Higher Education Attainment
The Higher Education Attainment spoke focuses on increasing participation and completion rates of all women in Utah, including at the certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate levels. This also includes a specific focus on women from marginalized populations. Although increasing the rates of postsecondary attainment is important for all residents—including men—it is critical to consider future initiatives and initiatives by gender. This spoke will include affiliates and participants across the state with all institutions of higher learning. It will also include additional voices, initiatives, and organizations that focus on increasing rates of women attending immediately after high school (particularly women of color), retaining female students, removing barriers, supporting completion, encouraging reengagement, and increasing aspirations for graduate education among Utah women and girls.
Spoke Leaders
Laís Martinez
Assistant Commissioner, USHE
LinkedIn Profile
Laís Martinez is the Assistant Commissioner for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Utah System of Higher Education. She leads the Utah Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Commissioner in increased EDI awareness and training.
Neelam Chand
Founder & CEO, Shift SLC
LinkedIn Profile
Neelam Chand, Founder and CEO of Shift SLC, is a co-champion for the Postsecondary Outcomes Network for Promise Partnership Utah. The Promise Partnership unites a variety of entities to transform the educational environment for Utah kids.
Shawn Newell
Consultant, Waves Consulting
LinkedIn Profile
Shawn Newell is a consultant, coach, and trainer of Waves Consulting and a co-champion for the Postsecondary Outcomes Network for Promise Partnership Utah. The Promise Partnership unites a variety of entities to transform the educational environment for Utah kids.
Bryn Ramjoue
Marketing Director, my529
LinkedIn Profile
Bryn Ramjoue’ Marketing Director for my529, Utah’s college savings plan. She serves on the CSPN Communications Committee. Her own SEM includes Who’s Who, a 40 under 40, a marketing person of the year, and a 30 Women to Watch.
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Higher Education Attainment spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below. Spoke leadership and UWLP team members are currently working to collect baseline data that will assist in adding numbers to the changes we want to see by 2026 and 2030.
Vision: Boldly increase the participation and completion rates of Utah women at the certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate levels.
Goals:
- Increase the college-going rate of female high school grads 1.5% by 2026 and 3.0% by 2030. [Metric]
- Increase female students’ ability to pay the cost of attendance. [Metric forthcoming]
- Increase female student’s timely completion of degrees and awards 1.5% by 2026 and 3.0% by 2030. [Metric]
- Increase the completion rate of women in programs aligned with high-wage, high-demand jobs 4% by 2026 and 8% by 2030. [Metric Forthcoming]
- Increase Utahn’s perceptions that the value of higher education includes economic opportunity, intellectual growth, personal development, and life-long societal contributions. [Data forthcoming]
- Improve Utahn’s attitudes about the importance of inclusion efforts in higher education. [Data forthcoming]
- Improve Utahn’s perceptions of the importance of Utah women completing graduate degrees. [Data forthcoming]
- Increase Utahn’s level of agreement that women of color student face more barriers when pursuing careers in high wage, high demand fields. [Data forthcoming]
Partners
Single Mothers Working Group
- Lead: Emily Martin (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Philanthropies Department)
Women’s Centers Working Group
- Co-Lead: Rachel Lund (Utah Valley University)
- Co-Lead: Paige Davies (Weber State University)