EP137: GateWay’s Hybrid Approach — Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Community College Education, with Dr. Amy Diaz
Release Date: 08/29/2024
EP157: Navigating Access and Opportunity in STEMM with Dr. Stephanie Rodriguez
In The Margins
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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EP155: MEET JAYO ADEGBOYO | 2025 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year
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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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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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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_outlineIn this episode of In The Margins, host Ralph Newell welcomes Dr. Amy Diaz, president of GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. Diaz is an equity-minded leader with over 30 years of experience advocating for student access and success in higher education and emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideals. Diaz focuses on student learning assessment, strategic enrollment management, and fostering a positive college climate.
GateWay Community College, part of Maricopa Community Colleges, has been listed as the 2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges, a recognition that honors higher education institutions that are dynamic, diverse, supportive, and committed to staff work-life balance, professional growth, and inclusive excellence.
Newell and Diaz discuss GateWay’s unique approach to workforce development, focusing on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that have shaped its current hybrid learning model. Diaz highlights how Gateway balances in-person and online education to meet students' needs, particularly in hands-on programs like nuclear medicine and industrial tech.
Join them as they explore Gateway’s deep community connections, including the transformative impact of the HUG Clinic, and delve into GateWay’s efforts to include entrepreneurship into the curriculum. Tune in and discover how Gateway is preparing students not just for jobs, but for life.
KEY POINTS:
- How GateWay Community College has adapted to a hybrid learning model post-pandemic.
- Gateway’s emphasis on programs that lead directly to employment and community impact.
- The HUG Clinic at Gateway offers pro bono healthcare services, benefiting underserved community members and providing practical experience for students.
- The on-campus butcher shop supports local community needs and students' professional training in meat cutting and butchery.
- The institution’s beauty and wellness program with a certificate in small business development, helping students learn the business side of their field.
- GateWay’s entrepreneurial initiatives, such as the Venture Café and Big Pitch, are designed to foster innovation and business skills among students and local entrepreneurs.
- Dr. Amy Diaz’s insights on leadership and the influence of Dr. Steven Gonzales as a mentor.
QUOTABLES:
"GateWay is trying to get the right balance of hybrid learning experiences and hybrid student engagement experiences, [including] student support services in place, so that students have the flexibility to learn the theoretical information in an online environment." — Dr. Amy Diaz
"Our goal is to think about entrepreneurship as not just being an entrepreneur, but how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset." — Dr. Amy Diaz
“I think of innovation —- maybe having a slightly higher risk tolerance for trying things that some people might not have that naturally built into their personalities [and] thinking about ways of partnering with community and other organizational groups that might help us to achieve our goals.” — Dr. Amy Diaz
GUEST RESOURCES:
2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges: https://www.diverseeducation.com/awards-honors/mppwcc
Dr. Amy Diaz: https://www.gatewaycc.edu/about-gateway/office-president
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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/).