Come To Believe: The Podcast

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...

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 yo...

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 cu...

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.

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!

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with two members of the Founder's College (the new CTB model college at Butler University in Indianapolis): Associate Director of Admissions Donneisha Baker and Associate Director of Financial Aid Morgan McCombs. They discuss Founder's admissions process that is already underway, common admissions and financial aid challenges for first generation stu...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Ashley Mowreader (https://x.com/amowreader), Student Success Reporter for Inside Higher Ed & host of Voices of Student Success podcast, to discuss the landscape of mental health on college campuses. They discuss Ashley's recent blog post covering the results of Inside Higher Ed's Student Voice survey, especially related to mental health. Ash...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Eric Hoover, senior writer at the Chronicle of Higher Education. The conversation focused on Eric's recent work on the challenges facing students experiencing homelessness while they navigate the federal financial aid system. They how federal policy related to homeless students has evolved over time, how last year's botched FAFSA roll-out impact...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down (in person during a campus visit at Dougherty Family College) with DFC's Carla Gonzalez (Literacy Specialist) and Heather Isernhagen (Math Specialist). They discussed DFC's unique approach to academic supports, the value of meeting scholars where they are, and the importance of balancing both rigor and support in the classroom. We learned a lot from...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Miriam Porras and Madeline Joy Trimble of Ithaka S+R, a non-profit that provides strategic advice and support services to help institutions improve their performance and further their missions. Carlos, Miriam, and Madeline discuss a recent report on using data to support student retention and success. They discuss some of the key findings from t...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sits down with journalist Joshua Bay of The 74 to discuss his recent article, 'I Needed Help: Students Spill the Truth About College Experiences.' Joshua and Carlos discuss the postsecondary pathways of three students that Joshua profiled in the piece, the ways these students interacted with a variety of higher education institutions, the importance of commun...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Cindy Trejo, a Project Director within the University of Arizona's College of Education. The conversation focuses on a recent report authored by Dr. Trejo, "Reframing College: Mexican American Students, Higher Education, and Family Restorative Justice." Carlos and Dr. Trejo discuss Trejo's research on a pre-college prog...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sits down with the inaugural dean of Founder's College of Butler University, Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty. They discuss how Dr. Gentle-Genitty's prior experiences have prepared her for this new role, her aspirations for Founder's College, and the importance of intentionality to student success. We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Gentle-Genitty to...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Caitlin Power and Sonianne Lozada from the Partnership for College Completion (PCC) to discuss PCC's recent report "What We Need to Succeed," which aims to amplify student perspectives on topics such as advising, wrap-around supports and more. Carlos, Caitlin, and Sonianne discuss barriers preventing students from success on ca...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. DeAnna Katey, the Director of Undergraduate Student Programs at the Virginia Tech University College of Engineering. They discuss Dr. Katey's research on first generation student experiences within living-learning communities, including key takeaways on the importance of affordability, community, and mentorship, as well as advice for...

This episode is a recording of CTB's latest virtual panel, "A Smart Investment: Affordability & Value in Higher Ed," held on Zoom on February 28, 2024. The conversation was hosted by CTB's President & CEO, Steve Katsouros, SJ, and featured special guests: -Paul Tough (NYT Bestselling Author) -Susan Burns (President, University of Mt. St. Vincent) -James Danko (President,...

In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sits down with Dr. Kelly Hallberg and Dr. Shantá Robinson of UChicago's Inclusive Economy Lab. They discuss the Inclusive Economy Lab's recent report (co-authored by Dr. Hallberg, Dr. Robinson and other collaborators), "Developing a Best Fit Framework for Postsecondary Success," including the paper's methodological approach, key find...

In this episode, we discuss the phenomenon of imposter syndrome with Dougherty Family College professor Dr. Noah Gagner. With host Asya Meadows, Professor Gagner discusses what imposter syndrome is, how it affects students of color in postsecondary settings, and what higher ed institutions can do to better understand and address its effects. We learned a lot from this conversation, and we think yo...

In this episode, we engage in an in-depth discussion about food insecurity among college students and the way it impacts their success with Professor Maureen McCoy from Arizona State University and Mariaton Tate,Assistant Dean for Student Success at Arrupe College. We hear these two leaders’ insights and advice on the scale of food insecurity on college campuses and various ways to mitigate this i...

In this episode, CTB's President and CEO Steve Katsouros, SJ, sits down with representatives from the Dream. US, a scholarship program dedicated to supporting undocumented students in higher ed. Steve talks with Dream. US co-founder Don Graham, president Candy Marshall, and past scholarship recipient and Arrupe College alum Mario Bermejo about the history of the Dream. US, its current prioriti...

In today’s episode, we are joined by Brandon Sparkman, Assistant Director of Admission at Arrupe College. Brandon filled us in on the challenge of summer melt and how it affects students in the post-pandemic world. He also shared best practices about how to mitigate summer melt using various tools and services. We learned a lot from Brandon, and we know you will too!

Listen in to a conversation with three members of Butler University's design team that participated in last year's design grant program, facilitated by CTB. Stephanie Hinshaw (Executive Director, Butler Transformation Lab), Makeda Lands (Associate Director of Admissions, DEI), and Callie Wright (Lead Project Manager, Butler Transformation Lab) share their reflections and learnings from las...

In this episode, CTB Communications Manager Asya Meadows sits down with Cristina Alvarez-Ramos, the Coordinator for Arrupe Continuum Initiatives at Loyola University Chicago. They discuss the unique nature of Cristina's role at LUC, common challenges for transfer students at Loyola and other four-year institutions, and the importance of building community on campus. We learned a lot from Crist...

Listen in to an audio recording of CTB’s latest panel discussion "A Cure for Health Disparities: The Importance of Diversity in the Medical Field." The panel began a research presentation by Dr. Kirsten Wilbur on the need for workforce diversity in the health professions. Next, CTB Communications Manager Carlos Martinez facilitated a panel discussion on the importance of representation i...

Listen in to the second part of a two-part series about the importance of empowerment for women-identified folks within higher education. In this episode, we talk with Stephanie Ramos, an alumna of Arrupe College and a current doctoral student at the University of Illinois-Chicago. We discuss Stephanie's path to studying community psychology, the importance of Latina role models to younger wom...