In The Margins

By: Diverse Education
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  • Summary

  • Achieving equality in higher education. The stakes have never been higher. The issues never more complex. Who graduates, and why? Who is getting hired as faculty and what is their experience? In each episode, we will look at issues surrounding students, faculty, diversity and inclusion, and skyrocketing college costs. From critical conversation to news, numbers, and analysis — we’ve got you covered. You can count on Diverse’s In The Margins to bring you the latest, most relevant thought leadership as it pertains to diversity, inclusion, and equity in higher education. As the national expert, we’ve been doing this for almost 40 years in print and on the web (diverseeducation.com). Now we are excited to expand the conversation via this podcast. We will tackle these topics, and more, head-on. Listen weekly for a mix of deep dives, short briefs, expert panels, interviews, and more. We are thrilled to bring it to you here, in In The Margins.
    2020
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Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • EP151: Catching up with Toni Morrison scholar and DEI expert, Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley

    EP151: Catching up with Toni Morrison scholar and DEI expert, Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley
    Mar 27 2025

    In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley, a distinguished scholar, author, and academic leader. As founder of the African American Studies program at George Mason University and former Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity at Case Western Reserve University, Mobley has spent decades shaping conversations on race, gender, and social justice — now serving as a diversity consultant.

    Mobley shares her journey as a literary scholar and how she helped establish the Toni Morrison Society, dedicated to preserving Morrison’s legacy. Her conversation with Diverse host Ralph Newell dives deep into Morrison’s impact on literature and culture, exploring her masterful use of language, space, and identity.

    Mobley also discusses her book Toni Morrison and the Geo-Poetics of Place, Race, and Belonging, examining how Morrison’s work navigates identity, history, and the power of storytelling.

    Explore the transformative power of language and the necessity of creating spaces for belonging and justice in this inspiring conversation. Tune in.

    KEY POINTS:

    - Mobley's academic journey as a professor of English and African American Studies

    - Founding of the Toni Morrison Society in 1993, with 26 professors recognizing Morrison's literary significance before her Nobel Prize

    - Morrison's unique approach to writing, focusing on imagination, joy, and resilience beyond oppression

    - The Geo-poetics concept: how writers use space and language to create meaning

    - Insights from Morrison's Nobel Lecture, its power of language in connection or division

    - Strategies for social justice (inspired by Civil Rights Movement tactics): finding spaces to strategize, building new coalitions

    - Challenges of current DEI work and the importance of imagination in responding to systemic oppression

    - Final thought: Who would play Mobley in a movie?

    QUOTES:

    “The only grace you have is the grace you can imagine.” – Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley

    “Language is all we have, and the misuse of language will continue to shape our lives.” – Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley



    “People can use language to assault one another [or] to undermine one another. And when you have a genuine encounter, let your biases drop away, and listen to the other—you can engage in an actual dialogue.” – Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley

    RESOURCES:

    The Toni Morrison Society

    Toni Morrison and the Geopoetics of Place, Race, and Be/longing

    Diverse Top Women Honoree, 2013



    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

    LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/diverse-issues-in-higher-education

    Instagram: http://instagram.com/diverseissuesinhighereducation

    Facebook: http://facebook.com/DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation/

    X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/diverseissues



    WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

    https://www.youtube.com/@DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation

    Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

    In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
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    45 mins
  • EP150: Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms, with Dr. Marlee Bunch

    EP150: Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms, with Dr. Marlee Bunch
    Feb 27 2025
    In this episode we feature author and creator of the un/HUSH Framework, Dr. Marlee Bunch, to discuss the development of her framework for dealing with the challenges of implementing diverse narratives in today’s educational settings. Bunch shares how her experiences as an educator in diverse, low-income schools led her to pursue a doctorate focused on the oral histories of Black female educators in Mississippi during the civil rights era. She also explains how their stories informed the un/HUSH Framework, which emphasizes the following principles: uniting, naming, history, unlearning, stories, and healing as means of addressing systemic racism and inequities in education. In conversation with Diverse host David Pluviose, Bunch also delves into the challenges of implementing DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives in the current political climate, stressing the importance of community engagement, voting, and continuing to uplift underrepresented narratives, as well as her culturally responsive teaching standards and her upcoming books. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the development of her groundbreaking framework, centering historically marginalized voices and perspectives in secondary and post-secondary education. This is the final episode in our two-part Black History Month Series. In case you missed it, check out part one: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey with Dr. George A. Pruitt | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education KEY POINTS: - Bunch’s education, and career journey in teaching - Bunch’s experience teaching primarily in diverse, low-income schools - The history of Black and brown educators - The importance of Mississippi historically and its indicator of broader issues in the U.S. - Development of the un/HUSH Framework and its five principles - Challenges of implementing DEI in schools, discussions on systemic racism and oppression - The significance of community immersion in culturally responsive teaching, extending beyond the classrooms - Bunch’s upcoming publications, Unlearning the Hush: Oral Histories of Black Female Educators in Mississippi in the Civil Rights Era and Leveraging AI for Human-Centered Learning: Culturally Responsive and Social-Emotional Classroom Practice in Grades 6-12 - Words of encouragement for educators experiencing racial battle fatigue - The critical need to document and share the historical stories of Black educators for future generations QUOTES: “My goal in listening to those oral histories was to discover how we can use the lessons of the past and these incredible educators to guide how we navigate 21st century classrooms.” – Dr. Marlee Bunch “If we can do this work together and find a way to support one another, we will get through it. We've done it all throughout history, and here we are.” – Dr. Marlee Bunch “If there's so much work being done to suppress and silence our history, I'm going to keep illuminating it, and hope that in doing so and in sharing this incredible history and our stories that it inspires other people to carry forward that work that was done before us.” – Dr. Marlee Bunch RESOURCES: Dr. Marlee Bunch, author and creator of un/HUSH Framework The Magnitude of Us: An Educator’s Guide to Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms | Teachers Press FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/diverse-issues-in-higher-education Instagram: http://instagram.com/diverseissuesinhighereducation Facebook: http://facebook.com/DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation/ X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/diverseissues WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode. In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
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    33 mins
  • EP149: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey with Dr. George A. Pruitt

    EP149: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey with Dr. George A. Pruitt
    Feb 13 2025
    In this episode, we welcome Dr. George A. Pruitt, Thomas Edison State University president emeritus, for a thought-provoking discussion highlighting the past, present, and future of the civil rights movement, the importance of celebrating diverse histories, and the ongoing struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education and beyond. Pruitt also offers a glimpse into his new book: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning. Throughout the conversation with Diverse host Ralph Newell, Pruitt shares his personal experiences as a young activist in the 1960s and 70s, recounting his encounters with iconic figures like Malcolm X and Fred Hampton. He also reflects on the legacy of John Lewis and the critical role of service-oriented leadership in driving meaningful change. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of Pruitt's distinguished career in higher education, including his groundbreaking work at Thomas Edison State University, where he pioneered innovative approaches to adult and distance learning. Tune in and learn more about exploring the current landscape of higher education leadership and the importance of mentoring the next generation. This is part one of our 2025 Black History Month series. Tune in February 27 as we host Dr. Marlee S. Bunch. Her research focuses on the oral histories of Black female educators in Mississippi who taught between 1954-1970. KEY POINTS: - Pruitt’s take on Black History Month and other heritage-related national holidays - The legacy of John Lewis and the importance of his service - Fred Hampton and his impact on civil rights - Pruitt’s career background and inspiration to pursue higher ed - Experiences working at Illinois State University, influential mentors, and the decision to pursue the presidency in higher ed - Introduction to new book: From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning - Psychological challenges associated with activism and the importance of self-reliance, courage, and owning one's life and decisions. - The impact of mentors and the need for a service-oriented approach to higher ed leadership. - The importance of engagement, resilience, and the fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). - Pruitt’s advice: Keep up the fight, stay engaged and don’t give up. QUOTES: "I never aspired to the presidency out of any sense of personal ambition. That was not why I was interested. I had gotten invested in higher education — I wanted to reform it. I wanted to change it." - Dr. George A. Pruitt “I see a contemporary world where we are distracted by personal ambition, personal advancement, personal achievement, [and] personal success. Those are all wonderful things, but those things are important when they're in the context of service to others and our community.” - Dr. George A. Pruitt "It's nice to have a national holiday that pays attention to the unique contributions of various parts of our country, history, and democracy, but, we have the opportunity to decide for ourselves what and when we're going to celebrate our history and our contribution to American life and history.” – Dr. George A. Pruitt RESOURCES: From Protest to President - Rutgers University Press FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/diverse-issues-in-higher-education Instagram: http://instagram.com/diverseissuesinhighereducation Facebook: http://facebook.com/DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation/ X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/diverseissues WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@DiverseIssuesInHigherEducation Closed captioning and live show transcription are available in the video for this episode. In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).
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    56 mins
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