The Back to Me Podcast Yoli Tamu

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s time to be intentional about your success! Whether you’re considering attending a four-year university or applying to a vocational program to jumpstart your career, it is important to identify an institution that can meet you where you are. In this week’s episode, Dr. Stephan T. Moore, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Coppin State University joins us to share how his university helps students remove access barriers by making sure every student has an option to be successful. Find out how this urban leading institution has been able to increase student enrollment by 5% and support HBCU pathway initiatives at two popular out-of-state community colleges. Coppin State University seeks to develop and design a partnership with their students that supports both academic and holistic development.⁠
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Dr. Moore completed his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at Georgia Southern University, his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Argosy University, and he received his Bachelor of Science in Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Campbell University. He joined Coppin State University in 2022 with over eighteen years of leadership experience in higher education with a foundation in liberal arts, vocational, and professional training programs. Dr. Moore has an extensive background in higher education research and strategic planning, emphasizing student affairs and previously served as Interim Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Vice Chancellor of Student Engagement at Louisiana State University, Alexandria, and the Dean of Students and Interim Vice Provost for Access and Enrollment Services at the University of the Virgin Islands. To learn more about Dr. Moore and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn, IG @drstm_coppinvp or visit Coppin.edu.

As you enter the adult stage of your college experience, managing credit, debt and taxes becomes an important concern for many. In this week’s episode, we are joined by James Austin, Tax Consultant and the youngest Associate Superintendent at Twiggs County Public Schools in Georgia. As a Wealth Activist, Mr. Austin shares ways to properly access wealth by leveraging good debt and building a strong credit history while you’re in college. Find out about the importance of tax exemptions and develop a tax plan for paying self-employment taxes as an entrepreneur.⁠
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Mr. Austin is currently in pursuit of his Master of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of Science in Finance at Morehouse College, and he is a passionate and innovative educational leader who champions rural education and fiscal stewardship. As an Assistant Superintendent, he oversees various areas of operations, including transportation, business and finance, human resources, school nutrition, custodial and facility maintenance, and school safety. He has led construction projects totaling over 40 million dollars, implemented a leadership academy for classified personnel, improved school business processes with digital workflows, and received multiple awards and recognitions for his work. He was also a member of Forbes Finance Council and a presenter for several professional associations. To learn more about Mr. Austin and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit his Facebook page at The J.F. Austin Group, LLC.⁠

It’s Financial Literacy Month and one of the major keys to survival is your financial success. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Shelby Patrice, Financial Literacy Educator and Founder of Budget University. Ms. Patrice joins us to share how she created an innovative program that helps students develop financial literacy by learning through their core academic subjects. Through this fully accredited online program, find out how to sustain the whisper of generational wealth, instead of being perceived as a loud product of ‘new money’.

Ms. Patrice completed her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration at Kentucky State University. She founded Budget University in 2020 and the program was fully accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) within a year. She was featured on ⁠NBC Dallas News, won a $10,000 sponsorship from the Dallas Mavericks, and became a member of Engage Dallas. Ms. Patrice built her learning management system (LMS) and online App from the ground up and has accrued over 2,000 users. Budget University is now a featured program at Kentucky State University as a Freshman Experience course. As the former Miss Texas US 2016 and adoptee with a platform for Adoption and Foster care, she has taken the financial literacy pillar to the next level. To learn more about Ms. Patrice and her work, connect with her on IG @budgetuniversity and visit her website at BudgetUniversityOnline.com.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we wanted to remind you of your value and encourage you to prioritize your wellbeing every day. In this week’s episode, we invite back Koya Webb, International Spiritual Health, Wellness Educator, Yoga and Meditation Teacher. Ms. Webb shares how she was able to discover harmony outside of the familiar, create healthy boundaries with the word ‘No’, and find safety in the creative outlet of sports to help alleviate stress. As the creator of The Lifestyle Design Method, find out how she preserves her social wellbeing and uses morning rituals to start her day, in order to live her life in alignment.⁠
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Ms. Webb is also an author, speaker and vegan activist whose core mission is to promote daily self-care, oneness and eco-friendly living to combat some of the world's biggest challenges including mental health, social injustices and global warming. The Get Loved Up Community is an international lifestyle community and yoga school that inspires mental, spiritual and physical health through a monthly membership, online courses and wellness retreats. Be sure to grab your FREE copy of Koya's fantastic book, "Let Your Fears Make You Fierce" in the episode notes. To learn more about Koya and The Lifestyle Design Method, connect with her on her YouTube Channel or visit her website at KoyaWebb.com.

When classes end, the strategic conversations you choose to have with your peers and your professors will make all the difference in the future you create for yourself. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Tiffany Gipson, the Director of Equity and Quality for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). Ms. Gipson encourages you to create a teacher-student partnership that will offer a safe space in your learning environment, while also developing your interests to ensure you identify the ‘right fit’ for your career choice.
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Ms. Gipson started with CAN as a member of the Leadership Team and quickly transitioned to a staff position in August 2017. Before becoming a part of the CAN Team, Ms. Gipson was the Technical Assistance Director for Higher Ground NDC, a social justice and educational non-profit that focused on sharing high quality afterschool and support services to schools and communities of color throughout Northern California. In conjunction with her work with Higher Ground, she has also facilitated and chaired several community-based social justice efforts that focused on impacting and interrupting the systems that prevent equity for all. She was the Chair of the Oakland Chapter of the NAACP, Youth Committee, CO-Chair of the African American Advisory Committee on Crime to the Oakland Police Department and the Co-Chair for East Oakland Building Healthy Communities. She also completed a 2-year After School Knowledge (ASK) Fellowship for the Soda Foundation specifically to share and build best practices for organizations to work with school systems to replicate high quality after school programs throughout diverse communities. To learn more about Ms. Gipson and her work, connect with on LinkedIn or visit her website at AfterSchoolNetwork.org.⁠

As you manage the stressors of college, do you find yourself experiencing sudden mood swings, loss of interest in activities, or even a change in your energy level? If so, you may be dealing with some important hormonal changes that need your attention right away! In honor of Women’s History Month, we invite back Samantha Grant, 3x-award-winning Functional Medicine Nutritionist to encourage you to become your best health advocate during your next doctor’s appointment. Find out what affordable supplements and healthy foods will help you balance your hormone levels to help you manage important concerns, such as your menstrual cycle, fibroids, endometriosis, and for some, polycystic ovarian syndrome. As a future leader making a difference in the world, make sure you are an informed patient with a solid health routine.
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Ms. Grant completed her studies in Nutrition at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles and is a member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. She specializes in hormonal balancing, correcting metabolism irregularities, weight loss and complex gastrointestinal issues. Throughout her successful career, she has helped thousands on their path to wellness. Her extensive nutritional training, along with graduate studies in Homeopathic Medicine, allows her the ability to assess her client’s issues in a wide-ranging holistic manner, coupling her experience with both eastern and western medical therapies. Ms. Grant's extensive background includes specialized training in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, homeopathic remedies, Bach flowers, as well as western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs. She has been featured in Salon City Magazine, Red Magazine, Vanity Fair Magazine & US Weekly several times. Sam works with A-List celebrities, heads of state, VIPs in numerous industries and everyone in between. She has trained and continues to work with renowned medical doctors and experts worldwide. To learn more about Ms. Grant’s work and her FREE resources, connect with her on IG @samfgrantcn or visit her website at SamFGrant.com.