Nancy Lee Sanchez is Selling the Dream of Education

Today we are talking about diversity, inclusion, and helping students and professionals pursue their dreams. Nancy Lee Sanchez turned her own journey navigating the American educational system into a career that benefits thousands of students today. From working in a sweatshop at the age of 13 to earning her Masters from Brooklyn College, Nancy’s story is one of resilience, determination, and inspiration.

 

Nancy is the Executive Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation. She has over 18 years of expertise providing greater access to higher education. Moreover, Nancy has been a champion for improving the college experience and supporting leadership among low income, non-traditional, and underrepresented students. Nancy’s educational journey started at Kingsborough Community College. After earning her AAS there, she went on to earn a BA from Long Island University and an MA from Brooklyn College.

 

Stay tuned to learn what it means to be in the business of “selling a dream,” and just how Nancy and the Kaplan Educational Foundation are making higher education accessible and thoughtful.

 

In This Episode

• Common struggles for immigrant students
• The importance of diversity and inclusion
• Leveraging educational institutions
• Education beyond the classroom
• Selling the dream and living the dream

 

Quotes in This Episode

“Many people believe that in Puerto Rico English is taught to the point that you become proficient. But in reality, I lived in the countryside and that wasn’t true.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

“I don’t remember ever [having] conversations about college, and that was because so many of us and our families were in this survival mode.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

“I remember thinking of my mom as ‘Rosie the Riveter’...I just felt like I knew so many ‘Rosie the Riveters’...They were always working. You know, women of color especially and in many communities that have been disenfranchised, women have really always contributed to the economy.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

“I don’t want people to be in survival mode, I want people to thrive.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

“Last night I was on my Facebook, and I had one of my students take a picture in LA and he said, ‘I’m on top of the world’ and this is a young man, an urban youth, New York city raw talent–many people have dismissed him–but he really wants to bring sustainable farming [to cities.]” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

“There will always be injustice. I want to live in a world where that doesn’t exist, but what do you do when there is injustice?” —Nancy Lee Sanchez

 

Resources

Nancy Lee Sanchez on LinkedIn

The Kaplan Educational Foundation

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