Education transforms individual lives as well as the trajectory of families and future generations

​On April 7, 2025, John B. King, Jr., Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) and former U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, was the keynote speaker at the 46th Pullias Lecture, hosted by the Pullias Center for Higher Education at USC Rossier. In Chancellor King’s talk titled “Higher Education: Engine of Democracy, Security and Upward Mobility,” he emphasized the pivotal role of higher education in fostering democratic values, ensuring national security and promoting social mobility.

Joined by Adrianna Kezar, director of the Pullias Center, and USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera, King highlighted SUNY’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and discussed initiatives aimed at enhancing student success and experiential learning opportunities. “I wanted to take a moment, first to thank you for being in higher education right now,” King said in his opening remarks. “You are doing the work that I think it’s safe to say, brought us all to this field—the opportunity to transform not only individual lives, but the trajectory of entire families and generations to come.”

Takeaways from the 46th Pullias Lecture:

• Higher education as a pillar of democracy and mobility: King emphasized that higher education is an “essential engine of democracy” and national security. Public universities, like SUNY, play a critical role in transforming lives and shaping a just and equitable society. When approached by SUNY students or faculty about proposed funding cuts to DEI programs, his response was: “That’s our responsibility to give voice to our values and explain how this work matters practically to preserve the dreams of today’s students and protect the long-term health of our economy and democracy.”
• Equity and DEI are non-negotiable: “DEI, in particular, is in SUNY’s DNA,” King said. “And we’re not backing away from that.” Despite political pressure and attacks on DEI, SUNY remains firmly committed to these values. It is embedded in the university’s mission and curriculum, with initiatives like the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Social Justice Fellows (DEISJ) helping integrate social justice topics across disciplines.
• Accessible and affordable public education: King shared that SUNY is proud of its affordability and wide reach. With 64 campuses and efforts to expand tuition-free access (52% of in-state students attend without paying tuition), the system demonstrates a strong commitment to broad access and student success, especially for first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Students are often saddled with debt post-graduation. To alleviate that debt, he hopes that there is a move to free community college. At the same time, student retention is a challenge. “If you choose public higher ed, you should be able to graduate without debt, but we also need to do a better job making sure students graduate,” he added.
• Experiential learning as a standard: King highlighted SUNY’s goal of ensuring that every undergraduate student completes an internship or hands-on learning experience before graduation—equipping students with the skills and networks needed for family-sustaining careers. “This matters for first generation students,” he added. ”Unlocking doors to careers that provide family-sustaining wages and opportunities for career advancement in growing parts of the economy. And this matters in a nation where nearly two-thirds of jobs that pay family-sustaining wages require at least a bachelor’s degree.”
• Advocacy for higher education’s role: King encouraged scholars and students to share their work loudly and proudly—especially in the face of federal funding threats and skepticism about the value of higher education. King urged the audience to actively explain and defend the purpose and impact of universities to preserve their transformative power. “The responsibility is on us,” King said. “To evolve as institutions, to meet the moment and the student population of today.”

In closing, King recommended two items. First, be practical about what you can do. Individuals should ask themselves what can we do to be “democracy-advancing?” Forward, purposeful progress is key. Second, stay hopeful about the ultimate outcome. “America’s story is a story of expanding the circle of opportunity,” King added. Citing the Underground Railroad, Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage Movement and Stonewall, he encouraged lecture attendees to draw inspiration from that history.

He also shared the story of the late Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, and the challenges she faced growing up in Montgomery, Alabama. “She is an example of staying in the fight against long odds because it is the right fight,” King said. “And the example of just trying to live a good life where you treat people well and you try to make a difference for the people around you. If we could all do that, we’ll get there.”