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Ed. Magazine

Dare to Dream: William Trueheart

William TrueheartSoon after William Trueheart, Ed.D.'79, finished his undergraduate degree, he had dreams of being a businessman. But when he met a high school teacher who asked him to mentor some low-income students of color in Connecticut, his future aspirations changed. During the mentorship, Trueheart watched the students' attitudes and grades improve, and he encouraged them to apply to four-year universities. In the end, the students were each rejected, opening Trueheart's eyes to the reality of higher education in America. "I was touched by this experience and inspired by these students, who turned their lives around and [had become] excited about learning, only to experience that deep sense of rejection, especially after they had worked so hard," Trueheart says. "Unfortunately, more often than not, there are things happening [in] students' [lives] that institutions don't fully recognize." As a result of that experience, Trueheart has dedicated much of his 45-year career to education in roles ranging from president of Bryant University to associate secretary of Harvard University in its Office of Governing Boards to president and chief executive officer of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. The latest incarnation is as president and chief executive officer for Achieving the Dream, Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that helps community college students, particularly students of color and low-income students, stay in school and earn certificates or degrees. "What most people don't realize is nearly 50 percent of students enrolled in post-secondary education are in community colleges," he says. "A high percentage are low income and students of color." Unfortunately, while many of these students earned their high school diplomas, many are not prepared to take on college work. "There's a lot of talent being wasted each year because we haven't invested wisely in helping those students prepare for college well," he says. "We believe it's an obligation of community colleges to help students who come into the doors become college ready as efficiently and quickly as possible." Achieving the Dream focuses specifically on helping community colleges serving low-income students in urban and rural areas build support resources for students. Trueheart explains that the goal is to determine ways to help low-income students of color succeed in college and earn certificates or degrees of some kind, by directing private dollars to these institutions. For example, by sending out leadership and data coaches to community college campuses, Achieving the Dream helps faculty and administrators build institutional research capacity and data analysis to track what's happening in the classroom and with student support. Ultimately, this information aids community colleges in making informed decisions about which practices to adopt or abandon. "Community colleges have been underresourced for a number of years and underappreciated," he says. "They have been doing extraordinary work, and there are lots of excellent teachers and administrators helping students who are not as prepared as they should be. I believe it is urgent, and if we don't begin to turn around the rates of completion and success for our students of color, then we are a weak nation."

Ed. Magazine

The magazine of the Harvard Graduate School of Education

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