The Rural College Student Experience

Mar 15 2024 18 ep. 49 mins 2

The Rural College Student Experience Podcast artwork

The Rural College Student Experience is the first and only podcast dedicated exclusively to centering rural college student voices in conversations about higher education access and equity. This podcast is a space for rural students to share their stories, inspire others, and challenge the misconceptions about rural college students.

Hosted by Dr. Matt Newlin (mattnewlin.com), RCSE features student guests —a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student from a rural background—who shares their experiences navigating college. Together, we discuss the barriers and challenges rural students face, as well as the resilience, strengths, and successes that define our journeys.

Find us on Bluesky: @rcsepod.bsky.social

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Washington University Heartland Initiative

Mar 15 2024 52 mins

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host Mallorie Goodwin to discuss the Heartland Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. Mallorie is a sophomore at Wash U and grew up in Waynesville, Missouri, about two hours west of St. Louis. She is also a Rural Peer Ambassador working to increase enrollment and belonging for other rural students. Joining Matt and Mallori

Mental Health in Rural Spaces

Feb 21 2024 45 mins

On this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Andrew Wichert to discuss mental health in rural spaces. Andrew comes from Northeastern Ohio and is attending Kent State University. He is currently working on his Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology. After completing his degrees, Andrew plans on continuing with his Bachelor of Technical and

The Rural Working-Class Identity

Feb 05 2024 53 mins

On this episode, creator/host Dr. Matt Newlin discusses the rural working-class identity with co-host Samuel Locklear. Samuel was born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina and is a first-generation working-class college student. He is currently attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke pursuing a degree in Nursing. Joining Samuel and Matt in this discussion is Dr. Mi

SPOTLIGHT: Small Town to Campus Conference

May 24 2023 26 mins

Thank you for listening to this special SPOTLIGHT episode of the Rural College Student Experience. On today’s episode, we have a very special guest, Madison Mellinger. Madison is a senior at Princeton University and is from Chambersburg, PA. She is studying in the School of Public and International Affairs with a focus on education and environmental policy, particularly as such p

Admissions Essays for Rural Students

Apr 25 2023 58 mins

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Rural College Student Experience. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you'll know when a new episode is available. Also, please follow us on Twitter (@rcsepod) and share ideas for future episodes. This episode we’re talking about admissions applications and essays for rural students. Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by co-host is Jay Kauffin. Jay a

Rural College Access & Retention

Apr 04 2023 50 mins

We're back with a new, exciting episode talking about a critical topic in rural education: college access and retention. The intention of this podcast is elevating and amplifying rural student voices in conversations about higher education. Students from rural high schools are significantly less likely to enroll in postsecondary education compared to their non-rural peers. Roughly

Episode #12: The Rural Identity in K-12 Education

Nov 18 2022 52 mins

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Rural College Student Experience. Today, co-host Sara Wiggington joins host Dr. Matt Newlin to talk about the rural identity in K-12 spaces and how that can impact rural students' postsecondary experiences. Sara is a Master’s degree student at Purdue University who also teaches 4th grade at Green Meadows Intermediate in Frankfort, Indiana. Sara attend

Rural Broadband Access: A Panel Discussion with Lead for America Fellows

Sep 26 2022 43 mins

The Rural College Student Experience is back with another special episode. In Episode 11, host Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by an incredible panel of Lead for America fellows who are serving in rural Kentucky and Appalachia. Lead for America fellows are dedicated to tackling the critical challenges facing the places they call home. All three of our panelists are doing wonderful things

Episode 10: College Access Programs for Rural Students

Sep 06 2022 49 mins

We’re back after a brief hiatus with a brand new episode! In the latest episode, we discuss college access programs serving rural and small town communities. College access organizations are integral to increasing postsecondary enrollment for historically underrepresented students, including low-income, first-generation, and students of color. Unfortunately, there are few college

Episode 9: Catalyzing Change in Rural Spaces

Jul 19 2022 45 mins

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Rural College Student Experience. In this episode, host Dr. Matt Newlin and his guests talk about how to create and foster change at rural serving institutions. In our culture, rural communities are often seen as being “backward,” “conservative,” and “slow to change,” but those myths – along with the idea that all rural communities are the