In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie sits down with Peyton Snively (Director of Student Life at Cowley College) and Eric Burr (Hope Squad Advisor and retired Chief of Police) to explore the growing mental health challenges students face today. From the peer pressure of middle school to the unique struggles of international and non-traditional college students, the stressors are real and mounting. Discover how the peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, Hope Squad, is empowering students to recognize warning signs and support one another. We also dive into how Cowley College uses targeted surveys to track student well-being, the negative impact of anonymous social media apps, and how fostering a true sense of belonging is the key to driving student success.

Higher education is facing unprecedented shifts, from shifting enrollments to financial strain and job insecurity. How can institutional leaders stay calm and strategic when the pressure hits?

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie is joined by Dr. Telletha "Tee" Valenski, Campus Director at San Juan College West and the recent Kirtland Educator of the Year. Dr. Valenski shares her deeply personal journey—from a 26-year path to earning her doctorate to surviving a near-fatal battle with COVID-19—and explains how these life-altering experiences shaped her philosophy on financial preparation and leadership.

Together, Debbie and Tee discuss why preparation isn't pessimism, but rather a form of self-respect that allows leaders to pivot instead of panic.

In this episode, we cover:

• Proactive vs. Reactive Leadership: Why the best leadership is calm, strategic, and focused on foresight rather than fear.
• Financial Literacy as Professional Literacy: How understanding your finances gives you more confidence, control, and options in an unpredictable job market.
• Career Resilience: Navigating non-traditional career paths, staying coachable, and remembering that "titles are temporary, but skills are transferable."
• Creating Student Opportunities: Tee’s work in building community-driven pathways, including connecting community college students to summer internships at Harvard.
• Advancing Two-Year Colleges: A look at Tee’s new role on the executive committee for the Council to Advance Two-Year Colleges and the importance of evaluating institutional systems.

How do you go from a drum major to a Vice President? In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie Phelps sits down with Dr. Melanie Jenkins-Simpson, the Associate Vice President of Institutional Research at the University of Alabama, to map out the road to leadership in higher education.

Together, they explore the evolution of the Institutional Research (IR) field—from printing spreadsheets on green bar paper to the modern demands of data science and business analytics. Dr. Jenkins-Simpson shares her personal journey and offers actionable advice for professionals at every stage of their career, emphasizing that while technical skills get you in the door, soft skills and "staying in the know" help you rise.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Educational Path: Which degrees matter most for leadership (and why Computer Science is the new frontier).
• Soft Skills for Data Pros: Why a sense of humor, communication skills, and policy interpretation are just as vital as statistics.
• Professional Development: How to utilize resources from the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the importance of volunteering.
• Navigating Change: Preparing for the "enrollment cliff" and the future of data governance.

Join us to learn how you can carve out your own path and become a legend in the data field.