H.E.A.R.D.: Recent Episodes
Tashana Curtis, Portia LaMarr, Ingrid Nuttall
Join three friends talking about the intersection of DEI, higher education, and our own lives. You’ll hear us be vulnerable, make mistakes, and learn and grow with all of you.
In the Cultivating Community Plenary, HEARD was joined by filmmaker and author Loki Mulholland son of civil rights icon, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. The conversation centers around Loki's book, "Get Back to the Counter: Seven Lessons from Civil Rights Icon Joan Trumpauer Mulholland," and the connection between her lessons and the reality of today . Loki also shared a number of clips from his documentary, "An Ordinary Hero: The True Story of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland," so audio of those clips is included in the pod which brings in multiple voices and perspectives of what it was like to be part of a movement. This is a rich conversation, and a unique HEARD listening experience.
Join the HEARD hosts in their conversation with Luis Alarcon, Director of Recruitment and Admissions and Designated School Officer at Lincoln Land Community College, as they discuss counter-storytelling and Testimonios as a way to expand on dominate and limiting narratives about the human experience. Individual stories matter, and this conversation explores why and how to make that happen in your work in higher education.
In this episode, HEARD welcomes Mike Bilfinger, Assistant Director of Public Policy at AACRAO, for a look back at what went down in the first year of President Trump's second term, and what is coming up in 2026 and beyond. We discussed Project 2025 details that came to fruition, changes to the Department of Education that are likely to last beyond this administration and the impact to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and new ways we will all be asked to measure the value of higher education. We round things up with how we can (and currently do) make a difference in affecting positive change for students and our institutions.
This episode features a series of brief conversations at the 2025 AACRAO Leadership Meeting. At the end of June, members of AACRAO staff joined volunteers from the AACRAO Board, Program Committee, Community Liaisons, and state and regional leaders to kick off another year of content delivery. HEARD asked attendees how they were feeling, what they were taking away, and if (and how) they could make a difference. This episode also honors Dr. Whitney West, former AACRAO leader, community member, and HEARD guest who passed away earlier this summer.
You'll have to listen to the full episode for that nugget.
HEARD was joined by returning AACRAO pod guest Ed Clark, Chief Information Officer at The California State University System, to talk about CSU's significant investment in a far-reaching AI strategy and how he believes it will support the nation's largest 4-year public, highly diverse, university system. We about the "sweet spot" where AI can make a difference, and where it can be destructive; the challenges AI presents for diversity, equity, and inclusion and, also, how it can empower new research and ideas across a variety of disciplines. A key takeaway from this conversation: You have to be a part of what is going on if you want to understand it, and if you don't understand it, you can't make it better. Also, please revisit Ed's interview on For the Record, "Demystifying Information Technology Services," (season 6, episode 4).
On this episode, the HEARD crew spoke with David Williams, Law School Registrar at North Carolina Central University (or NCCU for short) in Durham, North Carolina. NCCU is a historically black college and university or HBCU, and David shared his passion for customer service and how it was influenced by his own experience attending an HBCU. We talked about customer service as less of a function of the workplace and more of an attitude and experience that can make all the difference in creating a sense of inclusion for students (and everyone). David talked about his hands-on approach, how he leverages technology during busy times, and how his background as a music educator helped him with patience.
In this special episode recorded live at the 2025 AACRAO Annual Meeting, HEARD hosts Portia LaMarr and Ingrid Nuttall spoke with Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries on how resilience can help us thrive in times of uncertainty. Dr. Jeffries is a College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University where he teaches courses on the Civil Rights and the Black Power Movement. Dr. Jeffries spoke with the AACRAO community on how resilience is more than weathering a storm; it is taking action today to build the future we want a generation from now. As a celebrated scholar, educator, and public historian, Dr. Jeffries provided insights into how higher education and the role of enrollment professionals have created gateways and opportunities for global citizens. This is an emotional, at times funny, and compelling conversation.
At the 2025 AACRAO annual meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to join today's guests for an exploration of neurodivergence in their session, Firing the Synapses of Connection. In this episode, HEARD welcomes Ellissa Thomen, Associate Registrar at the University of Iowa, Sara Sullivan, Associate Registrar at Cornell University, and Sara's son Will Sullivan, currently a student at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids Iowa for a very personal conversation about their own journey on the spectrum of neurodivergence. This conversation brought some tears and a lot of laughter.
Big lessons: Be brave enough to be yourself, listen to the people around you, and never hesitate to tell someone how awesome they are.
Here are some additional resources shared by our guests:
- ADDitude The ADHD Diagnosis and Testing Guide for Patients
- Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults
- Harvard Health: What is neurodiversity?
- What is the Neurodiversity Umbrella?
For this episode, HEARD sits down with Roslyn Perry, AACRAO's Vice President for Access and Equity and Registrar and Associate Dean of Records at Allegheny College. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is at the front and center of the current political agenda and dominates so much discourse. We spoke to Ros about how she sees this affecting her institution, how AACRAO is beginning conversations about supporting the community, and what "safe space" means right now.
Also, please consider emailing heard@aacrao.org or messaging Portia, Tashana, or Ingrid on LinkedIn to share your thoughts for how the HEARD podcast can support you in future episodes.
Join Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid for a conversation with Bill Gil, Senior Director of Government Relations for AACRAO, to unpack what we might expect for higher education under the next Trump administration. Bill walks us through current initiatives under President Biden and how they might wrap up or be left unfinished; the impact of committee leadership on legislative initiatives; and whether or not we are likely to see a dismantling of the Department of Education. We discussed the impact to immigration, DACA students, and DEI, and discussed the power of individual and collective action.
In this special episode of HEARD, Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid take a moment as the year nears its close to catch up and reflect on allyship, imposter thinking, belonging, blue bracelets, and strengths (among other things). If you've been a listener since the beginning, you've been hearing their friendship unfold as they dive deeper into DEI topics. This episode is a slice of the conversations that happen in between the episodes as the gang plans what comes next, reflects on what they've learned, and push each other to think differently.
On this episode, Portia, Tashana and Ingrid spoke with Chris Boldon, Director or Workforce Data Management in the Office of Human Resources at the University of Minnesota. Chris reached out after listening to our episode on destructive leadership behaviors, offering to provide some information about HR's role in supporting employees dealing with harmful workplace dynamics. And, as luck would have it, Chris is also a researcher on empathy, a topic we've been interested in exploring because of how frequently it is referenced as foundational to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. We talked about what empathy actually is, the difference between empathy and compassion, why both are important, and how empathy can be learned.
Portia and Ingrid spoke with Shamis Pitts, Founder and CEO of Pitts Leadership Consulting or PLC. PLC is a human capital consulting company specializing in organizational health and employee wellbeing. Shamis shared her experiences working with people and systems to make culture work by focusing on ways of working; the importance of self-awareness; and the difference between self-care and self-compassion. Feelings are data, and its important to name them if you want to build a healthy and equitable workplace.
This is actually the second time we talked to Shamis and for that first conversation, Tashana was available to join us. For a variety of reasons, we needed to re-record the episode during a time when Tashana was taking a well-deserved vacation. She was greatly missed, and will be back next month to dig deep on another topic.
Tashana, Porta and Ingrid get serious and silly with Doug McKenna, host of AACRAO's For the Record podcast and George Mason University Registrar. The group discusses DEI topics Doug has covered and what he has learned as host, including the importance of recognizing that learning is a journey. Doug talks about why he believes institutions should consider getting rid of grades altogether, why records work is social justice work, and why "certainty" isn't necessarily the job of records professionals. This is a fun, enlightening, and delightfully winding conversation so take the time to listen, learn, and (hopefully) have a good time.
Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid spoke with Kristen Shields, Associate Registrar at Governors State University about her research on how destructive leadership behaviors show up in the workplace, and coping strategies to deal with them. Kristen generously shares her own experiences and how it led her to study this important topic. The group discussed the challenges of alerting an institution to an individual's behavior, how to regain control and reclaim power, and how a sense of belonging is both an individual and collective experience. This is a sensitive topic so please approach with care for yourself, as always.
In this episode, Tashana, Ingrid, and Portia spoke with Dr. Reginald Garcon, Associate Vice President for Enrollment management and Student Experience, and University Registrar at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Dr. Garcon talked about DEI efforts he has been engaged with throughout his career, including at his current institution, a land-grant HBCU. Dr. Garcon talked about the the power of policy review and refinement can create a more equitable environment for students, how data can help make the case for change, and how he practices self-care.
Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid walk through some of the sessions they attended at the 2024 AACRAO Annual Meeting that focused on DEI topics. This year's conference was a reminder of how important it is to be in community with colleagues, and the ladies look ahead to season 3 and the need to dig deeper.
An important show note:
This session was originally recorded at the annual meeting and included several AACRAO attendees' thoughts on self-care, DEI resources, and what makes them feel included. Due to technical issues with the recording track, those conversations are not available, nor is the original recording of this conversation. The ladies extend their sincere apologies for that loss and extend their gratitude to those who took the time to sit down with us and share their thoughts.
The HEARD ladies return from their pod hiatus to talk about the importance of self-care with Tiffani Robertson, Associate Director of Enrollment Management at Governors State University and Dr. Connie S. Newsome, Director of Registrar Services at Campbell University School of Law. Tiffani and Connie talk about how "pouring into yourself" and "beneficial selfishness" are essential to having the capacity to show up in service to others, as well as their upcoming AACRAO workshop on self-care for higher education professionals. You need you just as much as anyone else does, so take a moment to reconnect with HEARD and this critical topic. A note of awareness: We talk about some difficult topics in this episode, including the loss of a parent. Listen with care for you.
Portia kicks off this episode’s conversation with Joel Nelson, Program Manager for Learner Success and Innovation in the Office of Digital Learning at The Ohio State University. A wide range of topics arose, including accessibility, AI, data and DEI, and the pros and cons of efficiency. Joel concluded with a strong recommendation to “let your students lead” when looking for direction and strategy for advancing DEI overall.
The ladies wrap up the summer book club series in the nick of time with Minda Harts book, Right Within: How to Heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplace. In this episode, the ladies get vulnerable discussing previous workplace experiences and the opportunities for healing explored in Harts’ work. Harts provides tangible suggestions for dealing with workplace trauma, including what can be done in the workplace to create equitable and inclusive spaces.
The summer book club continues with Elizabeth Leiba’s book, I Am Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace. In this book, Leiba weaves her biography with other lived experiences to share how black women can find empowerment by embracing their truth and being their authentic selves. Tashana walks Portia and Ingrid through the book and draws off their personal experiences in academic and professional settings to explore the books’ topics, including microaggressions, imposter syndrome vs. imposter treatment, and code-switching.
Tashana, Portia, and Ingrid pause their summer book club series to sit down with AACRAO Executive Director Melanie Gottlieb to walk through the recent Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and its impact on race-conscious admissions. Melanie walks through a summary of the decision’s impact and what is still unclear; its likely impact on the holistic review process; and how AACRAO is moving forward with supporting the community.
Tashana, Portia, and Ingrid kick-off their Summer Book Club with The Complexities of Race: Identity, Justice and Power in an Evolving America (ed. Charmaine Wijeyesinghe). Each chapter is a different essay exploring possible interventions or considerations to help us think about big questions that emerge from the book’s look at how race and racism shape and are shaped by contemporary issues. The ladies talk about identity, the possibilities of worldmaking, and, “the dangers of being too certain” when it comes to approaching DEI work.
In this episode the ladies dive into promoting equity and inclusion for people living with disabilities and chronic conditions with Whitney West, Direct Director of Student Records and Associate Registrar at Louisiana State University in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and Iman Riddick, Registrar and Assistant Dean of Students at the Institute of World Politics. Explore where you can start to promote disability justice; the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and how COVID has had a lasting impact on health for everyone.
Portia LaMarr (HEARD co-host), Loida Utley (Transfer Tea), and Sarah Reed (For the Record co-host) took a moment at the AACRAO Annual Meeting to record this cross-podcast conversation. Hear them talk about opportunities for connection between professions (e.g., financial aid, registrar, and admissions); where they feel seen (and where they haven’t); and how they have learned to advocate for themselves. Oh, and Portia’s unwavering commitment to figuring out what birds people are. It’s a great conversation!
Recorded at the 2023 AACRAO Annual Meeting, Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid asked AACRAO members to take the mic and share what work is being done at their institutions and offices to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. There’s so much good work happening out there! If you’d like to highlight some good work, send us an email at heard@aacrao.org so we can feature it on a future pod.
Tashana, Portia, and Ingrid sat down with Kylie Borges, Associate Registrar for Degree Progress and Audit at Stanford University and Vice President of Diversity Development for PACRAO. This episode digs deep into the power of state and regional associations in DEI work; institutional commitment to DEI; and how policies reflect commitment or lack thereof to DEI. The conversation also dips into representation in popular culture, including film (fun fact: Kylie’s nickname is “Ky-MDB” for you IMDB fans).
The ladies talk with ASCEND graduates Johnika Dreher from Kent State University, Malia Jones from Elon University, and Ria Woods White from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University about their experiences participating in AACRAO’s ASCEND program and their reflections on how it has helped them think about their current and future professional opportunities. AACRAO’s ASCEND program, “. . .aims to diversify the leadership in the enrollment management profession by recruiting and developing a diverse cohort of mid-level professionals and preparing them to take on roles in enrollment management in North America and around the globe.” Johnika, Malia, and Ria also talked about what brought them to the program, how they balance all the things, and the importance of “finding your squad” as one navigates the higher education landscape.
Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid are joined by Rakin “Rock” Hall, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer at Arcadia University. We talked with Rock about his experience as a higher education professional working in Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) at a variety of different institutions, randing from R1s, to medium size state schools, and now a small university. Throughout his career Rock has worked to narrow gaps and create a strong sense of fidelity between systems where he sees diversity as a key part of any successful equation. Rock is passionate about inclusion and plurality . . . and James Bond. You’ll hear us talk about all of this together and how his personal experience has shaped his approach to strategic enrollment management and how he shows up on campus to support students.
This episode was suggested by Katie Brown, Assistant Vice President for Student Success and University Registrar at Aspen University. Katie asked how those of us in positions that oversee hiring can make a concerted effort to increase DEI initiatives at our institutions and how to remove barriers in interviewing, hiring, and onboarding. To tackle this subject, the ladies talk to Simone Brown Thunder, District Human Resources Manage for the North Orange County Community College about interviewing, onboarding, and creating an inclusive environment for everyone.
Simone and her family returned to California in 2018 after living in Falcon Heights, Minnesota for eleven years. She joined the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) as a Human resources Administrator. Part of what attracted Simone to this position was the opportunity to focus on talent acquisition and to have an impact on one of the most minoritized and marginalized student populations in higher education.
Previously, Simone was working at the University of Minnesota in the Office of Human Resources as a human resources consultant, with a focus in talent acquisition and continuous improvement. She helped colleges and units improve the hiring process while creating inclusive strategies to increase the diversity and cultural competency of faculty and staff.
Simone is passionate about talent acquisition, whether that is consulting with employees about best practices for hiring a diverse workforce, or educating employees on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Simone herself represents diversity as a member of the Karuk tribe—one of the largest Native American tribes in California. Originally from Eureka, California, she worked in Sacramento with Indian Health Service, a federal agency that supports tribes and health clinics throughout California. Simone has many years of human resources experience, along with a Master of Education in Human Resources Development from the University of Minnesota.
In this episode, Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid reflect on their first HEARD interviews and discuss what stood out; the diversity, equity, and inclusion ground they have yet to cover; and set some intentions for 2023. This candid conversation covers the gamut of topics, including complicated first impressions, tea time vs. happy hours, and one very nerdy joke from Portia.
When you’re the first person of color in your role, how do you promote a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? H.E.A.R.D host, Tashana Curtis invites Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Administration and University Registrar Patricia A. Scott to the pod to talk about her experience building a culture of belonging in the workplace as the first person of color to serve as University Registrar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Ms. Scott talks about how her own identity and experiences has shaped her approach to building an inclusive workplace; approach to policy development; and what she wishes she could tell her 18-year-old self now.
Guest Bio:
Patricia A. Scott, a native of Baltimore City, currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Administration and University Registrar at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB). In this role she manages the university office of financial assistance which during fiscal year 2021, awarded $184,325,975 in funding to over 7000 students. As the first person of color to serve as University Registrar, Ms. Scott ensures that all policies regarding student enrollment and residency are applied and implemented. Ms. Scott uses her role to show the importance of students receiving adequate financial aid and how that impacts their enrollment, academic success and on time graduation.
Ms. Scott serves as ex-officio member of the UMB Campus Review Committee, the UMB president’s designated committee, to review instate residency appeals, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Financial Aid Advisory Committee, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators FAFSA Simplification Implementation Working Group.
With over 30 years of experience in higher education, Ms. Scott is an active in other community organizations and her church. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Annually she participates in a number of outreach activities assisting families and students to navigate through the financial aid process focusing her efforts on first generation college students. Ms. Scott has received numerous awards for her assistance to students and her service to student organizations. Her strong commitment of service to others is one of her core values.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion feel ubiquitous now in higher education, but where did it all begin?
The H.E.A.R.D. hosts speak with Dr. Keith Mayes from the University of Minnesota about the roots of DEI in the Civil Rights Movement, intersectionality, and what is (and isn’t) possible to accomplish through DEI committees and initiatives within higher education. Dr. Mayes talks about the importance of understanding history in order to build a better, more equitable future.
Dr. Keith Mayes is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota and currently serves as an Associate Dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education for DEI Initiatives. Dr. Mayes is also the Director of the Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender; Sexuality Studies in the College of Liberal Arts; former chair of the Department of African American & African Studies; and the Horace T. Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor. Dr. Mayes earned his Ph.D. in History from Princeton University. His teaching and research interests include civil rights; education policy and history; black holiday traditions; critical ethnic studies pedagogy; and the history of African Americans. Dr. Mayes has published a new book entitled, The Unteachables: Disability Rights and the Invention of Black Special Education available in January 2023.
When you’re not an expert but need to take action, it’s important to seek advice from trusted mentors. Portia, Tashana, and Ingrid seek some help from Dr. David Graham, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Academic Success at The Ohio State University about how to navigate the complexities of DEI topics on the podcast. Dr. Graham shares his perspective on building community, giving grace, and setting boundaries in DEI work, as well as how his own life experiences have shaped his approach to building relationships and having tough conversations.
Dr. David L. Graham is currently a senior-level administrator at The Ohio State University, serving as the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Academic Success. He joined Ohio State in January 2006 as the Director of Student Athlete Support Services. In 2011, he was promoted to Assistant Provost for Student Athlete Success, and in 2018 he was promoted to Assistant Vice-Provost for Student Academic Success. In this role, he assists the Vice Provost for Student Academic Success with the management of administrative functions and planning strategic initiatives that support undergraduate student success. He also provides direction to a number of university-wide programs that serve undergraduate students and develops, implements, monitors, and revises policies and procedures related to student success. Dr. Graham serves as a liaison to the Strategic Enrollment Planning Office, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Division of Student Life, and the Department of Athletics. He has been recognized for his ability to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve student success goals and increase student engagement. His research is focused on various issues concerning the administration of intercollegiate athletics in higher education and the effects of college on student athlete development and learning outcomes.
In the first episode of HE.A.R.D., the three hosts share how their identities and experiences have shaped their professional journeys and involvement with DEI work. Learn about what brought them together and what they hope to explore as they learn and grow in real time with the AACRAO community.
Hosts
Portia LaMarr - Product Manager in Information Technology, The Ohio State University
Tashana Curtis - Associate Registrar for Enrollment Administration, University of Maryland Baltimore
Ingrid Nuttall - Deputy Registrar, University of Minnesota