New Podcast Puts CCLEAD Doctoral Students in the Spotlight

Lawson L. Hardrick-Cervantes (’23) spent the summer after earning his master’s degree working as an administrative support coordinator in San Diego State University’s Ed.D. in Community College Leadership program (CCLEAD). The position was short-lived, as this fall he was hired on full time as a Student Support Services Officer, coordinating activities of a Title III HSI STEM grant, also known as Yo Soy STEM, at San Diego City College. 

But Hardrick-Cervantes is leaving something behind at his alma mater — a new podcast series that he hopes will provide inspiration and motivation for aspiring doctoral students. 

In August, he dropped his first episode of CCLEAD Scholars, which shares the stories of accomplished students in the program as they talk about their academic, career and personal pathways.

“The ultimate goal is that, hopefully, it will keep the students in the program inspired,” Hardrick-Cervantes, who was named outstanding graduate from the Postsecondary Educational Leadership, Specialization in Student Affairs (PELSA) masters program. 

“This might also provide students with names of people who they can reach out to and possibly build connections with. For aspiring doctoral students like me, it’s a chance to meet more people doing this type of work and can have an opportunity to understand what it takes.”

The first guest was Michael Wickert, the director of Teacher Education at Southwestern College. Hardrick-Cervantes has recorded two other episodes that have yet to be released.

And even though he’s left SDSU, he doesn’t sound ready to step away from the mic anytime soon.

“I'm gonna keep on working on it,” Hardrick-Cervantes. “And I'm excited because there are so many people that need to be on this show because people need to be able to hear their stories and understand what kind of work they do.

“It just hits differently to listen to someone's voice and their passion, and how it is that they approach their work.”

Follow CCLEAD Scholars on Instagram and listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.