On this episode we will be discussing the Policies and Politics with a focus on the Gaps in Higher education. The guests who will be joining us for this episode are:

Erin Jones

Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while working in Tacoma, and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008 while teaching in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a "Champion of Change” and was Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015. After serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach, Erin worked as an executive for two State Superintendents. Erin left the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012 to work in college access at the school district level. She left her job to run as a candidate for State Superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state, a race she lost by a mere 1%. Erin has one college graduate, one who’s a senior at Harvey Mudd College, and one starting a welding program in the fall. Her husband of 25 years, James, is a teacher.

Rayne Pearson

Rayne Pearson (she/her) works as an administrative law judge and is passionate about advancing equity, diversity, access, inclusion, belonging, and justice in state employment. To that end, she centers on anti-racism education and practice in her personal life. Rayne has a BA from New York University, where she majored in Journalism and Women’s Studies and minored in Africana Studies. She also has a JD from Seattle University School of Law. She is the executive sponsor of the EDI committee for her organization and serves as a board member for Pizza Klatch.

Adam Tannembaum

After receiving his B.A. in English Literature from Northwestern University, and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Adam co-founded and served as President and General Counsel of a gourmet food enterprise. He later transitioned into public service working for various State agencies in Illinois. Adam has also served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary for a global advisory and consulting firm, where he provided legal advice on complex matters in regard to both US and international law.

After his time in legal practice, Adam entered the world of academics as Director of Legal Professions Advising and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business, Organizations & Society at Franklin & Marshall College where he advised students and alumni about the legal profession and taught courses at the intersect of law and business. Currently, Adam is a Professor and Program Lead of Paralegal Studies at South Puget Sound Community College.