EP161: Beyond the Politics: A New Way to Talk About Equity and Access, with Dr. Kyle Reyes

Dec 18, 2025

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Meet Dr. Kyle Reyes, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and former Chief Inclusion Officer at Utah Valley University, whose work sits at the intersection of student success, cultural understanding, and leadership in politically charged times.

In this episode, Reyes explores his groundbreaking framework from his book Lenses of Humanity: How Reflection, Connection, and Empathy Can Heal Our World. Drawing from his own lived experience as a former college dropout and first-generation student advocate, Reyes offers a powerful roadmap for navigating higher education's most difficult conversations – especially amid national DEI rollbacks.

His discussion with The EDU Ledger host Ralph Newell also unpacks how campuses can continue to support students when identity-based programs are dismantled, why empathy and genuine inquiry matter more than ever, and what it truly means to lead with humanity in polarized environments.

Tune in as Reyes dives into the shifting landscape of student support and practical frameworks for educators in higher education despite political pressures.

KEY POINTS:

Reyes's journey from struggling student and graffiti artist to higher-ed leader
How his mixed-race upbringing shaped his work in intercultural understanding
The origin of Lenses of Humanity and why reframing DEI through humanity is essential
Navigating anti-DEI legislation (while still supporting students effectively)
The power of storytelling, empathy, and genuine inquiry to bridge ideological divides
The role of institutional culture and cross-training in a post-DEI environment
Why identity-based support still matters; and how to sustain it without labels
The future of TRIO, GEAR UP, and federally funded access programs
Student resilience and the need for holistic advocacy in higher ed

QUOTABLES:

"Students can perceive care, and they know authentic care when they see it." – Dr. Kyle Reyes

"I wanted to dedicate my career to helping students become authors of their own stories." – Dr. Kyle Reyes

"This is not some radical agenda. This is a humanity-based effort." – Dr. Kyle Reyes

GUEST RESOURCES:

Dr. Kyle A. Reyes - Lenses of Humanity

LINK TO SPECIAL BOOK OFFER:

Purchase The Student Debt Crisis from The EDU Ledger Shop today and receive a signed copy, while supplies last, and a one-year digital subscription to The EDU Ledger. Link: https://shop.theeduledger.com/site/?product=the-student-debt-crisis

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by The EDU Ledger and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).