episode of The Whole Person Project, we launch a book club-style conversation about AI-Driven Learning and Engagement in Higher Education by Muhammad Usman Tariq. Together with Sojourner Coles and Jason Kurian, we reflect on how AI is reshaping the student experience — and what ethical, spiritual, and institutional questions faith-based educators need to ask as we look toward 2030. You’ll hear: * How AI may impact student affairs, pastoral ministry, and classroom engagement * Concerns about privacy, ethics, and human dignity in algorithmic environments * What it means to form the “whole person” when machine learning enters the curriculum * Why faith-based institutions must lead with both courage and caution Whether you’re enthusiastic about AI or still on the fence, this conversation explores the tensions and possibilities that lie ahead — and why 2030 is closer than we think. 🎧 Subscribe for more dialogue at the intersection of mission, technology, and educational justice. Guests: * Sojourner Coles, Student Affairs Professional * Fr. Jason Kurian, Associate Pastor, St. Patrick’s Church, NYC

When Values Meet Reality: The First-Gen Challenge

What happens when universities founded on serving "the least among us" struggle to support the students who need them most? In our premiere episode, we explore the complex relationship between Jesuit educational mission and the lived experiences of first-generation college students. Join four PhD students as we unpack the disconnect between institutional values and campus reality. We examine how principles like cura personalis (care for the whole person) and social justice can either bridge or widen the gap for students navigating higher education without family roadmaps. Through student voices and institutional analysis, we reveal why first-gen success isn't just about individual achievement—it's about whether Jesuit universities are living up to their founding promise. From hidden curriculum challenges to impostor syndrome, from financial stress to cultural capital gaps, we investigate what it really takes to make "educating the whole person" more than just a mission statement. This episode sets the foundation for our ongoing project: reimagining how Jesuit institutions can authentically serve the students, their mission calls them to prioritize