Jean Eddy, President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA) joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about empowering students through career exploration beginning in middle school. Jean highlights the ideas touched on in her new book, Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World.

We learn Jean's professional origin story, having spent most of her career in higher education supporting young people, starting in financial aid and working her way up to chief operating officer at a university before joining ASA. From there, we hear how ASA has pivoted its mission to get ahead of student debt issues by working with younger students (middle schoolers) on career exploration. Research has shown middle school is the best time to help students discover their interests and talents, then explore related careers and college options before the higher-pressure scenarios of high school. ASA uses digital platforms like its Futurescape and TikTok to engage millions of students each year in fun, relevant career-based learning.  

Jean advocates starting career conversations early, arming students with adaptable skills like communication and problem-solving, and exposing them to diverse, non-traditional pathways beyond the “college for all” mindset. With the right preparation and support, more students can find fulfilling futures that align with the evolving needs of our economy and society. Jean brings an empathetic, human-centered approach to empowering today’s learners while challenging education to reimagine how it prepares students for tomorrow’s world.

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