Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent
Lumina Foundation presents conversations with newsmakers and thought leaders in the field of education and training after high school. Hear from people working to attract, retain, and cultivate the talent America needs for the 21st century.
Episodes
Nearly 9 in 10 Americans that currently do not have a degree believe that earning an academic credential is valuable. And yet, there is waning confidence in higher education across the country, as many people ask if they will get a return on their investment. In this episode, we visit Lupita Trujillo, a mother of three, who shares how these decisions sounded in her household. We also review the latest Gallup-Lumina ...
This live session, taped at SXSW 2025, explores the interplay between higher education and artificial intelligence, delving into how academic institutions are responding to the proliferation of AI in the workplace and economy. Leaders from academia, economic development, and industry discuss how universities and colleges are advancing research and equipping students with the skills to lead i...
In this special edition, we have a conversation on how to drive economic growth, strengthen civic life, and equip individuals to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Experts from workforce, higher education and philanthropy will dive into how learning after high school cultivates a skilled workforce, fosters innovation, and improves quality of life for American communities. This show was rec...
Community colleges play a critical role in America, but many struggle to tell their own story. This episode dives into how schools are using SEO, branding, and mobile-friendly marketing to reshape perceptions and connect with their communities. Guests from Iowa Lakes, Great Falls, and marketing firm TrendyMinds share insights on innovative strategies—including how a mascot helped one college rebrand. Listen in to hear how community...
In a word, the 2024 FAFSA season was rough. Released late, riddled with errors, and issues with processing led to a chaotic college enrollment season for schools and families. With the 2025 FAFSA now released, we took some time to catch up with James Kvaal, Under Secretary of Education to learn how they went about fixing the form. We also talked with Sam Aleinikoff and Dr. Corey Sheffield of College AIM, an Atlanta-ba...
Colleges and universities are facing a demographic shift now dubbed the “enrollment cliff.” Concerns over a decline in the number of traditional age students has led some institutions to rethink admissions processes. Lumina Foundation’s Melanie Heath joins Rathi Sudhakara from the Washington Student Achievement Council and Jonathan Gagliardi from Northern Arizona University to discuss innovative new practices and poli...
States across the country have proposed or enacted legislation that hampers or eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on college campuses. These efforts range from removing diversity statements from job posting to outright elimination of student support services. Erin Gretzinger and Maggie Hicks from the Chronicle of Higher Education gives us a national overview and Veronica Selzler from Hattaway Communications talks...
Recently released data on Lumina’s Stronger Nation tool shows that the national education attainment rate has reached 54.3 percent. The country has increased in education attainment by 16 percentage points since 2008. Dr. Courtney Brown and Dr. Chris Mullin of Lumina Foundation share the stories, insights, and considerations under these banner numbers.
There is a staffing crisis in healthcare - a crisis that is so bad, that some are calling it a national emergency. To meet today’s and tomorrow’s labor demand, leaders need to provide clear and supported career pathways to adults already in the workforce. In this episode, Dr. Jill Buban of EdAssist joins us to talk about their work developing new career pathways, and describes what it takes to make a talent-focused partnership wor...
A new report from NASPA and Uwill sheds light on the growing need and urgency to provide mental health services on college campuses. In this episode, we discuss the findings from this national survey, discuss a state-wide initiative in Texas to improve mental health and wellbeing, and hear from two campus-based practitioners.
Guests include:
- David Arnold, NASPA
- Michael London, Uwill
- Jenny Achilles, Trellis Foundation
- Leila...
Listen in as state and federal policy experts weigh in on the major themes from 2022 and expectations for 2023. Julie Peller from Higher Learning Advocates walks through the major movements at the federal level, and Paola Santana from Lumina Foundation discusses state-level priorities for the upcoming year. Catch up with state leaders from Arkansas, California, Kentucky, and Michigan as they reflect on key ideas from a late 2022 ...
Mainstream media and industry news shapes, reinforces, and redresses commonly held narratives - those underlying beliefs and attitudes that drive human behavior - about higher education and the workforce. Dr. Rita Parhad and Emily Keane from Protagonist discuss the major narratives and counter narratives that exist in Am...
Institutions and non-profits across the country are providing new kinds of services and redesigning policies and practices to support more adults in higher education. In part 2, we talk with Malik Brown and Sena Owereko from Graduate Philadelphia, and from Dr. Ed Mills and Kaley Martin at Read more
Millions of adults in the US have some college credit but never finished their degree. The path back into school a second time is much harder to navigate. We begin a two-part series by talking with adult students and their coaches to learn about what it takes to return to school. Listen as Juquilla Henry, her coach April Mesa, and Jamar Izzard share their stories of returning to higher education.
Show Links:
A new study conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation found that three-fourths of students in bachelor’s programs and two-thirds of adults seeking associate degrees have considered taking a break from college due to emotional stress. Dr. Zainab Okolo
Aligning the work of state agencies, colleges, universities, community organizations, and philanthropy towards common goals takes trust, a neutral intermediary, and a focus on what is best for students. State-level networks across the country are leading efforts to make their state’s education and workforce systems better. Ryan Fewins-Bliss
States across the country are re-examining higher education laws, policies, and regulations to better serve the needs of Today’s Students. Scott Jenkins, Lumina Foundation’s strategy director for state policy, talks about Lumina’s
Join us as we wrap up the major higher ed news from 2021 with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of the Washington Post, Elissa Nadworny of NPR, and Katherine Wheatle of Lumina Foundation. Together, we talk about the important and sometimes strange sto...
Lumina’s Fall 2021 issue of Focus Magazine, titled Native Excellence, relied on an experienced team of Native American journalists and photographers. Suzette Brewer and Hondo Louis Read more
Marking our 30-episode anniversary, we visit the issue of campus safety and policing. Last year, the murder of George Floyd forced communities, campuses included, to examine how policing helps and harms the communities it intends to serve. We speak with Charles H. F. Davis, III, Nadi...
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