Heather Wylie, a first generation college student from a low income, rural Northern California community, became a college professor in large part because of connections she made with individuals, ideas, and communities. In this talk, she challenges us to change the conversation from community colleges as places of last resort to institutions of innovation inspiration and social change.
Heather Wylie has a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and women’s studies in 1996 from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Heather spent two years mentoring youth on probation as an AmeriCorp member in San Luis Obispo County. The value of strong relationships to the success of this population played a key role in shaping her research interests as a doctoral student in sociology at the University of California, Davis. In both her master’s and PhD work, she studied how connections between patients and caregivers and caregivers and their regulatory bodies shape how we see and experience childbirth today.

Starting in 2006, Heather continues to enjoy her work as a sociology professor at Shasta College where she engages students in conversations about gender, media, medicine, and minorities. Inspired by these discussions, she started the Civic & Community Engagement program to promote experiential learning opportunities across the disciplines.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx