Telling Our Story Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:50:15 -0400 https://aascutellingourstory.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 AASCU Telling Our Story yes fa4d20f4-088d-5818-b880-494287a0840b samuel.hoffmeister@theygsgroup.com AASCU episodic false Member institutions of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) advance social mobility for students of all backgrounds to positively impact families, communities, and the students themselves. This series shares stories from state colleges and universities that have taken bold steps to successfully serve students and their communities. Expert discussions give listeners an inside look at how these institutions are fostering greater accessibility and affordability, closing gaps to postsecondary education completion, and connecting students to viable career opportunities.

This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, and many other podcast platforms. Please like and follow, and share the Telling Our Story podcast with colleagues, teachers, students, family, and friends.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) postsecondary value, postsecondary education, equality, social justice, service, education, students, underserved communities, careers AASCU samuel.hoffmeister@theygsgroup.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/43av6s7y1r03skfj8bzqqqgc2fx6?.jpg Telling Our Story https://aascutellingourstory.buzzsprout.com Building Tomorrow’s Technologists Through Shared Learning Building Tomorrow’s Technologists Through Shared Learning In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with five guests from California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). They share the story behind the Computing Talent Initiative and CSin3, a collaborative cohort program with Hartnell College that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science in three years. The initiative focuses on preparing students for high-tech careers through a shared learning model.

Guests include:

  • Vanya Quiñones, president, CSUMB
  • Sathya Narayanan, professor, School of Computing and Design, CSUMB
  • Leslie Maxwell, associate director, Computing Talent Initiative, CSUMB
  • Noe Lomeli, CSUMB alumnus and co-founder and software engineer, Nurbli
  • Benito Sanchez, CSUMB alumnus and founder and software engineer, Nurbli

Read more about CSin3: www.computingtalentinitiative.org/csin3 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with five guests from California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). They share the story behind the Computing Talent Initiative and CSin3, a collaborative cohort program with Hartnell College that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science in three years. The initiative focuses on preparing students for high-tech careers through a shared learning model.

Guests include:

  • Vanya Quiñones, president, CSUMB
  • Sathya Narayanan, professor, School of Computing and Design, CSUMB
  • Leslie Maxwell, associate director, Computing Talent Initiative, CSUMB
  • Noe Lomeli, CSUMB alumnus and co-founder and software engineer, Nurbli
  • Benito Sanchez, CSUMB alumnus and founder and software engineer, Nurbli

Read more about CSin3: www.computingtalentinitiative.org/csin3 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-18193202 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500 3837 full false Accelerating Graduation With Expanded Credit Initiative Accelerating Graduation With Expanded Credit Initiative In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with five guests from Lehman College in the Bronx, New York. They share the story behind the institution’s Credit for Prior Learning initiative, which allows students to earn elective credits through various approved programs. The initiative aims to boost graduation rates by addressing issues such as unmet liberal arts credit requirements and delayed credit transfers, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Guests include:

  • Fernando Delgado, president
  • Richard Finger, vice president, enrollment management
  • Alisa Cooper-Spain, coordinator, Credit for Prior Learning
  • Luis Mendez, alumnus
  • Viridiana Coyt, alumna

Read Lehman College’s Promising Practice article: www.aascutellingourstory.org/promising-practice/accelerating-graduation-with-expanded-credit-initiative 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with five guests from Lehman College in the Bronx, New York. They share the story behind the institution’s Credit for Prior Learning initiative, which allows students to earn elective credits through various approved programs. The initiative aims to boost graduation rates by addressing issues such as unmet liberal arts credit requirements and delayed credit transfers, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Guests include:

  • Fernando Delgado, president
  • Richard Finger, vice president, enrollment management
  • Alisa Cooper-Spain, coordinator, Credit for Prior Learning
  • Luis Mendez, alumnus
  • Viridiana Coyt, alumna

Read Lehman College’s Promising Practice article: www.aascutellingourstory.org/promising-practice/accelerating-graduation-with-expanded-credit-initiative 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-17305192 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 3138 full false Breaking Higher Education Barriers Across Borders Breaking Higher Education Barriers Across Borders In this bonus episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three presidents from Mexican postsecondary institutions. Together, they discuss the importance of binational higher education collaborations between Mexico and the U.S., the mutual benefits of those collaborations for students and communities in both countries, and promising practices that Mexican institutions are implementing that increase access to postsecondary education and enhance workforce development. The session was recorded at AASCU’s 2024 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors in Puerto Rico.

Guests include:

  • Arturo Cherbowski Lask, director of Universia México and executive director of Santander Universidades
  • Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, president of Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Martha Aguilar Trejo, president of la Universidad de Celaya

This is an English translation of our recent Spanish-language episode, "Superando Barreras en la Educación Superior más allá de las Fronteras."

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this bonus episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three presidents from Mexican postsecondary institutions. Together, they discuss the importance of binational higher education collaborations between Mexico and the U.S., the mutual benefits of those collaborations for students and communities in both countries, and promising practices that Mexican institutions are implementing that increase access to postsecondary education and enhance workforce development. The session was recorded at AASCU’s 2024 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors in Puerto Rico.

Guests include:

  • Arturo Cherbowski Lask, director of Universia México and executive director of Santander Universidades
  • Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, president of Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Martha Aguilar Trejo, president of la Universidad de Celaya

This is an English translation of our recent Spanish-language episode, "Superando Barreras en la Educación Superior más allá de las Fronteras."

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-16877763 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0400 2016 bonus false Superando Barreras en la Educación Superior más allá de las Fronteras Superando Barreras en la Educación Superior más allá de las Fronteras En este episodio de Telling Our Story, Leticia conversa con tres líderes de educación superior en México. Juntos, discuten la importancia de las colaboraciones binacionales en educación universitaria entre México y los Estados Unidos, los beneficios mutuos de estas colaboraciones tanto para los estudiantes y para las comunidades en ambos países, así como las prácticas prometedoras que las instituciones mexicanas están implementando para aumentar el acceso a la educación superior y mejorar el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. La sesión fue grabada en Puerto Rico durante la Conferencia Anual 2024 de AASCU para rectores y directores de sistemas universitarios.

Los líderes incluyen:

  • Arturo Cherbowski Lask, director de Universia México y director ejecutivo de Santander Universidades
  • Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, rector de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Martha Aguilar Trejo, rectora de la Universidad de Celaya

 

This discussion is entirely in Spanish. To download a transcript of the episode
in English, visit www.aascutellingourstory.org/podcast-2. 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> En este episodio de Telling Our Story, Leticia conversa con tres líderes de educación superior en México. Juntos, discuten la importancia de las colaboraciones binacionales en educación universitaria entre México y los Estados Unidos, los beneficios mutuos de estas colaboraciones tanto para los estudiantes y para las comunidades en ambos países, así como las prácticas prometedoras que las instituciones mexicanas están implementando para aumentar el acceso a la educación superior y mejorar el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. La sesión fue grabada en Puerto Rico durante la Conferencia Anual 2024 de AASCU para rectores y directores de sistemas universitarios.

Los líderes incluyen:

  • Arturo Cherbowski Lask, director de Universia México y director ejecutivo de Santander Universidades
  • Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, rector de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Martha Aguilar Trejo, rectora de la Universidad de Celaya

 

This discussion is entirely in Spanish. To download a transcript of the episode
in English, visit www.aascutellingourstory.org/podcast-2. 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-16568540 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2468 bonus false Building Bridges: Uplifting Communities Through Collaboration Building Bridges: Uplifting Communities Through Collaboration In this bonus episode of Telling Our Story, we share a portion of the opening plenary of the AASCU 2024 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors in Puerto Rico, Nov. 16–19. The session, occurring on Sunday, Nov. 18, highlighted the unique challenges presidents and chancellors of regional public colleges and universities face as they lead transformation on their campuses. It followed an address from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Panelists included:

  • Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor, City University of New York system (session moderator)
  • Mildred Garcia, chancellor, The California State University system
  • John B. King Jr., chancellor, State University of New York system
  • Brian McCall, chancellor, Texas State University System

Keep an eye out for key AASCU events throughout 2025 at www.aascu.org/events. 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this bonus episode of Telling Our Story, we share a portion of the opening plenary of the AASCU 2024 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors in Puerto Rico, Nov. 16–19. The session, occurring on Sunday, Nov. 18, highlighted the unique challenges presidents and chancellors of regional public colleges and universities face as they lead transformation on their campuses. It followed an address from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Panelists included:

  • Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor, City University of New York system (session moderator)
  • Mildred Garcia, chancellor, The California State University system
  • John B. King Jr., chancellor, State University of New York system
  • Brian McCall, chancellor, Texas State University System

Keep an eye out for key AASCU events throughout 2025 at www.aascu.org/events. 

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-16408983 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2339 bonus false Reviving Enrollment and Ensuring Stability Through Bold Planning Reviving Enrollment and Ensuring Stability Through Bold Planning In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three guests from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. They share how ECSU overcame declining enrollment and the threat of shutting down a decade ago, on its way to being recognized in Third Way's Economic Mobility Index as one of the most outstanding historically black universities in the country.

Guests include:

  • Farrah J. Ward, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs
  • Dana Poole, executive director of the Office of Student Success and Retention
  • Omar Richardson, alumnus (2023, aviation science) and current graduate student

Read ECSU’s Promising Practice article here: www.aascutellingourstory.org/promising-practice/reviving-enrollment-and-ensuring-stability-through-bold-planning

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three guests from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. They share how ECSU overcame declining enrollment and the threat of shutting down a decade ago, on its way to being recognized in Third Way's Economic Mobility Index as one of the most outstanding historically black universities in the country.

Guests include:

  • Farrah J. Ward, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs
  • Dana Poole, executive director of the Office of Student Success and Retention
  • Omar Richardson, alumnus (2023, aviation science) and current graduate student

Read ECSU’s Promising Practice article here: www.aascutellingourstory.org/promising-practice/reviving-enrollment-and-ensuring-stability-through-bold-planning

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-15976034 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2945 Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University, ECSU, historically black colleges and universities, HBCU, student success, student engagement, campus redesign full false Success Central: Supporting Underrepresented Students Through Peer Coaching Success Central: Supporting Underrepresented Students Through Peer Coaching In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three outstanding guests from Central Connecticut State University about its Success Central program, an innovative peer-coaching initiative that’s helped students achieve academic and personal success for 10 years running.


Guests include:

  • Zulma R. Toro, president, Central Connecticut State University 
  • Reginald Simmons, professor and chair, Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, and supervisor, Success Central, Central Connecticut State University
  • Tori Wallington, student, former mentee, mentor, and now mentor coordinator, Success Central, Central Connecticut State University

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with three outstanding guests from Central Connecticut State University about its Success Central program, an innovative peer-coaching initiative that’s helped students achieve academic and personal success for 10 years running.


Guests include:

  • Zulma R. Toro, president, Central Connecticut State University 
  • Reginald Simmons, professor and chair, Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, and supervisor, Success Central, Central Connecticut State University
  • Tori Wallington, student, former mentee, mentor, and now mentor coordinator, Success Central, Central Connecticut State University

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-15460363 Tue, 23 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400 2691 full false Building a Pipeline of Diverse Teachers for the Next Generation of K–12 Students Building a Pipeline of Diverse Teachers for the Next Generation of K–12 Students In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with two leaders from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore about the institution’s Men of Color in Education program. The program seeks to attract, retain, and form a community for male educators of color, who comprise 2% of the U.S. public school teaching workforce.

Guests include:

  • Richard H. Warren Jr., Richard F. Hazel professor of education and director of the Men of Color in Education program, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Todd Nock, financial aid counselor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; former North Dorchester High School teacher under the Men of Color in Education program; current mayor, Pocomoke City, Maryland

Contact Richard H. Warren Jr. at rhwarren@umes.edu.

View the UMES Promising Practices article and video here.

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, Leticia chats with two leaders from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore about the institution’s Men of Color in Education program. The program seeks to attract, retain, and form a community for male educators of color, who comprise 2% of the U.S. public school teaching workforce.

Guests include:

  • Richard H. Warren Jr., Richard F. Hazel professor of education and director of the Men of Color in Education program, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Todd Nock, financial aid counselor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; former North Dorchester High School teacher under the Men of Color in Education program; current mayor, Pocomoke City, Maryland

Contact Richard H. Warren Jr. at rhwarren@umes.edu.

View the UMES Promising Practices article and video here.

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-14770409 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2260 University of Maryland Eastern Shore, UMES, Men of Color in Education, education, postsecondary value, community, foundation, careers, teaching full false Amplifying Postsecondary Accessibility at CSU Pueblo Amplifying Postsecondary Accessibility at CSU Pueblo In this episode of Telling Our Story, host Leticia Maldonado chats with leaders from Colorado State University Pueblo about the institution’s University Track Centers, how they’re helping to promote postsecondary culture, create pathways for underrepresented students to pursue higher education, and much more.

Guests include:

  • Timothy Mottet, president, CSU Pueblo
  • Kristyn White Davis, vice president for enrollment management and extended studies, CSU Pueblo
  • Mikayla Lerch, alumna and current admissions counselor, CSU Pueblo

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Telling Our Story, host Leticia Maldonado chats with leaders from Colorado State University Pueblo about the institution’s University Track Centers, how they’re helping to promote postsecondary culture, create pathways for underrepresented students to pursue higher education, and much more.

Guests include:

  • Timothy Mottet, president, CSU Pueblo
  • Kristyn White Davis, vice president for enrollment management and extended studies, CSU Pueblo
  • Mikayla Lerch, alumna and current admissions counselor, CSU Pueblo

www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-14064600 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2342 full false Reimagining the Value of Postsecondary Education Reimagining the Value of Postsecondary Education In the first episode of Telling Our Story, host Leticia Maldonado, program manager for postsecondary value at AASCU, and guests discuss the critical role AASCU is playing to expand life-changing opportunities and close opportunity gaps for today’s diverse student populations.

Guests include:

  • Mildred García, president, AASCU
  • Charles L. Welch, president, Arkansas State University System, and former chair, AASCU Board of Directors
  • Jamey Rorison, senior program officer, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation



www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> In the first episode of Telling Our Story, host Leticia Maldonado, program manager for postsecondary value at AASCU, and guests discuss the critical role AASCU is playing to expand life-changing opportunities and close opportunity gaps for today’s diverse student populations.

Guests include:

  • Mildred García, president, AASCU
  • Charles L. Welch, president, Arkansas State University System, and former chair, AASCU Board of Directors
  • Jamey Rorison, senior program officer, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation



www.aascutellingourstory.org
www.aascu.org/policy-advocacy/presidential-postsecondary-value-commission-task-force 
www.aascu.org

Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

]]> AASCU Buzzsprout-13002137 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400 2179 full false