Come To Believe: The Podcast

Come To Believe

Welcome to CTB's podcast where you will find our panel discussions, interviews, and more--all about the way in which we are working towards changing higher education for the better. Thank you for believing with us!

  1. Mar 3

    Identifying Higher Ed's "Equity Engines" with Dr. Becca Spindel Bassett

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Becca Spindel Bassett, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, to discuss her recent research on "Equity Engines": colleges and universities that both enroll and graduate large percentages of Pell-eligible students. They discuss Dr. Bassett's professional background in the college access and persistence domain, why Equity Engines are worth identifying, the spatial inequality of college persistence in the United States, and how policymakers might use Dr. Bassett's research to move the needle. This is a conversation you don't want to miss! You can (and should!) read Dr. Bassett's research here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23328584251361048

    46 min

  2. 12/03/2025

    High Structure Course Design with Justin Shaffer

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Justin Shaffer of Recombinant Education and the Colorado School of Mines to discuss Dr. Shaffer's implementation, research and advocacy for "high structure course design" a student-centered approach to instruction that combines rigor, autonomy, and scaffolding for learning. We learned a lot from this episode, and we know you will, too! Learn more about Justin's work here: https://chemeng.mines.edu/project/shaffer-justin/ https://www.recombinanteducation.com/about/

    43 min

  3. 10/30/2025

    Supporting Students' DREAMs at a Pivotal Moment with Gaby Pacheco

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with the President & CEO of the Dream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant youth. They discuss Gaby's path to activism and advocacy, the mission of the Dream.US, how the current political climate is impacting her work, and the importance of personal narratives to social change. In our current moment, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

    55 min

  4. 04/01/2025

    Navigating the Present Moment with Dr. Aidé Acosta

    In this episode CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Dr. Aidé Acosta, Chief College Officer of Noble Schools in Chicago, to discuss how best to support students to and through higher education in the current political moment.

    45 min

  5. 03/04/2025

    Building Belonging: A CTB Audio Essay

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez shares an audio essay based upon his recent presentation, Building Belonging. Carlos reflects on the importance of belonging in the CTB model by sharing audio clips of stakeholders across the CTB Network. Topics include high-touch staffing, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and student-led extracurriculars. Enjoy!

    25 min

  6. 12/19/2024

    Building the First Class of Founder's College with Donneisha Baker and Morgan McCombs

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with two members of the Founder's College (the new CTB model college at Butler University in Indianapolis): Associate Director of Admissions Donneisha Baker and Associate Director of Financial Aid Morgan McCombs. They discuss Founder's admissions process that is already underway, common admissions and financial aid challenges for first generation students, the supports that Founder's College provides its prospective students, and much more. Enjoy this inside look at how the first class of Founder's College is coming together!

    21 min

  7. 11/22/2024

    The Landscape of Mental Health on Campus with Ashley Mowreader

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Ashley Mowreader (https://x.com/amowreader), Student Success Reporter for Inside Higher Ed & host of Voices of Student Success podcast, to discuss the landscape of mental health on college campuses. They discuss Ashley's recent blog post covering the results of Inside Higher Ed's Student Voice survey, especially related to mental health. Ashley shares her perspective on the main drivers of mental health issues on campus, the way that postsecondary institutions are responding, and what additional research is needed to further understand the issue. Check out Ashley's blog post that inspired the conversation here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/health-wellness/2024/08/19/experts-weigh-college-student-mental-health-crisis

    30 min

  8. 10/30/2024

    The Challenges Facing Homeless Students Navigating Federal Financial Aid with Eric Hoover

    In this episode, CTB's Carlos Martinez sat down with Eric Hoover, senior writer at the Chronicle of Higher Education. The conversation focused on Eric's recent work on the challenges facing students experiencing homelessness while they navigate the federal financial aid system. They how federal policy related to homeless students has evolved over time, how last year's botched FAFSA roll-out impacted this subpopulation of students specifically, and what solutions exist to these challenges moving forward. Thank you to Eric for shining a spotlight on this important issue! Read Eric's article here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/on-their-own-without-a-home-and-waiting-for-federal-aid

    55 min
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Welcome to CTB's podcast where you will find our panel discussions, interviews, and more--all about the way in which we are working towards changing higher education for the better. Thank you for believing with us!

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