Four questions with Vice President B. Donta Truss

July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)

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B. Donta Truss, left, and Michelle Rhodes, associate vice president for Financial Aid, record the first episode of 'The Pathways Project' podcast. Episodes center on partnerships and strategies to increase college access and student success.

The Division of Enrollment Development and College Futures has launched a podcast dedicated to the stories, strategies and partnerships that drive college access and student success. 

Below, Vice President B. Donta Truss discusses "The Pathways Project Podcast" and why it fits within the division's enrollment strategies. The podcast will soon drop its third episode. Tune in and catch up by listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

Why did you want to establish a podcast?
I've always believed that some of the best ideas in education come from conversations. Every day, there are educators, practitioners and leaders doing incredible work to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for students, but too often those stories stay within a single institution or community.

The Pathways Project Podcast creates a space to share those conversations more broadly. My goal is to highlight the people and partnerships who are making a difference, explore the challenges we're all navigating, and provide practical insights that others can adapt in their own work. If we can learn from one another and elevate approaches that are helping students succeed, we can strengthen educational pathways for more learners.

There have been two episodes. What’s the engagement been like?
It’s off to a good start! We’re seeing a lot of views on the shorter clips we post to YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. Our intention from the beginning was to create episodes at 20 minutes or less so they’d be more digestible for busy professionals, students and families. Our first episode was under 20 minutes long and had over 100 listens across all platforms.

How does the podcast fit into other enrollment development strategies?
Enrollment development is about much more than recruitment; it's about creating meaningful pathways that support students from their earliest educational experiences through college completion and beyond. The podcast reflects that philosophy.

Our division is committed to building strong partnerships with K-12 schools, community organizations and higher education colleagues while advancing conversations around access, affordability, belonging and student success. The podcast extends that work beyond campus by connecting with leaders who are thinking creatively about these issues and sharing ideas that can benefit educators everywhere.

It's also an opportunity to position Grand Valley as a thought partner in conversations about the future of education and enrollment. By bringing together diverse perspectives and highlighting innovative work, we hope to contribute to the broader dialogue about how we better serve students and communities.

What will future episodes cover?
Future episodes will continue exploring the full student journey and the many factors that shape educational opportunity and success. We'll feature conversations with leaders from K-12 education and Grand Valley who are advancing innovative ideas and pushing for meaningful change.

Topics will include college access and affordability, student belonging and persistence, leadership, partnerships between schools and universities, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, workforce readiness and strategies that help students navigate successful transitions throughout their educational journey.

At its core, The Pathways Project Podcast is about learning from one another. I hope listeners come away with new ideas and a renewed commitment to expanding opportunity for students wherever they are.

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