Journal of Praxis in Higher Education

New Conversation: Bridging Higher Education Research to the Reality of Modern Learners

In February 2025, Z.W. Taylor interviewed Allyson Cornett, Director of Research at Trellis Strategies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing higher education and strengthening the workforce in the United States. They discussed Trellis Strategies' focus on financial wellness and its impact on student success. Cornett, who joined Trellis in 2017 and has a background in applied anthropology, shared insights from her experience leading mixed-methods research projects across institutions nationwide. The conversation explored how Trellis Strategies helps colleges and universities understand and address the challenges faced by "modern learners" - today's diverse student population who often have different priorities, backgrounds, and educational journeys compared to traditional students. Despite institutional resource constraints and leadership turnover in higher education, Cornett emphasized the importance of qualitative research to capture students' lived experiences beyond mere statistics. This discussion highlights the crucial intersection of financial wellness, student success metrics, and the ethical considerations of research that genuinely benefits the students it studies.