Zakiya Smith Ellis
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This year, get Mom the gift that lasts: An education to help her succeed in the human work economy
May 9, 2021
On Mother’s Day we pause to consider the vital role women and mothers play in not just in our own lives, but in holding our society together. But in this unprecedented year, we should do more than celebrate and give thanks. In too many ways, the past year has been devastating for women — working
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In support of a clear, shared definition of college affordability
Nov. 16, 2017
College affordability—two simple words. Two critically important, yet distressingly hollow words. Policymakers, college administrators, and student advocates all use this term, but no one seems to precisely define what it means or what achieving it would look like.
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In Support of a Clear and Common Definition of College Affordability
July 19, 2017
Strategy Director for Finance and Federal Policy Zakiya Smith offers a clear definition of "college affordability" using Lumina's Affordability Benchmark.
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The sad truth about the student debt crisis: Policymakers still don’t get it
Aug. 8, 2016
I’ve sat with many policymakers in my career. I’ve seen them strategize solutions to make education more accessible, increase levels of college completion, and reduce the burden of student loan debt. But they’re missing something when it comes to student debt…
