Mile Higher Ed Podcast

Supporting Parenting Students with Brandon Bishop

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Sarah and Caitlyn speak with master’s alumnus Brandon Bishop, the Advocacy and Strategy Manager at Warren Village, a non-profit organization providing affordable housing and education opportunities for single parents and their children. We discuss the incredible mission of Warren Village, how policy decisions shape access and outcomes for higher education, why childcare is crucial for parenting students, and how the DU higher education master’s program prepares its graduates for careers in policy and advocacy.  
About our guest: Brandon Bishop is an alumnus of the Higher Education Master’s program at the University of Denver. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from Arizona State University, where he served as the student body president. He currently serves as the Advocacy and Strategy Manager at Warren Village, a Denver non-profit organization providing affordable housing and education opportunities for single parents and their children. He previously served as a policy analyst for SHEEO, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.  
 
Some links to things we talked about:  
Warren Village 
State Higher Education Executive Officer Association (SHEEO) 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 
Follow us on Instagram: @milehigheredpodcast 
Follow MCE on Instagram: @mceatdu  

State Funding for Broad Access Institutions with Katie Kleinhesselink and Essa Njie

In this episode, Sarah and Caitlyn talk with Katie Kleinhesselink, a PhD candidate in Higher Education, and Essa Njie, a second year PhD student in Higher Education at DU. We discuss their recent research project examining state funding models for Broad Access Institutions, which they presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) 2024 conference. We also talk about what it was like to conduct this research and present as doctoral students. 
About our guests:  
A third-generation Montanan and proud miner's daughter, Katie Kleinhesselink is a passionate advocate for higher education's role in meeting community-identified needs across the Rocky Mountain West. Katie currently serves as the Program Director for Strategic Initiatives for the University of Colorado Boulder’s Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship. Her research interests include higher education’s role in democracy and rural higher education with a focus on regional public universities. Katie holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in women's studies from the University of Montana and is a PhD candidate in Higher Education at the University of Denver. 
Essa Njie is from The Gambia and obtained a BSc in Political Science from the University of The Gambia. Essa holds a master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the University of Pretoria, and another master’s degree in Security, Leadership, and Society from King’s College London. He has previously lectured courses in International Relations, International Law, Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, Good Governance, Human Rights, and Democracy, as well as Politics of Developing Societies at the University of The Gambia. Essa is a PhD student in Higher Education at the Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver, with research interest in the intersection of politics and higher education in transitional democracies- the role of higher education in a healthy and functioning democracy. He is also passionate about international and comparative higher education as well as policy issues around higher education funding.  
 
Some links to things we talk about: 
The ASHE 2025 Conference will be in Denver! Proposals will be accepted until April 30, 2025.  
Information about WICHE: the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education 
 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 
Follow us on Instagram: @milehigheredpodcast 
Follow MCE on Instagram: @mceatdu  
 

On Mentorship with Dr. Marc Johnston Guerrero

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Sarah and Caitlyn speak with Dr. Marc Johnston Guerrero, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs and Professor of Higher Education at the University of Denver. We talk about being a mentor, building intentional community, and how to cultivate professional relationships and mentorships. 
 
About our guest: Dr. Marc Johnston Guerrero is an accomplished scholar in the interdisciplinary fields of Higher Education & Student Affairs and Critical Mixed Race Studies and a seasoned higher education leader. He is currently Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs and Professor in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Previously, he served as Associate Chair of the Department of Educational Studies within the College of Education & Human Ecology at The Ohio State University (OSU). Guerrero is the author of over 70 published works across a range of outlets (from top-tier, high-impact journals to practice-oriented, open-access outlets). As a sought-after expert on racial dynamics in higher education with a focus on multiraciality, he has delivered over 170 presentations, including international invited talks. Mentoring and advising is central to Guerrero’s work as a faculty member, which has been recognized by several awards, including the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity’s (NCORE) 2024 Equity & Social Justice Mentorship Award. 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 
Follow us on Instagram: @milehigheredpodcast 
Follow MCE on Instagram: @mceatdu  

Adult Education Initiatives with Ellen Hogan

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Sarah and Caitlyn speak with Master’s program alumna Ellen Hogan 
About our guest: Ellen Hogan, M.A., is an accessibility advocate focused on organizational leadership and change. She recently joined Colorado Department of Education's (CDE) Adult Education Initiatives team, serving as the Instructional Support and Professional Learning Coordinator. The AEI team is responsible for overseeing the Adult Education Family Literacy Act (federal) and the Adult Education Literacy Act (state) grants.  
Ellen provides proactive and responsive support for institutions and organizations to enhance inclusivity and accessibility for all. Ellen has extensive experience collaborating with community leaders, staff, faculty, administrators, UX designers and other partners to dismantle barriers that prohibit access to education. Prior to her current role, Ellen has worked as a Faculty Developer at DU's Office of Teaching and Learning, an Accommodations Specialist at DU's Disability Services Program, and as a public special education teacher and case manager for students in 6th-12th grade.  
Some links to things we talk about: 
LINCS: Community, Courses, and Resources for Adult Education 
Colorado Revised Statues (CRS) 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 
Follow us on Instagram: @milehigheredpodcast 
Follow MCE on Instagram: @mceatdu  

Administration, Practice, and Scholarship in Medicine with Dr. Sylk Sotto

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Sarah and Caitlyn speak with EdD program alumna Dr. Sylk Sotto, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development and Inclusive Excellence and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. We discuss the importance of inclusive learning environments in academic medicine, Dr. Sotto’s pathway to administration and leadership, and why it is important to consider professional schools in higher education scholarship and practice. 
About our guest: Dr. Sylk Sotto is an internationally recognized scholar and leader. Currently, she serves as the inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development at University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, where she is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the School of Medicine. Dr. Sotto’s scholarship foundation is in inclusive excellence and includes the areas of faculty affairs and professional development; the medical education continuum, organizational structures and leadership; and the intersection of health equity, community engagement, and research ethics. Dr. Sotto is an Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society Faculty Inductee, and has received national and institutional awards for her service, as an educator, faculty developer, equity scholar, leader and mentor. 
 
Some links to things we talk about: 
IU School of Medicine Sees Steep Drop in Students Underrepresented in Medicine article in the Indianapolis Star 
#HerAcademicVoice hashtag campaign 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 
Follow us on Instagram: @milehigheredpodcast 
Follow MCE on Instagram: @mceatdu  
 

Pathway to Conocimiento with Dr. Lauren Contreras

Welcome to Season 2 of Mile Higher Ed. In this season premiere episode, Sarah and Caitlyn talk with Dr. Lauren Contreras, who is assistant professor of education leadership at Northern Arizona University and an alumna of DU’s higher ed Ph.D. program. We discuss her recently published article “Latina Undergraduates on the Path to Becoming Exitosas on Their Own Terms” in the Journal of College Student Development, conocimiento as a framework for understanding Latina students’ experiences, and the process of turning a dissertation into scholarly journal publications. 
About our guest: Dr. Lauren Contreras is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership with a focus on Community College Higher Education at Northern Arizona University. She has published on the topic of students’ transition to college and inclusive pedagogy and programming. She also has experience as a higher education practitioner as an academic advisor and program coordinator. Dr. Contreras has a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Denver, where her dissertation focused on how Latina undergraduates define success in higher education. 
 
Some links to things we talk about: 
Light in the Dark/Luz en lo Oscuro by Gloria Anzaldúa 
Telling to Live: Latina Feminist Testimonios by the Latina Feminist Group 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 

Special Episode- Applying Critical Race Theory to Civic Engagement with Dr. Darin Stewart

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are rereleasing an episode from season 1. Dr. Darin Stewart joins Sarah and Caitlyn to talk about his new article Civic Engagement and Resisting ‘Docile Bodies’ in Postsecondary Education published in Teachers College Report. We discuss the importance of civic engagement in racially minoritized communities, why a critically-oriented curriculum is necessary in higher education, and how we must go beyond voting to increase engagement with, and participation in, our democracy. 
 
A few of the things we talk about: 
Racial Capitalism, coined by Dr. Cedric J. Robinson in his book Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition. 
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point moved to eliminate a number of liberal arts programs in 2018, but reversed the decision in 2019 
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada 
 
About our guest: Dr. Darin Stewart is Professor and Chair of the Higher Education Department in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. His scholarship has focused most intently on the history and philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, as well as the institutional systems and structures that affect the experiences, growth, development, and success of racially minoritized and queer and trans* students in settler colonial historically white postsecondary institutions. 
 
 
Thanks for listening to this episode of Mile Higher Ed. Mile Higher Ed is produced within the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver by Dr. Sarah Hurtado and Caitlyn Potter Glaser.  Our theme music is “Summer” by Liborio Conti.  
 
Are you interested in a degree in Higher Education? Come join us! Learn more about our master’s and doctoral programs here. 

Season 1 Finale and Recap

In this season finale of Mile Higher Ed, Sarah and Caitlyn discuss the topics we covered this season and our takeaways.
 
Are you an alum of DU’s Higher Ed program, or know an alum of DU’s Higher Ed program, who is doing amazing work in the higher education space? Would you like to be featured on Season 2 of Mile Higher Ed? Contact Dr. Sarah Hurtado to learn more.
 
 
Mile Higher Ed is a production of the Higher Education Department at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.
 

Rewiring Settler Colonialism with Dr. Chris Nelson

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Dr. Chris Nelson joins Sarah and Caitlyn to discuss a book chapter she recently co-authored called “(Re)wiring Settler Colonial Practices in Higher Education: Creating Indigenous-Centered Futures Through Considerations of Power, the Social Place, and Space” in the Higher Education Handbook of Theory and Research.
We discuss decoloniality vs decolonization, decolonial collaborative writing practices, and how to bring a sense of yourself into your academic writing.
 
About our guest: Dr. Chris A. Nelson (she/her) is from the K’awaika (Laguna Pueblo) and Diné (Navajo) tribal communities. She is an associate professor of higher education at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver (DU) and the Native Faculty Director for DU’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her research utilizes a blending of critical theory and Indigenous relationality theory to explore the purpose and function of higher education. By addressing the collective and political factors influencing college access and completion for Indigenous college students, Chris strives to uphold the educational aspirations held by Indigenous communities. Harnessing her 20 years of being a higher education professional and faculty member, she explores how higher education institutions organize and operate to better understand how institutions can live out their commitments to supporting Indigenous visibility and presence. When she isn’t sitting in front of the computer, she is a mother to Olin, a partner to talented artist, Johnny, and a cat mom to Lucky Cat & Fletcher. Chris is an avid player and spectator of soccer since she was 4 years old.
 
Mile Higher Ed is a production of the Higher Education Department at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.
 

Dr. Stevie Lee Discussion on Her Dissertation

In this episode of Mile Higher Ed, Dr. Stevie Lee joins Sarah and Caitlyn to discuss her dissertation, for which she just won the Franz Fanon Dissertation Award Honorable Mention for the dissertation of the year through the Decolonial, Post-colonial and Anti-colonial studies in Education SIG of AERA. We discuss her use of the Chapter House Framework, decolonizing research methods, and what it was like to share her research at the AERA conference this year.
Read Dr. Lee’s dissertation here: Examining the Relational Space of Native Faculty Members in Higher Education
About our Guest: Stevie Rose Tohdacheeny Lee (Diné), PhD., is originally from Shiprock, New Mexico, located in the Navajo Nation. Currently, Dr. Lee serves as the Associate Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Native American Initiatives at the University of Denver. She works in the capacity of providing support for current Native American/Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students with the goal of academic success, retention, and graduation while helping to create a community founded upon social and cultural support. 
Dr. Lee earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Denver and a proud member of the Indigenous Affinity Alumni Group. Her personal interests are being outdoors and an avid marathon runner (55+).
Mile Higher Ed is a production of the Higher Education Department at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.