Episode 90 | Dr. Shakerra Carter, Vice President of Student Services, San Diego College of Continuing Education

In this excellent episode, Nancy is joined in the studio by Dr. Shakerra Carter, the Vice President of Student Services at the San Diego College of Continuing Education. The San Diego College of Continuing Education, is the non-credit division of the San Diego Community College District and operates on seven campuses.Hear Dr. Carter emphasize the institution's emphasis on free education, providing a variety of programs to assist a wide spectrum of learners, from welding to ESL. Serving almost 40,000 students, placing a strong emphasis on career education pathways, and offering a sizable ESL program for students who are immigrants or refugees are all part of the college's goal. Hear Dr. Carter emphasize the importance of higher education in retraining and equipping the populace, especially those from low-income backgrounds, for prosperous jobs. In addition, this episode discusses how accessible the classes are, stressing that anyone living in California is welcome to attend for free. Listeners are encouraged by Dr. Carter to investigate a range of classes, from short-term courses to options for lifelong learning such as photography or culinary arts.The college's open-entry, open-exit approach is also discussed as it accommodates diverse schedules and acknowledges the difficulties many students have in attending classes on a regular basis. Dr. Carter talks about her own experience, emphasizing how education helped her family break the cycle of poverty. An excellent episode on filling gaps in the community with Dr. Shakerra Carter. Here are some other takeaways from the interview:San Diego College of Continuing Education's commitment to free education, career pathways, and supporting low-income community members.Initiatives like food pantries, housing options, and childcare support address students' basic needs and contribute to a holistic educational experience.Dr. Carter's personal journey highlights the transformative impact of education in breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering social and economic mobility.The answers to the rapid-fire questionsAn excellent interview from a passionate gap minder. Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your contributions in San Diego, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show.If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.