Episode 7.6: Education inequalities and student mental health
Krista Soria outlines ways to help first-generation and working-class students succeed in their academic careers
BY Danae Lenz and Leigh Cooper
Photo by University Visual Productions
April 14, 2024
Meet Krista Soria, an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Counseling at University of Idaho. Her research focuses on the conditions that help students to learn, thrive and grow and how colleges and universities can create campus climates that support students from diverse backgrounds. She is discussing inequalities in higher education, the lasting effects of COVID-19 on students’ mental health and what faculty members can do to help.
Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.
What types of things do you imagine are harder for first-generation students to navigate while attending college, versus their peers whose parents also attended?
Soria has turned her personal challenges into a mission to make higher education more accessible and inclusive. As a first-gen college student from a rural, working-class background, Soria knows firsthand the hurdles that come with navigating higher ed without a guidebook. She opens up about battling imposter syndrome and finding her way through the academic maze, fueled by sheer determination and a passion for making a difference. Soria’s own experience with multiple sclerosis has shaped her advocacy for universal instructional design, ensuring students with disabilities get the support they need. She discusses the structural inequalities in higher education, emphasizing the need for institutions to be “student-ready,” pushing for policies that clear the path for underrepresented students to succeed. Whether it’s tackling mental health challenges or addressing basic needs insecurities, Soria champions compassion, consistency and assignments that truly matter. The conversation concludes with practical steps Soria has taken to support students, such as providing free e-books, using trauma-informed teaching methods, offering flexible deadlines and fostering a compassionate learning environment. Her efforts are rooted in a deep understanding of the barriers faced by marginalized students and a commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive academic experience.
Music
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified.
“Discovery Never Ends” by Brendan Warren Burns via Amphibious Zoo.