Narratives and Low-Income Millennials

Narratives and Low-Income Millennials

There are multiple narratives for low-income millennials. The college matriculation-to-graduation narrative is not a common one among most working class young people. In fact, low-income students are a rarity on most four-year campuses, especially at the most competitive colleges. A

Creative output combines hard work with being in the moment

Creative output combines hard work with being in the moment

My friend, Ed, met Michael Jackson in 1989 when the King of Pop visited a school in Harlem. As part of his visit, Jackson took a group of kids out to dinner and to the Big Apple Circus. Ed, who was working

The Positive Impact of Study Abroad

The Positive Impact of Study Abroad

The second 1vyG conference at Harvard University on February 19-21 included a session on the positive impact of study abroad for first generation/low-income students. It’s about time! There have always been anecdotes touting the benefits of study abroad experiences for diverse

Changing the narrative through empathy

Changing the narrative through empathy

Empathy can change an older cancer patient’s perspective on death and dying. In fact, it can change the narrative of a patient’s life, leaving a legacy of purpose and meaning. A couple of days ago I met with geriatric clinicians

Welcome 2016: Educating innovators

Welcome 2016: Educating innovators

Welcome 2016! Educating innovators who are creative and resourceful should be the goal of all educators. President Obama said “innovation is the currency of the 21st century.” But we are devaluing our children’s learning through a currency of knowledge retention, too often

Otherness, Identity, and Belonging in Higher Education

Otherness, Identity, and Belonging in Higher Education

The ideas of otherness, identity, and belonging in higher education help us make sense of the recent campus unrest at universities around the country. Otherness is a social construct that explains majority/minority social identities. Think about social identity as a reflection

Can you Teach Empathy?

Can you Teach Empathy?

Empathy allows us to understand and share the same feelings that others feel. By understanding and applying empathy in our daily lives, we can connect with others and share their feelings about problems, circumstances, or situations. But can empathy be

Diversity and Difference in the Traditional Culture of Higher Education

Diversity and Difference in the Traditional Culture of Higher Education

Some pundits have interpreted recent campus eruptions at Yale and the University of Missouri as “microaggressions” that push political correctness into hyperdrive through the social media. “Grow up!” seems to be a phrase mentioned again and again. But there is

Filling the Financial Aid Gap

Filling the Financial Aid Gap

Filling the financial aid gap for first generation/low-income college students is one of the major challenges elite colleges and universities face today. Traditional financial aid packages typically cover tuition and room and board. But traditional financial aid packages often do

Students Beware

Students Beware

Imagine if hundreds of thousands of consumers were being exposed to a product that carried with it a 20% chance of serious mental and/or physical harm. Now imagine that the advertising for that product not only carried no warnings whatsoever,