The Rural College Student Experience
The Rural College Student Experience is the first and only podcast dedicated exclusively to centering rural college student voices in conversations about higher education access and equity. This podcast is a space for rural students to share their stories, inspire others, and challenge the misconceptions about rural college students.
Hosted by Dr. Matt Newlin (mattnewlin.com), RCSE features student guests —a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student from a rural background—who shares their experiences navigating college. Together, we discuss the barriers and challenges rural students face, as well as the resilience, strengths, and successes that define our journeys.
Find us on Bluesky: @rcsepod.bsky.social
The Rural College Student Experience
Ep. 21 - Stephanie Zackery, New Mexico State University
“I have a Walmart Index of Rurality. One Walmart? You’re a decent-sized town. More than one? Okay, you’re big.”
In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Stephanie Zackery, a third-year, award-winning Counseling Psychology PhD student at New Mexico State University. Stephanie grew up in a no-stoplight town in rural Oklahoma and is now researching how mentorship shapes the college experience, especially for Black and Native American students from rural communities.
Stephanie shares her journey from a high school class of 24 to pursuing her doctorate, and how early leadership roles in 4-H and public speaking helped her build the confidence and skills to thrive. She opens up about the importance of natural mentors, the unique barriers rural students face, and the need for institutions to stop overlooking rural backgrounds on college applications.
Whether she’s talking about her “Walmart Index of Rurality” or patching up jeans with her grandmother, Stephanie brings humor, honesty, and deep insight to this conversation.
Stephanie is currently recruiting participants for her current research study on Black rural college students. Be sure to check out her work on LinkedIn and her website.