Dr. Heather Adams interviews Emily Armlin, #NISTS2023 Transfer Student Ambassador and recent graduate of Union College! Emily shares her transfer student story, discusses the challenges and highlights of her unique transfer experience, and touches on the ways small, private institutions can better support and grow their transfer communities.

About Our Guest

Emily Armlin is a recent graduate of Union College, where she studied biochemistry with minors in dance and psychology. After high school, she decided to enroll in a large flagship university but quickly realized that it was not the right environment for her at that time. Emily made the decision to move home and take classes at her local community college while looking for a better fit, and soon came across Union. Here she was able to find an incredible support network and community with endless opportunities, which allowed her to grow and continue to pursue all of her passions. During her time at Union, Emily served as a tour guide, transfer admissions ambassador, and orientation advisor for transfer students and helped develop new programming and resources for transfer students on campus. She really enjoyed helping new transfer students find their home at Union and sharing her experiences in hopes to provide the representation of different college pathways she wished she had seen while she was going through the transfer process. This coming fall Emily will be starting her PhD in biochemistry at the University of New Hampshire, as she continues to work towards her goal of a career in biomedical research.

Connect with Emily on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Transfer at Union College
• Check out the Transfer Services offered at Hudson Valley Community College
• Learn more about the annual NISTS conference
• Find the 2023 Transfer Ambassador winners announcement HERE
• Media Recommendations: Sara Bareilles’ More Love Album (on Spotify)
• Shoutouts: Emily’s friends and family!

#TransferLeadership #TransferAdvocacy #TransferVoiceAtTheTable #StudentStory #NISTS

Show Credits

Host | Dr. Heather Adams

Guest | Emily Armlin

Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

In this episode of Transfer Nation Talks, we spotlight Emily Tichenor, winner of the NISTS 2023 Transfer Champion Rising Star award! Emily was nominated in recognition of her work with University Transfer at Tulsa Community College, in which she served as the founding director. Pulling from her roots as a librarian, Emily implements principles of equitable access to information and community collaboration across her work in transfer: from her involvement in the Tulsa Transfer Project and Tulsa Higher Ed Consortium to her current role as a program manager at Ithaka S+R, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to higher education and improving student outcomes.

About Our Guest
Emily Tichenor is a program manager at Ithaka S+R on the Educational Transformation team. She supports the Articulation of Credit Transfer (ACT) Project, a collaboration with the City University of New York (CUNY) that includes the groundbreaking transfer information tool Transfer Explorer (T-Rex). The ACT Project, which is currently expanding inside and outside of New York, seeks to increase the visibility of and number of transfer course equivalencies and to help students count more of their credits toward their degree programs. Prior to joining Ithaka S+R, Emily served for eight years at Tulsa Community College in a number of leadership roles including Director of Academic Affairs Projects, Director of University Transfer, and Library Director. During her time at TCC, she served as co-lead for the Tulsa Transfer Project and a committee chair for the Tulsa Higher Education Task Force both of which sought to improve collaborative relationships between seven higher education institutions in the Tulsa region and improve outcomes for transfer students. She served as a Board Member and Chair of the Strategy Oversight Committee for the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium. 

Connect with Emily on LinkedIn!

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Ithaka S+R and follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Learn more about TCC’s University Transfer Programs
• Check out the TN Talks episode Librarians as #TransferChampions 
• Media Recommendation: Yellowjackets (TV series on Showtime)
• Shout-outs: Tulsa Higher Ed Consortium! Colleagues and team members at: Tulsa CC! Tulsa Transfer Project! CUNY! Ithaka S+R!

#TulsaCC #TulsaTransfer #TransferExplorer #NISTS2023

Show Credits
Host | Dr. Heather AdamsGuest | Emily Tichenor
Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez
Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

Dr. Heather Adams sits down with Dr. Darla Cooper, Executive Director of The RP Group, to dig into the findings of previous and ongoing research aimed at identifying the barriers students face while navigating transfer pathways within the California Community College system.

About Our Guest

Dr. Darla M. Cooper currently serves as the Executive Director for the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group). She has worked in the California Community College system for over 20 years, having previously held institutional research director positions at Santa Barbara City College, Oxnard College, and Ohlone College. 

Dr. Cooper led Student Support (Re)defined, a landmark research project that examined what supports student success, and co-directed Through the Gate, a research study that examines what happens with students who appear ready to transfer, but do not. She recently served as one of the coaches for the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Pathways Project. Dr. Cooper has extensive experience serving as an external evaluator for several federal and private foundation grants and has worked on various other projects designed to promote student success including the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and the RP Group’s Bridging Research Information and Culture (BRIC) initiative. 

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about The RP Group and sign up for their newsletter
• Review The RP Group’s Through the Gate Initiative
• Review The RP Group’s African American Transfer Tipping Point Study 
• For information on all previous and ongoing initiatives, check out The RP Group’s project page 
• Media Recommendation: Abbott Elementary (on ABC & Hulu)
• Shout-outs: The RP Group team!!

#TransferResearch #TransferData #CommunityCollege #TheRPGroup #NISTS2023

Show Credits

Host | Dr. Heather Adams

Guest | Dr. Darla Cooper

Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

Tea on Transfer is the monthly scoop on all things Transfer in a condensed format. We cover important transfer news, discuss pressing topics with special guests, and spotlight community recommendations and shoutouts. This month we are joined by Bernard Huggins, Associate Director of the University of Central Florida’s Transfer Center! Bernard and Heather share what they are focused on this month in Transfer and debrief their trip to #NISTS2023. 

About Our Hosts

Dr. Heather Adams Ed.D. is the senior manager at The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, leading the development of transfer engagement initiatives. She is also the founder and CEO of Transfer Nation. Dr. Adams earned an A.A. in Psychology from Santa Monica College and transferred to UCLA, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

Bernard Huggins is the Associate Director of the University of Central Florida Transfer Center. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Valencia College and a Bachelor of Science degree from UCF. Bernard received his master's degree in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and he is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at UCF.

Resources Mentioned

• UCF Transfer Appreciation Day 2023 
• National Student Clearinghouse Transfer, Mobility, and Progress Report March 2023
• Higher Ed Dive article covering the Clearinghouse Report 
• NISTS Conference 
  • Special recommendation to check out: Reflect, Get Set, Connect: Conference Takeaways and Closing Remarks | Rachel Fulton, Sandra Dika, and Anthea Henderson 
• Nominate a NISTS Transfer Student Ambassador!!!
• Media Recommendations: 
  • Bernard: Swarm (film)
  • Heather: Rising Class (book) by Jennifer Miller
    • Terrific non-fiction narrative that follows three first-generation college students navigating their first year of college! Wonderful read for advisors, staff and others who work with first-gen students and a perfect gift for a first-gen college student!

#TeaOnTransfer #TransferTea #TransferResources #UCFTransferConnect #TransferAppreciationDay #NISTS2023

Let us know what you want to see in the next Tea on Transfer episode by sharing your thoughts and suggestions on any of our social media!

Show Credits

Hosts | Dr. Heather Adams, Bernard Huggins

Producers | Samantha Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

Tea on Transfer is back! We asked the TN community what they thought about the term ‘transfer shock’ and this month we’re talking about it! In this episode, we will cover: the term’s origin, how it has evolved, and how transfer professionals can best support students during their transitional period at both the sending and receiving institutions.

About Our Hosts

Dr. Heather Adams Ed.D. is the senior manager at The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, leading the development of transfer engagement initiatives. She is also the founder and CEO of Transfer Nation. Dr. Adams earned an A.A. in Psychology from Santa Monica College and transferred to UCLA, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

Emily Kittrell is the assistant director at the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS). She previously held roles in testing, registration, and student orientation at a primarily transfer-sending, two-year campus. Emily earned a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas and a master of science degree in Family Studies from the University of Kentucky.

Resources Mentioned

• Read Inside Higher Ed’s Beyond Transfer blog article on Transfer Shock: Myth or Reality by Kerstin Gentsch, Sarah Truelsch, Yoshiko Oka, and Alexandra W. Logue
• Review one of the first mentions of ‘transfer shock’ in this 1965 paper by John R. Hills on The Academic Performance of the Junior College Transfer
• Read about prior perspectives and processes surrounding Transfer Student Adjustment (Laanan, 2001)
• Check out the A2B team’s NISTS Conference 2023 presentations on transfer reform and faculty engagement. Presentation slides will be available in the NISTS Conference Archives later this spring.
• Check out Inside Higher Ed’s Higher Ed Gamma blog
• Check out the Survival Guide to Transfer Shock by Diane Dominique Perez, UCSD, Class of 2020
• Review a research paper on transfer shock and graduation rates among engineering students (Smith et al., Journal of Engineering Education, 2021)

#TeaOnTransfer #TransferTea #TransferResources

Let us know what you want to see in the next Tea on Transfer episode by sharing your thoughts and suggestions on any of our social media!

Show Credits

Hosts | Dr. Heather Adams, Emily Kittrell

Producers | Samantha Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

In this week’s episode, TNTalks sits down with returning interview guest, Dr. Kelly Coke, to talk about higher education and transfer in rural communities. In this hour-long conversation, we hear about Dr. Coke’s personal transfer student and professional journey and discuss the challenges and unique circumstances faced by rural students in the higher education sphere.

About Our Guest
Dr. Kelly Coke earned her doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Administration from Abilene Christian University in 2021. Dr. Coke currently serves as Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at an agency in Texas. Her previous positions include Instructor of Adult Education and Leadership Studies, Program Coordinator of Bachelor of General Studies, and Director of (Off Campus) Programs for A&M-Texarkana at Northeast Texas Community College and Paris Junior College.

Resources Mentioned

• Read Dr. Kelly Coke’s dissertation on Understanding the Barriers East Texas Community College Student Experience in Transferring to a Regional University (2021)
• Read this article on Making Transfer Work for Rural Students and Communities by Gelsey Mehl on the Inside Higher Ed Beyond Transfer blog
• Check out Tracking Transfer for annually updated transfer (degree and enrollment) data

#RuralTransfers #TransferCommunity #TransferAdvocacy

Communities Within the Transfer Community: This episode is part of a TNTalks series focused on acknowledging the diversity within the transfer experience and spotlighting student identities through an intersectional lens.

Show Credits

Host | Dr. Heather Adams

Guest | Dr. Kelly Coke

Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

Happy New Year, Transfer Nation! We’re kicking off 2023 by continuing our conversation with Alex Torrez - this time delving into community college advocacy. Community colleges have long served as a tool for transfer, and yet they are still underutilized and stigmatized. In this episode, Heather and Alex discuss how to help dispel the stigma, address and solve hidden obstacles, and educate students’ support networks on the legitimacy and benefits of a community college education.

Alexandra Torrez is currently a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow at the University of Virginia. After transferring from Las Positas College, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of California-Berkeley in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus in International Relations and Comparative Politics. At Berkeley, she served as the Transfer Director Chair for the Mixed at Berkeley Recruitment and Retention Center, which is a part of the bridges Multicultural Research Center. Alex is also the founder and director of Traditionally Untraditional, an organization dedicated to providing resources and opportunities to neo-traditional and transfer students.

Connect with Alex on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram!

Resources Mentioned

• Privilege Loss: Who Leaves the Upper Middle Class and How They Fall by Jessi Streib 
• Learn more about the UVA Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship
• Explore Traditionally Untraditional

• Learn more about bridges MRC and check them out on their social media
  • bridges MRC Instagram
  • bridges MRC Transfer Instagram
• Learn more about Mixed at Berkeley Recruitment and Retention Center (MRRC) on their website and check them out on their Instagram
• For students interested in international relations and intersecting careers, find support programs at Global CC Transfers

#TransferRentention #TransferCommunity #TransferAdvocacy #UCBerkeley

Communities Within the Transfer Community: This episode is part of a TNTalks series focused on acknowledging the diversity within the transfer experience and spotlighting student identities through an intersectional lens.

Show Credits

Host | Dr. Heather Adams

Guest | Alexandra Torrez

Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

In this episode, Alexandra Torrez details her personal transfer journey and how she discovered the value of community college and shares how she found community and resources through recruitment and retention programs for minoritized students at UC Berkeley. 

Alexandra Torrez is currently a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow at the University of Virginia. After transferring from Las Positas College, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of California-Berkeley in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus in International Relations and Comparative Politics. At Berkeley, she served as the Transfer Director Chair for the Mixed at Berkeley Recruitment and Retention Center, which is a part of the bridges Multicultural Research Center. Alex is also the founder and director of Traditionally Untraditional, an organization dedicated to providing resources and opportunities to neo-traditional and transfer students.

Connect with Alex on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram!

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about bridges MRC and check them out on their social media:
  • bridges MRC Instagram
  • bridges MRC Transfer Instagram
• Learn more about Mixed at Berkeley Recruitment and Retention Center (MRRC) on their website and check them out on their Instagram
• Explore Traditionally Untraditional
• For students interested in international relations and intersecting careers, find support programs at Global CC Transfers

Communities Within the Transfer Community: This episode is part of a TNTalks series focused on acknowledging the diversity within the transfer experience and spotlighting student identities through an intersectional lens.

#TransferRetention #TransferCommunity #TransferAdvocacy #UCBerkeley

Show Credits

Host | Dr. Heather Adams

Guest | Alexandra Torrez

Producers | Sam Kaplan, Brandon Rodríguez

Sound Editing | Abraham Urias

Keep talking with Transfer Nation

IG: @WeAreTransferNation

TikTok: @TransferNation

Twitter: @TransferPride

FB Group: Transfer Nation

Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com

Talk soon!

#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation