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Welcome to The EDU Ledger! We’ve moved from Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.

Section: Opinion

DEI is More than an Acronym!

While the duties of the CDO vary from one institution to the next, I believe it is prudent for those considering accepting such a position to do their due diligence before signing a contract, no matter how attractive the salary may be.

September 1, 2021

Dr. Charlie Nelms

Inspiring Tech Discipline

Dreams need to be ignited for students to have the internal motivation to want to pursue careers in the emerging tech sector. This, however, is just one needed component on the road to the actualization of the dream.

August 31, 2021

Dr. Marcus Bright

Who is Latinx and What Does It Mean?

Debates over who is Latinx and what that means always hit close to home in higher education. Among college students nationally, about 36% identify as Latinx or Hispanic; and 61% of these are the first to attend college in their families.

August 30, 2021

Dr. Sonia Cardenas

What I’ve Learned in College

I’m proud to be the first woman in my Latinx family to complete a college degree and the first person to finish a master’s degree, and that left a seemingly easy goal for me to set: I want to complete a doctoral degree before hitting the big 5-0.

August 28, 2021

Teresa Valerio Parrot

The Lessons of Southern Idioms in Designing for the New HBCU Student

Not only did HBCUs produce many of the great leaders of the civil rights movement, but these institutions were also the epicenter of important civil rights activities. HBCUs have a history of leading the way and they must continue to lead by push or pull.

August 26, 2021

Penny Smith-Mickey

Changing the Narrative Around Teaching and Learning

Equity efforts must extend into the classroom—and transform it.

August 24, 2021

Dr. Karen A. Stout

See You in September? Or Lose You to a Summer Virus?

When death is the worst case, remote learning is the only answer until we get a better handle on this.

August 23, 2021

Inspiring Tech Dreams

There is a need for new “tech dreams” to inspire people to be motivated to take advantage of some of the structures of opportunity that are being constructed by higher education institutions, corporations, school systems, and other entities.

August 20, 2021

Dr. Marcus Bright

Stepping Away from the Brink: Stop Gambling with Racial and Economic Equity

Given the changing education and economic landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an ever-increasing number of low-income students are applying to institutions of higher education.

August 18, 2021

Dr. Edward Summers,

Who Succeeds As An HBCU President?

As of this writing, eleven HBCUs are looking for their next president. I added to that number recently indicating this would be my last year at Dillard, completing 10 years here, and into my 18th as a president.

August 16, 2021

Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough

A Revolution in Teacher Pay is Needed to Recruit and Retain the Best and Brightest

The battle for the future of education begins with motivating the best college and university students to choose to pursue careers in education.

August 13, 2021

Dr. Marcus Bright

Sunisa “Suni” Lee Should Turn Gold Into Gold Under New NCAA Rules

Suni Lee, the 18-year old Olympic Gold medalist for “all-around gymnast,” stepped in when the “greatest of all time” Simone Biles withdrew at the Tokyo games. Lee’s golden moment is captured in images that have been tweeted and shared on social media.

August 12, 2021

Community Colleges

Community College: Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Post-COVID Labor Market

This opinion piece provides an example of why community colleges given their role and legacy are well positioned in partnering with the K–12, community-based organization, and business sectors in engaging and preparing America’s diverse workforce to meet the labor market skills of the future.

August 9, 2021

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Leadership & Policy

An Open Letter to Trustees of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Although I have lost count of the number of HBCU presidential vacancies and recent appointments, suffice it to say I believe the number of vacancies is far too high in proportion to the number of HBCUs as a percent of the total number of colleges and universities. The situation is so dire that some presidents are not in office long enough to be officially inaugurated. This is unacceptable, and alumni and other institutional constituents become part of the problem when they refuse to speak out in a constructive manner.

August 6, 2021

How Economic Desperation Feeds the Athletic Lottery

The growth and proliferation of the athletic lottery is based on many people buying into the belief that they too can win despite there being significant odds against it. Many young people have the illusion of there being a much greater likelihood that they will reach the professional ranks than they actually have. The odds of getting there are slim to none regardless of one’s desire to get there.

August 4, 2021

The Future of Black Scholars

In this essay, I will envision what it would look like to have Black faculty have transformational experiences that would lead to them thriving holistically – mentally, spiritually, socially, and physically. I would like to introduce my Model of Black Transformation, a 5-step approach to help us think about Black professors in the future.

August 3, 2021

Maintaining Philanthropic Support at HBCUs that Extends Beyond This Period of Racial Reckoning

This period of racial reckoning has seen many philanthropists celebrate the enormity of HBCUs by providing unprecedented financial donations.

August 2, 2021

Why I Finished My Dissertation, but Quit My Ph.D.

Last month, after finishing my dissertation months ago, I quit my PhD program. Let me explain.

August 1, 2021

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