LIVE from the 2026 Lumina Foundation State Policy Retreat - with Dr. Tristan Denley, Louisiana Board of Regents, & Dr. Zainab Okolo, The Jed Foundation (JED)
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RSS Feed RSS Feed Key Takeaways
- Dr. Tristan Denley discusses how the Louisiana Board of Regents achieved its ambitious 85,000 graduate goal four years ahead of schedule.
- Mental health continues to be identified as the number one reason students stop out of college before completing their degrees.
- Measuring true student success requires looking far beyond the traditional handshake at graduation to long-term life outcomes.
- Recorded live from the 2026 Lumina Foundation State Policy Retreat in Philadelphia, this episode highlights critical innovations in higher education policy.
- Dr. Zainab Okolo shares insights from The Jed Foundation regarding advocacy, policy, and student mental health support systems.
It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Tristan Denley, Deputy Commissioner, Academic Affairs & Innovation, Louisiana Board of Regents, & Dr. Zainab Okolo, Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations, The Jed Foundation (JED)
In this episode, recorded LIVE from the 2026 Lumina Foundation State Policy Retreat in Philadelphia,
YOUR host is Dr. Jodi Blinco
- What happens when a state reaches its 85,000 graduate goal 4 years early?
- Why is mental health the #1 reason students stop out of college?
- How do you measure student success beyond the handshake at graduation?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Louisiana Board of Regents accomplishing in higher education?
Led by figures like Dr. Tristan Denley, the Louisiana Board of Regents successfully reached its 85,000 graduate goal four years ahead of schedule through innovative academic affairs strategies.
Why do most students stop out of college?
Mental health challenges are cited as the number one reason students choose to stop out of college, making robust support systems essential for retention.
Who is featured in this episode of The EdUp Experience?
This episode features Dr. Tristan Denley from the Louisiana Board of Regents and Dr. Zainab Okolo from The Jed Foundation, recorded live from the 2026 Lumina Foundation State Policy Retreat and hosted by Dr. Jodi Blinco.
