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

Dec 18, 2025

Dr. Kyle Reyes, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and former Chief Inclusion Officer at Utah Valley University, shares his journey from college dropout to advocate for first-generation students. He discusses his book, Lenses of Humanity, emphasizing the need to reframe equity discussions through empathy and connection. Reyes reveals practical strategies for supporting students amid anti-DEI legislation, advocating for a humanity-centric approach in education. He also reflects on the importance of resilience for educators and the impact of storytelling in fostering understanding.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Start With Questions About Family

Ask opponents about their children and what they want for them to find common ground and reveal shared human values.
Use that shared foundation to explain differentiated support for students rather than ideological framing.

ADVICE

Keep Institutional Culture Intact

If identity-based centers are restricted, maintain institutional culture so students still perceive authentic care and advocacy.
Explain allowable spaces (e.g., veteran or first-gen centers) to bridge understanding with legislators and donors.

ADVICE

Cross-Train Staff To Share The Burden

Cross-train frontline staff and faculty so support becomes collective rather than falling on a few individuals.
Encourage staff to do personal learning and immersion to competently support students from diverse backgrounds.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/The-EDU-Ledger

X/Twitter: https://x.com/TheEDULedger

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEDULedger

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheEDULedger

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@TheEDULedger

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/TheEDULedger.bsky.social

WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheEDULedger

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/).