On April 2, Dr. Steven Gonzales was presented with the 2023 Diverse Champions Award at the annual meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Denver, Colorado.

In this episode, Gonzales, now chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District, sits down with Diverse host David Pluviose to share his journey through higher education, a story of championing diversity through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tune in to learn more about this year’s Diverse Champion’s work to foster an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and his advice to leaders tracking their own paths to make a difference against headwinds.

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KEY POINTS:

• The significance of being named 2023 Diverse Champion
• Dr. Steven R. Gonzales’ journey to higher education
• The perspective of a first-generation student
• What does a diverse climate do for community colleges?
• Challenges of leading through the pandemic as interim chancellor
• Advice for leaders struggling to make a difference

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QUOTABLES:

“I just found myself in positions of wanting to expand my reach of the types of decisions that I think I could make, that could impact students that I was hoping to impact.”

“While there's a difference in age, I can relate to some of those fears and unknowns as a first-generation student. When you just don't know, what you don't know.”

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GUEST RESOURCES:

Dr. Steven R. Gonzalez to receive the 2022 Diverse Champions Award — read the article here:

lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=786822&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

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In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)