Let's talk about real college life! We're chatting with an incredible student from Dallas College who's juggling academics, leadership, and everything in between. Christina Sebastian joins the Let’s Talk TRIO podcast to share her experience as a student and participant. Listen in as Christina shares about her involvement with TRIO Student Support Services program and being the president of her college's TRIO club, and she's getting ready to graduate in spring 2025. Join us for a fun and insightful conversation about her experiences, challenges, and triumphs. You'll definitely relate to her story!

Community Announcement Links:

NCCU TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

Ever wondered what drives someone to dedicate their career to empowering first-generation college students? This episode answers that question with Paulia D. Williams, the award-winning Gamecock Guarantee Coordinator at USC. Discover the personal story behind her passion for TRIO, and find out what it means to be recognized as the 2024 Dennis A. Pruitt Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students. Prepare to be inspired by her journey and the powerful work she does.

Follow Paulia’s Instagram: @triopropaulia

Community Announcement Links:

COE’s 2025 Policy Seminar

NCCU TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

This week's guest is Jamie McDowell! A graduate student at Colorado State University studying Student Affairs in Higher Education, Jamie is also a proud first-generation graduate and TRIO alum of the ACE program. She's a Provost Fellowship research recipient, Spirit of ACE award winner, and undergraduate woman leader nominee. Tune in to hear Jamie's incredible story of perseverance, the impact of TRIO on her success, and her advice for current and future TRIO students.

Community Announcement Links:

COE’s 2025 Policy Seminar

NCCU TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

This is a paid partnership episode by our sponsor, NOSOTROS Education Center. While the episode showcases our sponsor's services, we believe that the episode also contains valuable information relevant to the TRIO community (free webinars, resources, and more).

Lisa Retamozo, Director and Founder, is on the podcast to share upcoming workshops on: TRIO staff trainings, grant writing, Annual Performance Reports, Program Restructuring, Policy and Procedure Manuals, and so much more. Lisa also goes over resources that have help TRIO programs enhance their services and position them for success.

LINKS

• NOSOTROS Education Center: https://www.nosotrosedu.org/
• Upcoming Proposal Writing Workshops: https://www.nosotrosedu.org/proposal-writing-workshops
• NEC Webinars: https://www.nosotrosedu.org/shop
• NEC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NOSOTROSEducationCenter

CONTACT

• Email: info@nosotrosedu.org
• (469) 450-7137

Changing lives, one student at a time. Meet the dedicated TRIO Upward Bound team at the University of Montana-Missoula on this episode of Let's Talk TRIO. Xavier Xtravaganza, Jonathan Carter, and Dannette Fadness reveal what drives them to support students on their path to higher education and share inspiring stories from the front lines.

Community Announcement Links:

COE’s 2025 Policy Seminar

NCCU TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
  • TRIO@PROFORMAGREEN.COM
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

What happens when a TRIO student becomes a TRIO leader? Find out on this episode of Let's Talk TRIO! We catch up with Daniela Garcia, now Director of Upward Bound at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, to hear how TRIO impacted her life and how she's now paying it forward. It's a story of transformation you won't want to miss.

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
  • Email: TRIO@proformagreen.com
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

Juan's opinion on the attempt to freeze the budgets of many federal programs which could have potential affects on TRIO. This move by the Trump Administration was blocked by a federal judge and, ultimately, the administration rescinded the memo.

• To support the work and mission of TRIO, make a donation to the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE).
• TRIO Alumni! Sign-up to be part of the TRIO Alumni Network through the National TRIO Alumni Association.
• To support the TRIO community in Los Angeles affected by the fires, click here.
• Find your U.S. Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
• Find your U.S. Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

The Let's Talk TRIO podcast is not affiliated with the Council for Opportunity in Education, The National TRIO Alumni Association, or Colorado State University. All opinions are of the host, Juan M. Rivas.

SEASON 6 FINALE! Hear from Nelsy Montes-Romero, a current TRIO Student Support Services participant at California State University-Monterey Bay. Nelsy joins us to share her inspiring journey, including her academic progress, exciting personal experiences, and how TRIO is supporting her on her path to success.

A heartfelt thanks to our individual supporters:

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Rosario Riley
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Felicia Rivera
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Jaded Electronics/Software

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors:

• StudentAccess

• TRIOjoblist.com

• • The TRIO Store powered by Proforma
    • Website: https://www.thetriostore.com/category
    • Email: TRIO@proformagreen.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center

Support the podcast:

• Patreon: Let’s Talk TRIO (monthly support)
• Corporate Sponsorship (sponsor packages available): letstalktrio@gmail.com
• Make a One-time Donation via PayPal

Art and Voice Overs

Raul Perez: Cover Art

Karla Sandoval: Voice over ad for NOSOTROS Education Center

Amelia Castaneda: Voice over ad for StudentAccess

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Audio Engineer, Music composer, music producer, music performer, and post-production editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Website