Lose the Labels: Supporting Students with Barriers featuring Mariah Wilberg

Felon. Ex-prostitute. Addict. Dirty. These are a few of the labels thrust on me as I left prison in 2013 with no work history, an AIDS diagnosis, and the clothes on my back. I was turned down for housing and minimum wage jobs; my background was just “too risky”. Yet one door stayed open for me: higher education. In school, my only label was student. With the support of my professors, I went on to earn an AA, BA, and MPA. Today, I have new labels. Homeowner. Senior Director. 40 under 40 in Public Health. Join me for an engaging dialogue on supporting adult learners with colorful backgrounds, with a special focus on students who are justice-involved, neurodivergent, or labeled “less than” by society.

Mariah Wilberg is a nationally recognized, award-winning writer, motivational speaker, and public health professional. Her lived experience with homelessness, trauma, HIV, and incarceration inspired her to make a difference in the systems that failed her. Mariah has local and statewide nonprofit experience and she spent five years with the State of Minnesota, most recently leading Minnesota’s plan to end HIV. In 2022, Mariah joined the Prevention Access Campaign, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending HIV and HIV stigma, as Senior Director, U.S. Strategy and Ending the Epidemic. Mariah has Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies focusing on social welfare and she was an Outstanding Student Award recipient and the commencement speaker when she graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Public Administration from Metropolitan State University in 2019.

Lunch and Learn is part of an ongoing monthly series of presentations and discussions hosted by the College of Management. This conversation is open to all educators, administrators, instructional designers, and students of Minnesota State Education System.

Meet new faculty, gather with long-time friends from across Minnesota State, and bring questions and ideas (along with your lunch) to these monthly gatherings that will include conversation starters and an opportunity for both large and small group conversations. For information, contact organizers Dr. Minjung Park or Dr. Allen Bellas.