EP135: DOUBLE PLAY | Meet 2024 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male and Female Sports Scholar of the Year — Darius Robinson & Olivia Womack
Release Date: 05/02/2024
EP157: Navigating Access and Opportunity in STEMM with Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez
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In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez, Director of the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), sits down in the pod to talk about STEMM education, workforce development, equity, and policy advancement. From growing up in Indiana to earning her PhD in immunology, Rodriguez shares how a teacher’s spark changed the trajectory of her life — and informs her work to empower future scientists. In this conversation, with Diverse host Ralph Newell, she dives deep into the challenges and opportunities facing STEMM...
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EP156: Community Colleges & The Fight for Equity, with Dr. Carrie B. Kisker
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Today, Diverse sits down with Dr. Carrie Kisker, president of and director of the , delving into the critical role of community colleges in providing social mobility for marginalized groups. Kisker shares her journey from soccer goalkeeper to education researcher, inspired by her mentor Arthur Cohen. In conversation with Diverse host Ralph Newell, she also explores the current challenges facing higher education, including attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Kisker offers insights into how educators, administrators, and students can resist these...
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EP155: MEET JAYO ADEGBOYO | 2025 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year
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In this honest and intimate episode, we celebrate 2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year Jayo Adegboyo from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His story highlights the power of networking, persistence, and interdisciplinary learning. As a first-generation pre-med student, Jayo shares enthusiastically about the Meyerhoff Scholars program and its support for students like himself pursuing STEM careers. Jayo is a biochemistry major with a physics minor and a member of the track and field team specializing in 200m and 400m events. Tune in as he shares...
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EP154: MEET JAIDA ROSS | 2025 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year
In The Margins
In this inspiring episode, we celebrate 2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year Jaida Ross from the University of Oregon. This conversation explores her journey from a small Oregon town to the Olympic stage, highlighting her excellence in academics, athletics, and community service. Jaida shares her path from discovering shot put in middle school to competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished fourth place, missing a medal by just inches. She reveals how she found her athletic calling in a sport that celebrated her body type and natural strength, contrasting...
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EP153: Tech Talent Starts Here: How the Last Mile Fund Supports Student Success
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In today’s episode, we sit down with Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund, for a powerful conversation about unlocking opportunity in STEM education. This discussion focuses on the Last Mile’s mission to support students in the final stretch of their degrees—especially those in high-demand fields like cybersecurity. Farmer also describes how the fund provides crucial support for tuition, certification exams, and even basic needs, helping students stay on track when it matters most. The conversation looks at the fund’s innovative partnership...
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EP152: A Remarkable Journey in Community College Leadership, with Dr. Walter G. Bumphus
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EP151: Catching up with Toni Morrison scholar and DEI expert, Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley
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EP150: Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms, with Dr. Marlee Bunch
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EP149: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey with Dr. George A. Pruitt
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In this episode, we welcome Dr. George A. Pruitt, Thomas Edison State University president emeritus, for a thought-provoking discussion highlighting the past, present, and future of the civil rights movement, the importance of celebrating diverse histories, and the ongoing struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education and beyond. Pruitt also offers a glimpse into his new book: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning. Throughout the conversation with Diverse host Ralph...
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EP148: Embracing Diversity, Fostering Belonging: How Affordable Access Transforms Lives at the University of Mount Saint Vincent
In The Margins
Meet , president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx, New York City. A first-generation college graduate herself, Burns is leading the university into the future of what higher ed should look like — an authentic, high-quality education for students of all backgrounds. Under Burns' leadership since 2021, the Mount is a Hispanic-and-minority-serving institution. Don’t miss the conversation as Burns and host Diverse host David Pluviose explore innovative strategies and the holistic approach that the University of Mount Saint Vincent uses to meet the needs of...
info_outlineMeet defensive lineman Darius Robinson, a first-round selection in the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft, and sprinter Olivia Womack. As exceptional college student-athletes, Robinson of Mizzou and Womack of Ole Miss were named 2024’s Arthur Ashe Jr. Male and Female Sports Scholar of the Year.
The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar program is part of Diverse’s over 30-year legacy of recognizing young minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. Of the nearly 600 student-athletes nominated this year, Robinson and Womack were chosen for best exemplifying the standards of scholarship, athleticism, and humanitarianism.
Tune in as they share their biggest sources of inspiration and how their passion in top-tier athletic competition translates to their endeavors off the track and the field. We hope you enjoy getting to know these scholars better in this special double-episode with Diverse host Ralph Newell.
Key Points:
- Arthur Ashe’s legacy on sport and society
- How community service plays a significant role in Womack's life
- Womack’s plans to attend law school
- Womack and Robinson’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) experiences
- The effects of NIL on student-athletes
- Athletic opportunities and academic support for African American student-athletes
- Robinson’s Helping Hands Foundation and how it helps people who lack resources
- The importance of balancing academics and athletics
- The pivotal role of resilience and learning from setbacks
Quotables:
"Football only lasts so long, but my education will last forever." – Darius Robinson
“When it comes to setbacks, especially when academically, sometimes [in] athletics, you have to learn to compartmentalize that.” – Olivia Womack
Guest Resources:
Faith, Family and Community | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)
Forward Motion | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)
[Donate] Darius Robinson’s Helping Hands Foundation
Email | [email protected]
IG | @drhelpinghands
Learn more about the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award Program Awards/Honors > Arthur Ashe | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)
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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.
In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).