'1 in 5' Episode 3: Meet Michaela Martin - Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Michaela Martin was born and raised in rural Oregon and is currently pursuing a J.D. in Southern California to strengthen her ability to engage in public interest work. Michaela is passionate about the economic and educational advancement of families and continues advocating to foster pathways of success for others.

Despite dropping out of high-school and becoming a single mother, Michaela graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Speech Communication and a minor in Psychology.

During her time at OSU, she served as the Assistant Director of Advocacy Programs, was appointed as vice-chair of the Oregon State University Family Services Advisory Board, and was awarded the Ford Opportunity Scholarship.

Her efforts culminated in the Oregon Senate Bill 794—a bill she successfully introduced in the 2019 legislative session. It would require colleges and universities to collect and report on the enrollment and graduation rates of student parents. SB794 was co-sponsored by 21 bipartisan legislators and endorsed by six non-profit organizations.

Listen

You can read the episode transcript here.

Resources

The Ford Foundation is an international philanthropic group that seeks to end poverty and injustice and advance human achievement. They offer grants and scholarships to college students who face financial hardships.

Child Care Aware of America works to ensure that every family in the United States has access to a high-quality, affordable child care system through advocacy, research and public policy. Their state-by-state tool can be used to find resources available in your state.

National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is an international network of professionals that works with students who are seeking postsecondary education. Their podcast, College Admissions Decoded, features in-depth interviews with admissions professionals from across the country.