Building Belonging: A CTB Audio Essay

Identifying Higher Ed's "Equity Engines" with Dr. Becca Spindel Bassett

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Becca Spindel Bassett, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, to discuss her recent research on "Equity Engines": colleges and universities that both enroll and graduate large percentages of Pell-eligible students. They discuss Dr. Bassett's professional background in the college access and persistence domain, why Equity Engines are worth identifying, the spatial inequality of college persistence in the United States, and how policymakers might use Dr. Bassett's research to move the needle. This is a conversation you don't want to miss! You can (and should!) read Dr. Bassett's research here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23328584251361048

High Structure Course Design with Justin Shaffer

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Justin Shaffer of Recombinant Education and the Colorado School of Mines to discuss Dr. Shaffer's implementation, research and advocacy for "high structure course design" a student-centered approach to instruction that combines rigor, autonomy, and scaffolding for learning. We learned a lot from this episode, and we know you will, too! Learn more about Justin's work here: https://chemeng.mines.edu/project/shaffer-justin/ https://www.recombinanteducation.com/about/

Supporting Students' DREAMs at a Pivotal Moment with Gaby Pacheco

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with the President & CEO of the Dream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant youth. They discuss Gaby's path to activism and advocacy, the mission of the Dream.US, how the current political climate is impacting her work, and the importance of personal narratives to social change. In our current moment, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Navigating the Present Moment with Dr. Aidé Acosta

In this episode CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Aidé Acosta, Chief College Officer of Noble Schools in Chicago, to discuss how best to support students to and through higher education in the current political moment.

Building Belonging: A CTB Audio Essay

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez shares an audio essay based upon his recent presentation, Building Belonging. Carlos reflects on the importance of belonging in the CTB model by sharing audio clips of stakeholders across the CTB Network. Topics include high-touch staffing, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and student-led extracurriculars. Enjoy!