Jeffrey Milem , Professor and Jules Zimmer Dean's Chair of The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UCSB

Our guest for this episode is a familiar voice on Schooled Radio: Dean Jeffrey Milem! While we've previously focused on his role as Dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, in this episode we talk about his primary focus as a researcher, which is equity in higher education. With new cases before the Supreme Court, we talk with Jeff about what's at stake.

Dr. Jeffrey Milem’s research focuses on the ways in which colleges and universities can be organized to enhance equity, access, and success for all students. With his colleagues Mitchell Chang and Anthony Antonio, he co-authored Making Diversity Work on Campus: A Research Based Perspective, published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, which translates research demonstrating the educational benefits of diversity to develop a “roadmap” for college leaders of the conditions that must be in place if they are to maximize the opportunities for teaching and learning that racial diversity provides. Milem contributed to two of the three books that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor cited in her majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger as being influential in helping to document the university’s claim regarding the educational benefits of diversity. He also worked closely on amicus briefs for both iterations of the Fisher v. Texas case.

As a widely recognized expert in the area of racial dynamics in higher education, Dr. Jeffrey Milem has been commissioned to do research by numerous groups including, the Harvard Civil Rights Project and the American Educational Research Association’s Panel on Racial Dynamics in Higher Education. He also worked with the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education and the American Council on Education to present a series of technical assistance workshops on affirmative action and college admissions. Professor Milem has given speeches and/or provided consultation on racial dynamics to different national education organizations as well as various public and private higher education institutions across the country.

Bits of Music You May Notice: Yo La Tengo, "Georgia Vs. Yo La Tengo," Lyle Lovett, "It Ought to Be Easier," Neko Case, "Star Witness."

This episode was first broadcast on KCSB-FM 91.9 on December 15, 2022.