Speaking of College

Speaking of College returns after a long break! In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Joshua Williams about ways to navigate college. Joshua Williams is a Los Angeles-based higher education professional and student development expert. Leading his consultancy, JW1, he focuses on projects around institutional capacity building for colleges, coalition building and organizing, and resource accessibility...

As online learning becomes a more commonplace option for college students, this is a good time to discuss the benefits of the experience. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Cristi Ford about the basics of online learning and strategies that students can use to be successful in virtual environments. Dr Ford serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L. She brings more than two decade...

In this episode, Dr. P. and guest Helen Chen discuss the many options that students have to showcase their learning online. Helen is a research scientist in the Designing Education Lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. She holds an undergraduate degree in communication from UCLA and a PhD in communication with a minor in psychology from Stanford. Helen is a board...

College boards of trustees are responsible for helping ensure that students receive the best college experiences possible. In this episode, Alison Griffin and Dr. P. talk about the roles and responsibilities of boards of trustees, including common misconceptions and the ways in which the work of a board can positively impact students.  Alison Griffin is Senior Vice President at Whiteboard Advisors...

Healthy behaviors are essential as students manage multiple priorities such as coursework, studying, and social engagements. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Jonathan Muruako, founder of Fitalyst, about how college students can address their health and wellness in holistic ways. Muruako is a first-generation Nigerian-American who was born and raised in a small town in Mississippi. He attended th...

Understanding how college processes work is a good way to prepare for a successful college experience. It is also important to consider some common aspects of college life. In this episode, Dr. P. talks about life after college with Hamza Shittu, a recent graduate who offers great advice about things that soon-to-be college graduates should consider. Hamza is now a podcast producer at Goat Rodeo,...

Quick Tips for Enjoying a Holiday Break  1- Rest if you can. 2- Reflect on your good experiences.  3- Repeat your healthy habits. 4- Reconnect with your hobbies. 5- Remember others. 

As we continue to read about the rising cost for students to attend college, now is a good time to also discuss the various costs of operating a college. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Liz LaPolt Clark about how money flows on a campus. The conversation covers specific sources of revenue, interesting types of expenses, and the many offices that are responsible for making sure a college's finan...

College presidents are often responsible for making myriad decisions and balancing competing priorities. As a result, college presidents have one of the most critical and visible positions in higher education. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Herman Felton, Jr., president of Wiley College, about his professional journey, the skillsets and habits that help him succeed as a college leader, and...

One of the most important parts of a college experience is the opportunity to learn new things in the classroom and outside the classroom. As students earn credits for courses and other engagements, it is critical for them to have official records that reflect what they know and can do. One role on campus that helps with that is the college registrar and in this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Tom...

In this episode of Quick Tips, Dr. P. provides 4 quick suggestions for completing a writing assignment.  Tip 1: Plan Ahead Tip 2: Make an Outline Tip 3: Review the Style Requirements Tip 4: Ask for a Review Got a question about college? Email Dr. P. at amelia@speakingofcollege.com 

Many colleges in the United States have an athletic program comprised of multiple sports such as basketball, football, track and field, softball, and many other options. These sports generate revenue and offer opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, staff and others to cheer for team victories together. In this episode, Dr. P. has a great conversation about college sports with Dr. Monique Osi...

In this episode of Quick Tips, Dr. P. provides four quick suggestions for staying organized.  Tip 1: Create a Central Location for Non-Digital Items Tip 2: Use a Calendar Tip 3: Back Up Your Digital Files Tip 4: Create Folders for Your Email Messages Got a question about college? Email Dr. P. at amelia@speakingofcollege.com 

College students have to manage all types of needs, such as their financial needs, academic needs, social needs, and health and wellbeing needs to name a few. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Sabrina Sanders about some of the resources that are available to help students on their college journey. Dr. Sanders is part of the team that supports the Graduation Initiative 2025 for the California...

The new Quick Tips feature of the show will address more specific questions about college. In this episode, Dr. P. provides four quick suggestions for maximizing the study experience.  Tip 1: Join a Study Group Tip 2: Review Class Notes Soon after Class Tip 3: Identify Peak Energy Times Tip 4: Connect with a Librarian Got a question about college? Email Dr. P. at amelia@speakingofcollege.com 

There are lots of colleges across the United States to choose from and community colleges are one of the best kinds. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher about what makes community colleges so special.  Eboni is currently at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she holds three important roles as Professor of Higher Education and Community College Leadership...

In this episode, Dr. P. highlights responses to the question of what a future college student will need to have in their backpack. Time Markers 01:30 Dhanfu Elston, Complete College America (featured on Episode 2: Speaking of College Majors)  03:00 Aronté Bennett, Villanova University (featured on Episode 4: Speaking of College Professors 4:42 Grace Williams, University of Alabama (featured on Epi...

The primary purpose of this show is to share advice and experiences to help people who are in college, thinking about college, or just curious about how it works. Perhaps the best people to describe what college is like today are students themselves and in this episode, Dr. P. has a conversation with three current undergraduate students about their experiences. Grace Williams is majoring in Politi...

Those who have had a college experience, whether it was a single class or a full degree program, would likely admit that the college environment provided countless new experiences. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Darryl Holloman about how college experiences can influence students' personal development in multiple ways. Darryl is Vice President for Student Affairs at Spelman College, where...

Research suggests that many college students will work at some point while they are completing a degree or other credential. The types of jobs that are available to students can vary from working on campus to internships and other off-campus opportunities. Dr. Pamela Payne has extensive experience in college career services and is an expert on how students can maximize their college job opportunit...

It seems that with everything happening in the world around us, we are more consumed with news than ever before. In the context of college, there is a flurry of information about current and future issues. In this episode, Dr. P. and Paul Fain discuss college trends with a focus on how to interpret news from multiple sources. Paul is a contributing editor at Inside Higher Education, a leading news...

Those who are currently enrolled in college or are considering attending in the future will undoubtedly have to make several important decisions. In this episode, Dr. P. talks with Dr. Kevin Kruger about how students can optimize their college experience. Kevin provides lots of suggestions and advice about a variety of topics that range from managing money to making new social connections. Dr. Kru...

A few months ago, The Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association conducted a survey of college students to examine the impact of COVID-19 on college student well-being. The study included 18,764 students on 14 campuses and found that 30.5% of students, compared to 21.9% the prior fall, reported that their mental health negatively affected their academic performance on at lea...

As students navigate their college experience, one of the most important steps for them to take is to maintain a connection to their professors. Professors can provide the instruction, guidance, and support to help students excel and thrive during college and beyond. The key to unlocking the potential of that connection is to be proactive. So, in this episode of Speaking of College, Dr. P. and Dr....

One of the many benefits of a college experience is the opportunity to meet new people. In this episode of Speaking of College, Dr. P. talks with communications expert Tevon Blair about how students can make friends and build their network. Tevon Blair is a strategic, dedicated, and outcomes-driven communication professional with demonstrated success in developing key concepts which increase the e...