Spotlight on Community Colleges
The Spotlight on Community Colleges podcast provides community college administrators, trustees, and faculty, as well as higher education scholars, students, and thought leaders, with insights into major challenges and issues community colleges face. Through topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, guests discuss emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, as well as critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. Together they share stories and anecdotes grounded in personal narratives, professional examples, and practical take-aways. Hosted by Drs. Carrie B. Kisker, Erin Doran, and Brett Ranon Nachman, a trio of community college scholars from diverse backgrounds, the Spotlight on Community Colleges highlights the centrality of community colleges to our democracy, economy, and work toward social justice, and shines a light on the perspectives of those who attend, teach, lead, and study these institutions. Spotlight on Community Colleges is a project of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, the largest association of university-based researchers and community college scholar-practitioners dedicated to furthering scholarship on the community college enterprise.
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Episodes
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
There's a lot to love about community colleges, and one of those components is the employees who themselves are in, healthy romantic relationships. The two-body problem, as it is commonly referred to, entails how spouses or significant others must account for finding similarly specialized role in the same geographic area, or if possible, the same institution.
On today's episode, we welcome on one dual-career couple to discuss their situation that blends life, career, and love. Dr. Corina González-Stout serves as an associate professor of history at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas. Her husband is Dr. Brian Stout, a professor of biology, also at Northwest Vista College.
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Today on Spotlight on Community Colleges we focus on issues related to campus climate in community colleges. In other words, how might faculty, staff, administrators, and other constituents perceive institutional policies, practices, and routines that influence satisfaction, efficacy, and success.
Deconstructing this complicated and nuanced topic is a panel of guests who have a deep understanding of campus climate. Dr. Audrey (AJ) Jaeger serves as the W. Dallas Herring Distinguished Professor of Community College Education and Executive Director of the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University. The Belk Center administers the PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges. Dr. Daniel West is the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at the Belk Center. Focusing primarily on employee engagement and professional development, Daniel is responsible for administering and helping colleges interpret the PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges. Finally, Dr. Jason Hurst serve as president of Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina.
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
On this episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges we take a peek into the world of community college fundraising! Guests Dr. Everrett Smith (Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati) and Charles Silver (Development Director, Scottsdale Community College) join in the conversation to share the research on community college fundraising and the unique considerations that practitioners face, respectively. Along the way they offer thoughts on how community colleges engage in meaningful collaborations, programs, and efforts that bolster giving.
If you are seeking to make a donation during this giving season and are wondering where your contributions can make a big impact, consider creating a charitable gift to your local community college.
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
This episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges centers some of the most understudied yet vital members of the higher education community: community college trustees. These are the incredible folks who volunteer their time to act as fiscal stewards of their institutions, guide institutional mission and strategy, monitor operations, hire the CEOs, and ensure that their colleges and students can flourish.
Sharing insights on this episode include three guests with a wide range of perspectives on community college governing boards and the people who serve on them: Ms. Geralyn Presti (former attorney and current Chair of the Board of Trustees at Cuyahoga Community College); Dr. Susan Kater (Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Idaho State University and a Director of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges [CSCC]); and Mr. David Conner (Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications at the Association of Community College Trustees [ACCT]).
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
You can check out the ACCT-CSCC report via this link.
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
The community college financial aid landscape is fraught with challenges related to income verification and making satisfactory academic progress, but also opportunities associated with supporting students' payments and financial literacy training. This episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges deconstructs the current realities of community college financial aid.
Today's guests discuss the various dimensions of financial aid. They include: Dr. Devon Graves (Assistant Professor of Community College Leadership at North Carolina State University); Dr. Matthew Mayhew (Professor of Educational Administration at The Ohio State University); and Dr. Courtney De Roche (Postdoctoral Scholar at The Ohio State University).
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Drawing in tens of thousands of international students each year, community colleges welcome these learners to higher education. Similarly, transborder students attend community colleges, each day crossing the border to attain their education. Yet the turbulent political and immigration landscape is creating challenges for community colleges and, in tandem, international and transborder students. On today's episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges, we disentangle these issues with three fantastic guests: Dr. Fanta Aw (CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators), Dr. Vanessa Falcón Orta (Assistant Professor in the School of Education at San Diego State University, and a founding director of the Trans Border Scholars Thriving Institute), and Dr. Joel Pilco (Director of Binational and International Programs at Southwestern College).
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
The Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) represents an academic home for many scholars and practitioners invested in these higher education institutions. On this episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges, we are joined by Dr. Jason Taylor (Associate Professor, University of Utah; President-Elect, CSCC), as well as CSCC members Dr. Nicole Contreras-García (Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University) and Dr. Karow Gordon (Dean of Instruction, Wayne County Community College District). Whereas Karow and Nicole share their experiences in participating in the conference and CSCC community, Jason previews what is to come for the 2026 CSCC Conference in Salt Lake City!
Learn more about CSCC on its website. For more information about the Call for Proposals, due November 3, 2025, check out this link.
This is a special first episode of Season 2. Episodes regularly debut on the third Wednesday of each month.
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. The podcast is hosted by Drs. Erin Doran, Carrie B. Kisker, and Brett Ranon Nachman. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
On this episode of SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES we feature a conversation on building and maintaining equitable teaching practices in community college science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM education. We are joined by two community college educators: Dr. Melonie Sexton (psychology professor) and Ms. Josephine Pino (biology professor).
Today's discussion is framed around a consensus report that was released by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) in January, 2025, titled Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education,Supporting Equitable and Effective Teaching. The Charge of NASEM's report was to draw on the resources of a committee of experts to document the evidence-based consensus about how equitable and effective teaching can transform undergraduate STEM education.
Check out the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education report here.
SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES will resume with new episodes for Season 2 this fall.
Spotlight on Community Colleges debuts new episodes on the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
For decades community colleges have served as an alternative higher education option for students, yet not always are these perceptions framed positively by the media and influential forces. On this episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges, we feature a conversation featuring two guests who help us make sense of the various ways the American public frames and views these institutions: Dr. Chauncy Lennon (Vice President for Learning and Work and Senior Strategy Advisor at the Lumina Foundation) and Sophie Nguyen (Senior Policy Manager of New America's higher education team).
Join Spotlight on Community Colleges the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
On this episode of Spotlight on Community Colleges, we disentangle the many constantly changing challenges and threats to higher education via anti-DEI legislation. This episode, recorded in February 2025, features a conversation with two guests who hold important perspectives on these important issues and how they may impact community colleges: Dr. Jeremy Young (Director of State and Higher Education Policy at PEN America) and Dr. George Boggs (President and CEO Emeritus of the American Association of Community Colleges, Superintendent/President Emeritus of Palomar College).
For further context about the letter from the American Council on Education, read its statement here. The February 14 Dear Colleague Letter from the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights can be read here. Dr. Boggs' op-ed piece, published in the San Diego Union-Tribune back in October, is found here.
Join Spotlight on Community Colleges the third Wednesday of every month to hear topical exchanges between researchers and practitioners, learn about emerging scholarship paired with practical solutions, and consider critical analyses of possibilities for future practice. More information at: https://spotlightonccs.podbean.com/.
Spotlight on Community Colleges is the official podcast of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (https://www.cscc.pitt.edu/).
Stay Connected With Us:
Email: SpotlightonCCs@gmail.com
Instagram: @spotlightonccs
BlueSky: @SpotlightonCCs.bksy.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekisker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-doran-7545a67a/, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnachman/
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to Spotlight on Community Colleges wherever you listen to podcasts!