Episodes

What the Tech? How would you respond if electronic technology came knocking at your door? Would you tip toe as quietly as possible, so it would go away? Would you ask it to kindly leave you alone? Maybe you would crack open the door and talk for a few minutes. Or like our guests today, maybe you would invite technology in with open arms, and spend the rest of your life working with it to enhance teaching, learning, and overall social growth. Our three guests today new at an early age tech was the industry for them. Listen in to […]

The debate over assessment is made up of varied opinions and is nothing new. Evidence shows assessment of educational achievement was used by Sui Emperors in China as early as 589 CE. More current however (1900-1933), is the origin of standardized testing in the United States. The next phase (1933-1947) of assessment in the United states saw the assessments designed for non-cognitive areas beyond content knowledge. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) was born during this time period. Then between 1948-1978, after WWII ended, there was an increase in college applications. The influx of prospective college students lead to perceived need […]

When talking with students about their college experience and identity development, one common sentiment stands out. A majority of students are looking for a sense of belonging. Some consider developing a sense of belonging is just what we do as people. While others take it further and consider developing a sense of belonging crucial and imperative to our survival. Students come to higher education belonging to various groups. However, many of the people, places, or traditions they connect with for belonging do not come with them. Therefore, one role of campuses across the country is to help provide venues and/or […]

Students often find success through supportive and empowering relationships. Relationships with faculty, staff, and peers. These relationships can begin organically or meaningful planning – A.K.A mentoring. For years universities and colleges have been developing various forms of mentoring programs. Tune in to this episode to hear more about an ever-evolving world of peer mentoring.

Mindfulness and wellness have become discussion topics and practices for many over the past two years. However, for many others the two have been part of cultures, or individual lives for thousands of years. On this episode, we have an enlightening and insightful discussion about shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”) and how you can take part in various ways in Chico. The physiological and psychological exercise emerged in Japan in the 1980s to offer offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests. Shinrin-yoku has emerged as an […]

Faculty and staff in higher education focus much of their energy on current students, campus situations, budgets, and other topics that impact the daily goings-on. Meanwhile life as we know it, is not all about universities or colleges. One community outside of higher education is that of young people; more specifically young people in the Sacramento area. Sacramento is home to 123,258 people under the age of 19. And one organization dedicated to nurturing positivity and empowering young people is Alliance for Education Solutions (AES). On this episode we talk with one of the co-founders to hear about the evolution […]

“Enter to learn, depart to serve” Mary McLeod Bethune  Through outreach, access, resources, and community, TRiO / Student Support Services at Butte College and Chico State are working to achieve Bethune’s call to action. This episode highlights what is happening on both campuses in efforts to enhance students’ experiences in and out of the classroom. The guests on this episode are all TRiO / SSS alum, two of whom currently work Butte and the other two at Chico State. No matter the campus, they are all fulfilling their desire to serve others and positively impact students lives.

As students enrolling at universities and colleges continue to become more diverse, the need for various and specified types of support is equally surging. Efforts to broaden access to higher education are outpacing campuses’ abilities to ensure equity after students are enrolled. In response to many black students’ experiences of not finding the support or mentoring they hoped for at Chico State, two black professionals are leading the Black Student Peer Mentoring program. Please tune in to this episode to hear more about the evolution of Black Student Peer Mentoring and what is happening now.

Part of who we are, at this moment, is because of where we come from and who we have come with. However, from this moment forward, who we are going to be will be altered by where we go and who we go with. On this episode we here from three women about their journeys to and through education. As they continue to learn, live, and grow they share about the Healing Centered framework at the core of the work they do at Chico State’s Cross Cultural Leadership Center where people can go to feel respected, connected, and affirmed.

First-generation students come to higher education from diverse backgrounds and have equally varied experiences once on a university campus. The project Student Voices, led by two Chico State librarians in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Northern Colorado, provides students an opportunity to tell their stories. In turn, faculty and students work together to archive meaningful histories and create primary sources for others to learn from. Take a listen and learn more about the project as well as a couple of Chico State librarians.

Formal education, or a systematic structured form of learning in classrooms, is far from the only way students engage with learning. What happens outside the classroom is vital to student, campus, & community growth. On this episode we had the opportunity to talk with staff from Chico State’s Student Life & Leadership. Our conversation highlights some of the work being done on and off campus to enhance student learning and community building.

The journey to and through higher education consists of many parts for first-generation students. From learning about college, to figuring out how to apply to schools and financial aid, to attending orientation (if possible), to enrolling in courses, to working through time as a student, to graduating. But, it doesn’t end there. Our guests for this episode are giving back and supporting other first-generation students and alum. Please listen in to learn what the Chico State First-Generation Faculty & Staff Association is doing for others.

Experiences this past year have raised awareness about the already important and numerous discussions and efforts focused on basic needs. If you would like to learn more about what is happening at Chico State to support student, staff, and faculty basic needs, this episode is for you. Our guests shed light on how campus and the surrounding communities have come together to uplift lives as well as transform the idea of community and supporting one another. As the Basic Needs Program at Chico State says “Go at the pace of wellness and intention.”

On this very special episode, we hear from two guests: Deana Waintraub Stafford and Claude Taylor, who share with us the efforts they are involved with to support first-generation students and families across the nation. Get to know who these change makers are and the how they are nurturing the development of a much needed community across the nation in higher education.

When it comes to the students who will be our future farmers, plant scientists, or veterinarians, Chico State makes sure they feel supported on their way to graduation and well into their careers! Today we learn from Denise Crosswhite, and Lindsey Jeffery about success efforts and resources available to students, faculty, and staff in the College of Agriculture. If that sounds interesting to you, check it out and see how you can utilize the resources!  

Chances are as you stroll through the Chico State campus, or prepare yourself for class online or in person, that you have met an international student during your time there. Chico State is home to 368 International students from all backgrounds who chose to pursue their education here. Their road to this amazing University was not without obstacles, and the students have proven to be resilient Wildcats. Tune in to this episode to learn more about international student experiences.

Chico State is home to an abundance of skilled students, staff, and faculty. It is a campus of scholars, athletes, and a population that manages to balance both student & athlete. On this episode, it is our pleasure to talk with a student/athlete and Chico State’s Men Soccer coach to help us learn more about being a first-generation student who also balanced sports at the college level, all the while managing life’s curve balls.

Higher education is made up of various people with numerous experiences. Many people’s experiences are not visible and often silenced. However, these experiences are impactful and with the right support can provide students opportunities to thrive and be heard. Join on this episode to learn more about students with foster and unaccompanied homeless experiences.

Journeys through this world are various, complex, and intersectional. As a result, from year to year and day to day, we are presented opportunities to learn more about ourselves and others as well as the experiences that define the ways we think, feel, and believe. Join us on episode 25 as we talk about the intersection of first generation and LGBT / GSM.

The Hmong community has a rich past, is vibrant today, and is creating an exciting future. Whether you know a little or a lot about the Hmong people, this episode is for you. Join us on episode 24 to hear four powerfully moving Hmong women share some of their experiences and hopes for the Hmong community.

Today We Talk All About STEM! Are You Excited Yet? STEM, you either love it or you hate it! But not everyone who works in the STEM field started off there. The STEM field will surprise you, and open your perspective on how versatile and satisfying the majors can be! Our guests discuss their journey on how they found their passion for their profession and the challenges they encounter as first-generation students within the STEM field and how they overcome!

Veterans – A Journey from Country to Campus Today we take a look at a portion of the Chico State Community known for their commitment, resilience and strength. Thank you to our guest Larry Langwell. Take a listen and find out about the rich history Chico State has with supporting our veterans on campus, and the efforts they continue to make to enhance veterans’ personal and academic pursuits. On this episode, we discuss the importance of supporting veterans in their transition from the military to higher education, hear about successes as well as common challenges.

We did something a little different! Take a peek at our live recording where we discuss the history and services of the Educational Opportunity Program at Chico State University and how the team has remained committed to supporting low-income students since the program’s inception.

Every student has a different background from their peers, and all carry different identities. When there is one institution they attend, how are they made to feel accepted and welcome? With the help of our guests, students and staff of color, we discuss our identities on campus and how that has impacted and continues to influence college life.

Join us to listen and learn from Graduate Students about their journey to higher education. Each student with their own journey to the same goal. Take a listen with us and applaud our guests for their persistence in earning their degreed despite the obstacles.

Join us on this episode, as we talk with Shawn Ryan, CSU, Chico’s Coordinator of Orientation and New Student Programs. Our discussion with Shawn helps provide insights to what happened this past year, what is happening now and what is in store for the upcoming year.

8 out of 10 community college transfer students are accepted into a 4-year university every year. When so many students continue their studies within higher education and make a jump from one institution to another, what resources are made available for them to access? What does support for a transfer student look like? Learn from our amazing guests to learn about their work within community colleges and their first-generation students.

Continuing with episodes focused on resources at CSU, Chico, we are joined by Cathryn Carkhuff and Victoria Ramirez from CAVE or Community Action Volunteers in Education. During our time together we were able to discuss ways that CAVE is fulfilling its mission of providing meaningful volunteer opportunities to Chico State students, develop student leaders, and serve a broad base of community needs.

Validation for students can come about in many different ways in higher education. Often times they are not even sought out. But what if there was a purposeful framework that is already being practiced to support, validate and meet students and their community where they are at? Tune in to learn more about Cultural Strengths and its positive effect on students.

Continuing with episodes focused on resources at CSU, Chico, we are joined by Shawna Lucas to learn what the College of Communication and Education (CME) is doing to support students, faculty and staff. Shawna is the CME College Advising and Retention Specialist (CARS) and coordinates student success efforts.

Welcome to our next installment about a CSU, Chico resource. On this episode we are joined by Jen McKee to learn what the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management (ECC) is doing to support students, faculty and staff. Jen is the ECC College Advising and Retention Specialist (CARS) and coordinates the Engineering Student Success Center. To do this, they have developed clear paths to tutoring, financial and academic planning, collaborative learning communities, and effective study environments for all REACH students.

On this episode we are joined by Jenn Duggan and Nicole Gager from CSU, Chico’s College of Business Student Advising & Services.

On this episode we are joined by students and staff from CSU, Chico’s First Year Experience. FYE fosters collaborative and active learning, peer support and engagement with public issues that challenge students to get involved immediately, not eventually, as scholars and engaged members of the community.

On this episode we are joined by staff and students from the Chico Student Success Center (CSSC) REACH (Raising Educational Achievement in Collaborative Hubs) Program. The CSSC and REACH seeks to serve and support first generation, low income and traditionally under-represented learners, from outreach to graduation, with personalized attention to their academic goals and individual journey. To do this, they have developed clear paths to tutoring, financial and academic planning, collaborative learning communities, and effective study environments for all REACH students.

This is the first of our episodes that will highlight resources and programs at CSU, Chico. We are joined by Kylee Sharp to learn what the college of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA) is doing to support students, faculty and staff. Kylee is the HFA College Advising and Retention Specialist (CARS) and coordinates the HFA Success Studio.

Throughout time, discussions and the importance of family have been highly debated. Likewise, people have varying thoughts about and connections to food. Take either away, change in some fashion and a person may be impacted by homesickness. Join us on this episode to talk family, food and homesickness.

Finally, meet Isabella McMurry – the artist behind our logo. Isabella joins us to talk about what inspires her, why she creates art, what art has done for her and what she seeks to accomplish through art.

Do you wonder where your food, clothing or other plant based materials come from? Who works to provide these resources to us? On this episode we explore the world of agriculture from three different perspectives. One of our guests is a current first-generation student and the other two are first-generation alum. Each of them will provide insights to their experiences in agriculture and share thoughts on access, equity and inclusion in the field.

On this episode we are joined by three guests – the Tribal Relations Specialist from Chico State’s Tribal Relations Office, a faculty member from Multicultural Gender Studies who is an enrolled member of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation and is also Hupa, and our third guest is a Chico State student who is Machoopda Maidu and is active on campus and in the Chico community. With the help of our guests, we break through the generalizations of Native American History and through the years of resilience. We learn more about our Mechoopda tribe, and are enlightened to the issues […]

What is said to feed the soul and be pure forms of magic? Music & language. They always surround us regardless of where we are, and they serve as a tools for healing and much more. In this episode we discuss the beauty and power of music and language and how they impact us and affect various aspect of our lives and communities. We are joined by Pa Vue and Tray Robinson, who enlighten our relationships with music and language.

We may hear it all the time, but what does it really mean? We even have them on our campus! Civic Engagement is defined in our episode and broken down to what it means and how it relates to us in our everyday life.

Sorry, due to unknown microphone issues, parts of this episode have background static. It is still audible, however with intermittent static. p.s. – it is josh’s fault 🙂 Amidst a global pandemic the world is learning how to adjust and redevelop…well, everything! With a focused lens on education, we look into what that has been like for faculty and students. How it has varied from professor to professor and even some of the positives this experience has provided our students.

Are you liking the sound of Eastside Cumbia when you click play? Join us in thanking Ivan Paredes, former Chico State EOP student, as he discusses his passion for music and his life journey that contribute to his dreams.

There is a constant battle regarding who we are and who we should be in certain facets of life. Stereotype threat, biases and imposter syndrome are prevalent in everyday lives. Join us and we discuss those topics and how they have affected our guests and the communities’ they serve.

From authors like Gloria Anzaldua to artists like Immortal Technique, tune in to our conversation regarding both faculty and student experiences at an institution of higher education. We tackle topics such as assimilation and intersectionality within cultural identity and education.

Welcome to our podcast First Generation – One of Many! Click play, and get to know your hosts josh and Teresa as they share a bit about their personal and educational journey. They will introduce you to the world of what it means to be a first-generation student and professional, as well as some facts and statistics worth knowing!