Marguerite Casey Foundation to host discussion on student debt at WSSU

The Marguerite Casey Foundation (MCF), in partnership with Haymarket Books, will host an in-depth discussion on the impact of student debt on activism at Winston-Salem State University on Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m.

The event, part of the MCF Book Club: Reading for a Liberated Future series, will feature Ryann Liebenthal, author of "Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis," in conversation with a panel of experts.

Moderating the discussion will be Dr. Carmen Rojas, president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Under her leadership, MCF has awarded more than $170 million in funding to organizations focused on shifting power to historically excluded communities. She also co-founded and led the Workers Lab, an innovation lab supporting worker success and advocacy.

Joining the panel will be Dr. Leah Barlow, assistant professor in the Liberal Studies Department at North Carolina A&T State University, and Dr. Jalil Mustaffa Bishop, activist, researcher, and co-founder of Equity Research Cooperative, a collective focused on racial justice and grassroots policymaking.

Liebenthal’s book explores the impact of the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis on civic engagement and career choices, particularly in socially impactful but lower-paying fields. The discussion will address how financial burdens limit activism and how debt cancellation could empower future changemakers.

The event is free and open to WSSU students, faculty, and staff. Complimentary copies of "Burdened" will be available while supplies last.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
Doors Open: 6 p.m. | Event Time: 7–8:30 p.m.
Location: WSSU Anderson Conference Center Lobby, First Floor

Register now: Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis