Pell Essays and Presentations

2022 – Essays

The Right to Higher Education: Key Challenges in the U.S. Context and Suggested Principles in a Global Context 
By Margaret Cahalan, Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education

2021 – Essays

Unequal and Far Reaching Ripples of the Student Debt Crisis — Indicators of Higher Education Equity, Data Story, Winter 2021, Issue 2 
By Marisha Addison and Margaret Cahalan

2020 – Essays

A Focus on First Generation Students, First Generation College Celebration — Indicators of Higher Education Equity, Data Story, Fall 2020, Issue 1 
By Marisha Addison and Margaret Cahalan

Will the Dual Crises of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Climate Change be Portals to Widening Opportunity or Will the Doors Close Even Tighter? 
By Margaret Cahalan

Where Do We Go from Here? Reflections on the Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education in the United States from Two Recent TRIO Graduates 
By Marisha Addison and Chelsea Murray

2020 – Presentations

A Warm Welcome From the Equity Indicators — 2020 Project Team at Pell Institute of COE and PennAHEAD of University of Pennsylvania 
A Warm Welcome From the Equity Indicators — 2020 Project Team at Pell Institute of COE and PennAHEAD of University of Pennsylvania (recording)
By Margaret W. Cahalan, Laura W. Perna, Marisha Addison, Chelsea Murray, Pooja R. Patel and Nathan Jiang

Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States, 2020 — “Will Crisis Open a Portal to Expanding Opportunity or Will More Doors Close?” — Shared Dialogue Discussion Guide 

2017 – Essays

The Geography of College Attainment: Dismantling Rural “Disadvantage” 
By Roman Ruiz and Laura W. Perna

2017 – Presentations

Advisory Board Meeting — Improving Equity in Higher Education Attainment in the United States

2016 – Essays 

Is Higher Education a Human Right or a Competitive Investment Commodity? 
By Margaret Cahalan, Khadish Franklin, and Mika Yamashita

Eight Proposals to Help Inform Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act with a Focus on Financial Aid 
By Tom Mortenson

Reducing the Stratification of College “Choice” 
By Laura W. Perna and Roman Ruiz

2016 – Presentations

Visioning a More Equitable Higher Education System in the United States: A Dialogue about Historical Trends and Proposals for HEA Reauthorization 
By Margaret Cahalan, Mika Yamashita, Khadish Franklin, and Tom Mortenson

Second Annual Release of the Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2016 Historical Trend Report and the Search for Solutions-Shared Dialogues 
By Margaret Cahalan, Mika Yamashita, Khadish Franklin, Laura Perna, and Roman Ruiz

Financial Barriers to Opportunity for Higher Education 
By Tom Mortenson

Search for Solutions-Shared Dialogues (.pdf)

Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States, 2016 — Search for Solutions-Shared Dialogues 

2015 – Essays

Sixteen Strategies for Widening Equity of Participation in Higher Education in the United States: Reflections from International Comparisons 
By Margaret Cahalan, Ph.D.

Improving Equity in Higher Education Attainment: A National Imperative 
By Laura W. Perna and James S. Riepe

2015 – Presentations

Equity in Higher Education: A National Imperative Search for Solutions Dialogues 
By Margaret Cahalan and Laura W. Perna

Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States, 2015 — Search for Solutions Shared Dialogues