All Episodes

July 23, 2024 32 mins
In this excellent episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in the studio by Gregory Smith, the Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District .

What a journey.  The feeling that Gregory Smith must have when he visits any of the four colleges within the District.  The feeling of once having been a community college student to now running four community colleges which serve over 90,000 San Diegans each year.  Had it not been for the "entry point" to higher education he enjoyed, he likely would have never graced the campuses of Arizona State and USC.  

We also learn from Gregory the difference in public perception between four-year universities and community colleges, with community colleges enjoying an upward trend.  In general, perhaps because of access, affordability, and connection to workforce needs, the San Diego Community College District enjoys a strong public perception.  

An excellent episode on filling gaps in the community with Gregory Smith. Here are some other takeaways from the interview:
  • SDCCD has four colleges: City College, Mesa College, San Diego Miramar, and the College for Continuing Education, each offering different programs
  • They became a living wage employer as of January 1, 2024
  • His view that while community colleges have always been culturally responsive, he wants to expand the cultures they are responding to 
  • How humility informs their growth plans
  • The growing list of four year degree programs offered by SDCCD, including new ones either  coming or under development in cybersecurity, public safety administration, PT Assistant, and possibly nursing
  • The answers to the rapid-fire questions.

An excellent interview from a passionate gap minder. Thank you, Gregory, for your contributions in San Diego, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.

Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show.

If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to podcast@uwsd.org. Thank you for listening.

To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.