All In: Student Pathways Forward

Marc Goldberg

This podcast focuses on elevating community college student voices to shape inclusive higher education and workforce development policies, practice and partnerships that create economic mobility. 

  1. Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) graduate Kolton Wolfe, LBCC president Dr. Lisa Avery, National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Executive Director Roger Tadajewski and Sama Shagaga, Partnerships and Government Relations at NW Natural

    JAN 28

    Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) graduate Kolton Wolfe, LBCC president Dr. Lisa Avery, National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Executive Director Roger Tadajewski and Sama Shagaga, Partnerships and Government Relations at NW Natural

    In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) Machine Tool Technology program graduate and past NC3 Linn-Benton National Signing Day participant, Kolton Wolfe, Linn-Benton Community College president Dr Lisa Avery, and then both Roger Tadajewski, the Executive Director of NC3, the National Coalition of Certification Centers, and Sama Shagaga in Partnerships and Government Relations from NW Natural - both strong partner organization to the college. Kolton describes his entry into Linn-Benton Community College via the NC3 National Signing Day annual event where he and other new students were celebrated for choosing an LBCC Career Technical Education path for the future through the Machine Tool Technology program. Kolton elaborates on the tremendous support he received from his high school, Sweet Home High School, along with Linn-Benton Community College, as part of National Signing Day -- registering for college classes and in his case receiving a significant college scholarship from NW Natural.  Dr. Avery reflects on Kolton’s interview and highlights the importance of both comprehensive student supports offered to students and clear and accelerated pathways to good jobs and careers through workforce, CTE and transfer programs.  Roger and Sama both share more about their organizations’ partnerships with Linn-Benton Community College for NC3 National Signing Day and the overall power of strong college and industry partnerships needed to create a skilled current and future workforce in key industry sectors.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

    1h 7m
  2. Hampton Roads Higher Education Executive Leaders: Tidewater Community College president Dr. Marcia Conston, Virginia Peninsula Community College president Dr. Porter Brannon, and Dr. Latitia McCane, Director of Education for the Apprentice School

    JAN 7

    Hampton Roads Higher Education Executive Leaders: Tidewater Community College president Dr. Marcia Conston, Virginia Peninsula Community College president Dr. Porter Brannon, and Dr. Latitia McCane, Director of Education for the Apprentice School

    This special All In episode is part II of a mini series following the National Council for Workforce Education’s annual conference in Norfolk, Virginia in fall 2025. It includes engaging interviews with three charismatic higher education and workforce executive leaders from the Hampton Roads region: Dr. Marcia Conston, the president of Tidewater Community College, Dr. Porter Brannon, the president of Virginia Peninsula Community College and Dr. Latitia McCane, the Director of Education for The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding/HII. Dr. Conston, Dr. Brannon and Dr. McCane each share reflections from the NCWE 2025 annual conference plenary student panel discussion that included learners from each of their institutions recorded and published in the last All In podcast episode. These executives also offer their perspectives and insights on what it means to meet the moment for workforce education, the theme of the NCWE conference, such as developing nimble and responsive programs in collaboration with regional employers and other partners that create economic prosperity in the region. Lastly, Dr. Conston, Dr. Brannon and Dr. McCane all describe the power and importance of listening to students each highlighting examples of programmatic and policy improvements made at their respective institutions as a result of student input.

    1h 15m
  3. NCWE 2025 Conference Live Student Panel Recording - "Meeting the Moment to Advance Workforce Education"; Follow Up Discussion with NCWE Executive Director, Kate Kinder

    11/20/2025

    NCWE 2025 Conference Live Student Panel Recording - "Meeting the Moment to Advance Workforce Education"; Follow Up Discussion with NCWE Executive Director, Kate Kinder

    This special All In episode was recorded live at the National Council for Workforce Education’s annual conference in Norfolk, Virginia in October 2025 and features a dynamic community college student panel that set the stage for this gathering of college workforce leaders and those from partner organizations from around the country. Three standout students—Jasmine Canty of Tidewater Community College, April Langhorne of Virginia Peninsula Community College, and Evan Hernandez of the Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding—share their perspectives, insights and recommendations on important topics such as: stackable credentials, student financial supports, work-based learning, effective advising, flexible scheduling, and the value of recognizing prior learning. The student panel concludes with questions and answers from the conference attendees. The episode follows with a short conversation with NCWE Executive Director Kate Kinder, who reflects on key themes from the conference, and discusses how NCWE elevates student voices alongside those of practitioners—and why that focus is essential in their collaborative work with colleges and partners nationwide.

    47 min
  4. Clatsop Community College graduate Emily Bates, Clatsop Community College President Jarrod Hogue, and Director, Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) at the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Donna Lewelling

    10/07/2025

    Clatsop Community College graduate Emily Bates, Clatsop Community College President Jarrod Hogue, and Director, Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) at the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Donna Lewelling

    In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Clatsop Community College graduate Emily Bates, Clatsop Community College president, Jarrod Hogue, and the Director, Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) at the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Donna Lewelling. Emily shares more about her experience as a returning student at the college including her active involvement in student government helping build community for other students while developing valuable leadership skills.  President Hogue reflects on Emily’s interview and elaborates on the critical role the college plays in a rural community supporting workforce and economic development and the value and benefit of strong employer partnerships in that work. Director Lewelling discusses how Adult Basic Skills programs across Oregon community colleges ensure better access to pathways leading to good jobs and careers for more Oregonians through innovative career pathway programs like Integrated Education and Training (IET) and holistic student supports.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

    59 min
  5. Rogue Community College (RCC) graduate Jahna Thompson, RCC President Dr. Randy Weber & The Ford Family Foundation Director, Postsecondary Success, Denise Callahan

    08/28/2025

    Rogue Community College (RCC) graduate Jahna Thompson, RCC President Dr. Randy Weber & The Ford Family Foundation Director, Postsecondary Success, Denise Callahan

    In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Rogue Community College (RCC) and Southern Oregon University (SOU) graduate Jahna Thompson, Rogue Community College president, Dr. Randy Weber and Director, Postsecondary Success at The Ford Family Foundation, Denise Callahan.  Jahna emphasizes the value of strong faculty mentorship and advising from her student experience at both Rogue Community College and SOU with a unique lens of having taught in her field of study at both institutions as a faculty/professor over the past year. She elaborates on her academic journey that began taking GED prep classes at RCC and after completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees, she is currently pursuing a PhD in Immunology & Infectious Disease at Washington State University. President Weber reflects on Jahna’s interview and describes specific college efforts through responsive programming, student supports and community partnerships that have helped increase enrollment and improve retention and completion outcomes for students, including those who enter the college taking adult education courses.  Denise highlights the Foundation’s impactful postsecondary education work across Oregon,  particularly in rural communities, through Foundation investments, scholarships and research. She describes how the Foundation's work supporting over 1000 postsecondary education students annually across Oregon through scholarships helps inform the organization's policy and research work and shares more on the recently released Oregon by the Numbers report by the Foundation that offers a detailed profile for each of Oregon’s 36 counties.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

    1h 18m

  6. 07/24/2025

    Clackamas Community College (CCC) Student Kaytlen Thomas, CCC President Dr. Tim Cook & Trellis Strategies Senior Policy Strategist Carrie Welton

    In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Clackamas Community College (CCC) parenting student Kaytlen Thomas, Clackamas Community College president, Dr. Tim Cook and Trellis Strategies Senior Policy Strategist, Carrie Welton.  Kaytlen describes how impactful her first experience was at CCC enrolling in the GED prep program, how it shifted her perception of what the future may hold, and led her to take leadership in student government at the college advocating to address student basic needs.  President Cook reflects on Kaytlen's interview and shares more on the ROCCS initiative he is undertaking this summer - Running for Oregon Community College Students (ROCCS) - a 1500 mile run over 50 days across the state of Oregon visiting all 17 community colleges to raise awareness about challenges student face in meeting basic needs. Carrie talks about her national and state policy work supporting postsecondary education access and completion by leveraging and integrating public benefit programs. She provides more information on the Trellis Strategies Student Financial Wellness Survey, a free resource to higher ed institutions that allows them to benchmark key student financial wellness indicators to drive institutional change, strengthen student enrollment efforts and improve student satisfaction.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

    1h 13m
  7. Season 4 Intro Episode - Panel Discussion with Community College Workforce and Adult Education Leaders: Dan Belyea, Maine Community College System, Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, Pima Community College & Sheridan Nixon, Dallas College

    07/07/2025

    Season 4 Intro Episode - Panel Discussion with Community College Workforce and Adult Education Leaders: Dan Belyea, Maine Community College System, Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, Pima Community College & Sheridan Nixon, Dallas College

    This intro episode sets the stage for season 4 of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast which will feature students who began their college journeys enrolling in adult education courses that propelled them to pursue further education and career pathways at their respective colleges.  The All In host Marc Goldberg moderates a panel discussion with three innovative workforce development and adult education college leaders who have led impactful student-centered programs and partnerships at their institutions, across their states and at the national level – Dan Belyea, Chief Workforce Development Officer, Maine Community College System and Alfond Center, Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Adult Basic Education for College & Career, at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, and Sheridan Nixon, Associate Vice Provost, Career Connected Learning, School of Workforce Education, at Dallas College.  The panelists all share insights on effective Adult Ed models that have created pathways to careers with economic mobility through workforce education at their institutions. They offer their perspectives on the value and importance of Adult Education within their communities and at their colleges and highlight strategies in how they have centered student voices to shape better programs, policies and partnerships. This engaging and inspiring conversation is the perfect way to kick off the new season of the All In podcast.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

    50 min

  8. 03/03/2025

    Season 3 Finale - Student Panel Discussion with Lucy Briseno (Chemeketa Community College), Monique Sallis (Normandale Community College/Aon Apprenticeship), and Cha Zong Yang (Gateway Technical College)

    The Season 3 finale of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast features an engaging panel discussion with three inspiring students and graduates enrolled in or having completed high quality credential programs from different community and technical colleges: Lucy Briseno, a current student at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon; Monique Sallis, a current student at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, and an apprentice with Aon; and Cha Zong Yang, a graduate of Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin. Throughout the conversation, these students share their experiences participating in innovative, high-quality credential programs at their colleges that have helped shape their career pathways. They highlight the resources, supports, and services from their respective colleges and employers that have made an impact on their progress and success. From knowledgeable, dedicated, and accessible faculty to work-based learning opportunities to available financial assistance and strong career services, the panelists offer a firsthand perspective on what makes a difference for today’s learners. The students also provide thoughtful recommendations for college leaders, policymakers, employers and other students based on their own experiences. Their insights offer a compelling call to action for strengthening pathways that connect education, employment, and lifelong success. These three remarkable individuals previously shared their community/technical college stories and insights this past fall at national and Oregon state conferences as part of plenary student panel discussions. Cha Zong spoke at the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers  (NCATC) conference in September about short-term industry recognized, advanced technology programs and unique student supports such as the Metallica Scholars Initiative.  Monique joined the student panel at the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) conference in October in Minneapolis on transformative workforce education programs, including apprenticeships, that offer pathways from college into careers.  Lastly, Lucy offered her perspective during the student panel at the Oregon Pathways to Opportunity statewide summit in October on the critical topic of student basic needs insecurity and elaborated on different resources and supports that can help address common student realities. The podcast conversation was an opportunity to explore these topics in more detail and culminate this season featuring students in quality credential programs.  The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

    44 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

This podcast focuses on elevating community college student voices to shape inclusive higher education and workforce development policies, practice and partnerships that create economic mobility. 

Information

  • Creator
    Marc Goldberg
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 All In: Student Pathways Forward
  • Show Website
    All In: Student Pathways Forward