My farewell to the Campaign for College Opportunity

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

-Henry David Thoreau-

Political science scholars call the area in between policy and research the “brokering space.” It is the space where brokers can bring policy-relevant questions to researchers and take policy-relevant research to policymakers. Early on in my Ph.D. process, I identified the brokering space as the space for my career, even if most of my peers were headed for tenure and peer-review. Five years ago, Michele Siqueiros took a chance and gave this nerd a place to use the skills he learned in the ivory tower to help create real-world change. I could not be more grateful that she did.

Over the past five years, the team at the Campaign for College Opportunity published landmark publications on diversity, equity, and inclusion for Latinx, Black, underrepresented Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI), and American Indian/Alaska Native students in California’s colleges and universities. We marshaled data to show which colleges and universities in the state were providing a payoff for the students, and research to show that even reaching a 60% attainment goal, but doing so with equity, would raise incomes and revenues by billions of dollars each year. We spoke truth to power, calling out the whiteness of California’s higher education leadership. In response to a disastrous decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that dramatically curtailed the ability of colleges and universities to consider students’ racial/ethnic backgrounds in admissions, we launched a research-based response that earned us a sterling reputation in circles beyond those where the Campaign is usually recognized. Watching our teams and our partners use the 28 publications, plus the nearly two-dozen published and in-press EIA briefs, that we have produced since I arrived at the Campaign to advocate for change to policy and practice has been a gift.

It has been my privilege to lead the research functions at the Campaign through this period. I am grateful to have watched as David Drummer has grown his knowledge base and honed his skillset as a research analyst in ways that have impressed everybody who has worked with him. I learned a great deal from David. The ability to mentor research fellows as they gain first-hand experience translating research to policy has provided consistent rewards. They are too numerous to name, but their painstaking work allowed us to accomplish what we did. Amber Roman was not part of the research department, but she brought my research to life with great design. I have been blessed with tremendous co-authors. Michele challenged and improved my analyses, Audrey Dow was ruthless with my writing, Jessie Ryan sharpened my recommendations, and David provided both thought partnership and excellent analysis.

I am also proud to note that so many of our publications were taken on in support of our partners. Follow the Money, which documented funding disparities by students’ racial/ethnic backgrounds, was taken on in support of our friends at A2MEND. We published the State of Higher Education for Latinx and Black Angelenos in support of our partners at Greater Public Schools Now. I am grateful to those partners for trusting me with their research questions and for everything I learned by working with them.

This position has also opened doors for me to bring my research perspective to state policy directly. As a member of the Cradle2Career Commission’s Data and Tools Advisory Board, I have been able to help shape and influence the trajectory of California’s longitudinal education data system. I served on the advisory body to the Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA) Affairs Commission, ensuring that the Commission was able to use our report on Asian American and NHPI students to secure entitlement funding for Cal State University and Community College Campuses serving large populations of Asian American and NHPI students. As an advisor to the UC Regents Taskforce on Institutional Growth, I got to tell the Regents of the University of California that they don’t need to add 20,000 seats, they need to add 120,000 seats if they are truly going to meet their obligations in ensuring we meet a 70% attainment goal with equity. That was a fun day!

I am also grateful to the Campaign for uplifting my work and accomplishments. Katrina Linden and Michele wrote letters to nominate me for the Diverse Issues 2022 Emerging Scholar award. Estela Bensimon nominated me for the Teachers College Early Career Impact Award. Few people have the experience of being part of a team that enables them to do great work, then asks the world to recognize it. My heart fills each time I look at those frames.

As the Campaign begins its next phase, I find myself called to a different drumbeat. The Campaign’s mission is still my mission, and our music will always be in harmony. The book I am working on builds on the work we have done together, and the professional endeavors I am pursuing will always echo the ethos of the Campaign for College Opportunity.

I step away with gratitude for all I have learned and accomplished over the past five years and a confidence that our paths will cross again. The Campaign that I was a part of will always have a special place in my heart and on my CV. I wish you all the best as you all as you carry forward the work and help craft a more inclusive California.

Vikash Reddy, Ph.D., was the author of this goodbye.