Gender diversity might seem like a new topic spreading on social and digital media. But is this phenomenon really new?

Join co-hosts Archer and Babette for a thought-provoking conversation about not only the realities faced by trans students, faculty, and staff today, but also about how colonization, historical erasure, and language have shaped what we believe to be true about our own selves and desires. Contributing to this discussion are Ashley Hopkins-Benton, who curates the LGBTQ+ collection at the New York State Museum; Courtney D'Allaird, Associate Director for Intercultural Student Engagement at SUNY Albany; and Amy Student, Academic Advisor, as well as Maura Davis, TRIO Academic Specialist.

This conversation is a timely reminder of why visibility matters – not just for current students navigating their identities, but for creating a more accepting world for everyone. After all, as one guest observes, many of us have been subjected to "messages of shame" at some point in our lives -- shame about our "bodies, our gender, or about our love." And this is simply why all of us deserve access to spaces that foster joy, community, and the liberty to discover our own authentic self!

Thank you all for listening this season! Stay strong, stay confident, and keep shooting for the stars–you’ll get there! We hope that you will join us for our next season, premiering in the Fall 2025 semester.

Links to Resources:

In Our Own Voices, Inc.

Pride Center of the Capital Region

The Trevor Project

Human Rights Campaign

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.

The mission of community colleges is to open access to opportunities, to help students achieve their dreams, and to offer the kind of career and academic guidance that transforms lives! But at community colleges nationwide, only 27% of students graduate. For Pell Grant recipients at SUNY Schenectady, that number drops to a mere 20%. What is behind these devastating statistics?

"It's not so much the academics," explains Kevin Dean, SUNY Schenectady’s Executive Director of Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP). "It's usually the other stuff—jobs with incompatible hours, family responsibilities, not enough time or energy to study."

This “other stuff” can derail individual career plans, deprive communities of needed talent, and perpetuate social inequality. But Kevin Dean knows from personal and professional experience that statistics are not destiny. Students in ASAP, the program he leads, are graduating at a rate approaching 50%. And on this episode, we will discuss what “secret sauce” makes possible this astonishing success.

Guests on this episode include the students Zhya Codrington, Willow Donaldson, Mekayla Da Silva, and Heather Miller, as well as local culinary entrepreneurs Jamie Ortiz and Tyikea Mclean. They joined Assistant Professor of Hotel, Culinary Arts & Tourism Rain E O'Donnell, TRIO Academic Specialist Maura Davis, ASAP Executive Director Kevin Dean, and podcast co-host Dr. Babette Faehmel in the studio.

Archer Abbott, student-cohost and production assistant, had to miss the recording but provided needed research assistance.

If you're eligible for Pell grants and pursuing an associate degree, visit SUNY Schenectady's website to discover how ASAP could change your academic journey and career trajectory.

A note on this episode’s production quality: Student support professionals are always on call. If you hear a cell phone go off or a background noise it is a reflection of how closely our learning specialists are working with their students!

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.

On February 28th, 2025 we'll celebrate the 60th anniversary of the TRIO federal education programs. Established in 1965, TRIO was designed to help those who are economically vulnerable — including veterans, individuals with disabilities, and first-generation college students — achieve higher education.

At SUNY Schenectady, over 80% of students qualify for one of TRIO’s programs whose positive impact in fostering academic success and supporting long-term achievement is well-documented, particularly for students who face significant challenges.

And still, TRIO is at risk! Although a temporary funding bill (aka a “continuing resolution”) passed Congress at just the last minute, and despite a long record of bipartisan support, cuts to the program are a real possibility; the threat of funding delays is endangering key areas of staffing and student support.

The current short-term spending bill is set to expire on March 14. The new administration and Congress have the potential to introduce funding cuts for the remainder of 2025. These cuts could directly affect TRIO programs, particularly the number and size of grants awarded in the ongoing TRIO Student Support Services competition—a process that includes our own TRIO program at SUNY Schenectady.

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Babette Faehmel and Archer Abbott discuss the significance of TRIO programs with their guests, explore what the program does, why it's crucial, and how we can help ensure the programs continue to receive funding.

Joining them are: Mary T Silvestri, Director of TRIO, Maura Davis, TRIO Academic Specialist, and Tiombé Tatum, Chief of Staff and former TRIO Academic Specialist. As well as the student members of TRIO; Deviyani (Devi) Singh, Imani Romain, Jasmatie (Jasmyn) Lutawan, Hanif Thompson, and Corey Bub.

If you’d like to learn more and get involved, please visit the Council for Opportunity in Education website. You may also go straight to their advocacy page to show your support at https://coenet.org/advocacy/

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.