The Rural College Student Experience

This episode of The Rural College Student Experience is part one of a special two-part series in partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis . In this conversation, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by three current college students from rural Missouri communities - Jillian Rogers , Xavier Mason , and Sophie Davis - to talk about what it means to navigate higher education while coming from pl...

This episode of The Rural College Student Experience is the second conversation in a special two-part series in partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis . In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by two students - Amber and Abigail - who share their journeys from different rural communities in Missouri to college. Their stories highlight the many paths rural students take to high...

In this episode, we travel to Northern California to hear from three incredible rural college students - Isa O’Brion, Kierra Alford, and Simran Wraich - who are blazing trails at California State University, Chico. All three are members of the North State Student Ambassadors program, a powerful peer-led initiative that connects rural high school and community college students with current Chico St...

In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin sits down with three incredible students — Bjorn Mauritsen , Ella Bussell , and Herjok Panther Deng Agot — who share their journeys from rural communities to the University of Notre Dame, where they now serve as Rural Admissions Interns . We explore the unique challenges rural students face when navigating the college admissions process, from limited access to test...

“When you grow up in a rural area, you’re taught that communication is a form of expression and a way of connection, not just to talk to people when you want something from them. People like to be talked to. People love to just be known on a very personal level.” — Josh Farris In this episode of The Rural College Student Experience, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Josh Farris , a first-generation col...

 “Shoot your shot. I applied to countless internships. I ended up in Iceland. I ended up at Princeton. Never think you're not good enough.”  In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Laken Chapin , a first-generation graduate from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Accounting. Laken grew up in rural Bad Axe, Michigan, where she learned the values of hard work, community, and p...

 "I’m a middle-aged mom, and here I was back in college. But I would tell anyone—if you’ve got a goal, go for it. Don’t let the barriers of being a rural student stop you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way."  On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Gina Sheurman , a first-generation college graduate and rural advocate from West-Central Illinois. Gina recently earned her MBA from...

"I didn’t have the same number of hours in the day as my peers. I was commuting, working, trying to figure out public transportation for the first time. And I was still expected to compete on the same level. We don’t lack drive or talent — we just don’t have the same time."  That quote comes from Rin Baker , a rural student from upstate New York who joins Dr. Matt Newlin for the latest e...

“I have a Walmart Index of Rurality. One Walmart? You’re a decent-sized town. More than one? Okay, you’re big.” In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Stephanie Zackery , a third-year, award-winning Counseling Psychology PhD student at New Mexico State University. Stephanie grew up in a no-stoplight town in rural Oklahoma and is now researching how mentorship shapes the college experience,...

We’re back! Season 3 of The Rural College Student Experience is here and it's our most powerful season yet.  Join host Dr. Matt Newlin as we continue to center the voices of rural college students—sharing their stories, their challenges, and the incredible strengths they bring to higher education.  This season, we’re bringing you:  More graduate students than ever before—trailblazing their wa...

In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Avery Bass, a first-year student at North Carolina State University majoring in Genetics, with minors in Biotechnology and Microbiology. Avery is originally from Pikeville, North Carolina, a small rural town in the eastern part of the state, and graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School. Avery shares what it was like growing up in a tight-knit rural...

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host Mallorie Goodwin to discuss the Heartland Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. Mallorie is a sophomore at Wash U and grew up in Waynesville, Missouri, about two hours west of St. Louis. She is also a Rural Peer Ambassador working to increase enrollment and belonging for other rural students. Joining Matt and Mallorie is Dacoda Scar...

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Andrew Wichert to discuss mental health in rural spaces. Andrew comes from Northeastern Ohio and is attending Kent State University. He is currently working on his Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology. After completing his degrees, Andrew plans on continuing with his Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies...

On this episode, creator/host Dr. Matt Newlin discusses the rural working-class identity with co-host Samuel Locklear. Samuel was born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina and is a first-generation working-class college student. He is currently attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke pursuing a degree in Nursing.  Joining Samuel and Matt in this discussion is Dr. Michele Fazio. Dr...

Thank you for listening to this special SPOTLIGHT episode of the Rural College Student Experience. On today’s episode, we have a very special guest, Madison Mellinger . Madison is a senior at Princeton University and is from Chambersburg, PA. She is studying in the School of Public and International Affairs with a focus on education and environmental policy, particularly as such policy relates to...

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Rural College Student Experience. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you'll know when a new episode is available. Also, please follow us on Twitter ( @rcsepod ) and share ideas for future episodes. This episode we’re talking about admissions applications and essays for rural students. Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host is Jay Kauffin. Jay attended McM...

We're back with a new, exciting episode talking about a critical topic in rural education: college access and retention. The intention of this podcast is elevating and amplifying rural student voices in conversations about higher education. Students from rural high schools are significantly less likely to enroll in postsecondary education compared to their non-rural peers. Roughly 30 percent...

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Rural College Student Experience. Today, co-host Sara Wiggington joins host Dr. Matt Newlin to talk about the rural identity in K-12 spaces and how that can impact rural students' postsecondary experiences. Sara is a Master’s degree student at Purdue University who also teaches 4th grade at Green Meadows Intermediate in Frankfort, Indiana. Sara attended Ball State...

The Rural College Student Experience is back with another special episode. In Episode 11, host Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by an incredible panel of Lead for America fellows who are serving in rural Kentucky and Appalachia. Lead for America fellows are dedicated to tackling the critical challenges facing the places they call home. All three of our panelists are doing wonderful things to increase pos...

We’re back after a brief hiatus with a brand new episode! In the latest episode, we discuss college access programs serving rural and small town communities. College access organizations are integral to increasing postsecondary enrollment for historically underrepresented students, including low-income, first-generation, and students of color. Unfortunately, there are few college access programs o...

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Rural College Student Experience. In this episode, host Dr. Matt Newlin and his guests talk about how to create and foster change at rural serving institutions. In our culture, rural communities are often seen as being “backward,” “conservative,” and “slow to change,” but those myths – along with the idea that all rural communities are the same – couldn’t be further fro...

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of the Rural College Student Experience podcast. After a successful first season, we are thrilled to continue featuring conversations with and about rural students in college. On this episode, creator/host Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host Chase Carson and guest Dreama Gentry from Partners for Rural Impact (PRI). In this roundtable-style conversation we...

In the final episode of Season 1,  we are focusing on the experiences of Native American Students in College. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , Native American students make up just 19 percent of total college enrollment, the lowest of all racial and ethnic groups. Native American students also have the lowest six-year college graduation rate at 39 percent. Additionally,...

The Rural College Student Experience is back with Episode 6: Multiple Identities in Rural Spaces. In this episode, host Dr. Matt Newlin talks with co-host Aron Garcia and guest Ty McNamee about the diverse identities and experiences present in rural communities.  We discuss why it’s important to understand the diversity of experiences, perspectives, and needs of rural populations in order to break...

"[Colleges] can have as much resources as [they] want, but if you're not making sure rural students know they exist then those resource are pointless." Bryson Henriott joins Dr. Matt Newlin as co-host of Episode 5 to discuss how rural students navigate the "game" of college. For many rural students - especially those who are the first in their families to attend a postseco...