‘1 in 5’ Episode 3: Meet Michaela Martin
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.
Student Parent Stories
Related Posts
As a former student parent and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor, I have been provided a myriad of platforms to elevate the student parent experience, and I a...
Today, Ascend is excited to announce our 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners, six organizations and institutions from across the country wh...
Ascend at the Aspen Institute today launched a report, A 2Gen Approach in Minnesota: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers, which deta...
The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or ...
An episode of firsts! Our first live episode recorded at the inaugural Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, CO in front of an audience of student...
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2023 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 20 leaders from across the United States who are transforming systems so...
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute announced that four community colleges from across the United States have been selected as partners to its Postse...
Snapshots from the 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, Colorado.
What does college success look like for Black and Native student parents? This podcast episode sheds light on student parents’ and administrators’...
100 Ascend Fellows will join the Aspen community for two afternoons of conversations aimed at Building Well-Being for Children and Families and Priori...
Ascend at the Aspen Institute is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund, which will provide financial resources and...
Reflections on the experiences, challenges, and joys that shape the life of student father and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor Christian Ortiz.
Among the one in five postsecondary students who are parents, there are close to 1.1 million student fathers. This chartbook synthesizes the available...
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) released the second season of “1 in 5,” its highly rated podcast that explores the multifaceted live...
On May 9, members of the Ascend team had the opportunity to visit Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico. Here are three takeaways from our site vis...