The transition from foster care into higher education is a critical — and often overlooked — stage in a student’s journey. In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, hosts Dr. Dusty Palmer and Dr. Stephanie Barbre explore how colleges and universities can play a vital role in helping foster-connected students access, persist in, and complete their degrees.
Joining the conversation is Ariana Hernandez, M.Ed., Director of the Raider Relief & Advocacy Center at Texas Tech University, along with Cindy Garza, M.S., Program Coordinator and Foster Care Liaison for the Fostering the Future initiative. Together, they share how coordinated campus supports — including tuition waiver guidance, emergency financial assistance, food and housing resources, mentorship, and community-building — help reduce barriers and promote student success.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges foster-connected students face in higher education, the importance of cross-campus collaboration, and the innovative strategies institutions can use to create pathways to belonging, stability, and long-term achievement.
This episode highlights how intentional support systems can transform college access into meaningful opportunity — helping foster-connected students not only enroll, but thrive.

This episode explores the lived experience of transitioning from foster care into adulthood through the story of a former foster youth who is now a working professional and graduate student. The conversation highlights the realities of aging out of care, the importance of supportive relationships, and the role of education in shaping long-term opportunities. 
Listeners will gain insight into how system experiences influence identity, how policies like the Texas foster care tuition waiver can support higher education access, and what improvements are still needed to better prepare youth for adulthood. The episode centers on resilience, advocacy, and practical ways professionals and communities can support foster-connected youth. 

In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, we welcome Dr. Selenda Cumby, Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and former foster caregiver, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of foster parenting.
This episode explores the lived experiences of foster parents, including what motivates individuals to foster, what daily life in a foster home looks like, and how foster families navigate relationships, trauma-informed care, and collaboration with schools and support systems. Dr. Cumby shares honest reflections on the challenges and rewards of foster care, along with real success stories that highlight the impact stable, caring adults can have in a child’s life.
Listeners will gain insight into foster parent sustainability, child well-being, and the importance of strong educational and community support for children in care. This episode is valuable for foster parents, educators, CASA volunteers, child welfare professionals, and anyone passionate about supporting youth in foster care.
If you care about foster care, child advocacy, education for foster youth, or strengthening outcomes for vulnerable children, this conversation offers both practical insight and inspiration.