Guild partners: Kate Smith, President of Rio Salado College

What makes learning possible for adult students? For many employees, the demands of work, caregiving, and other responsibilities can make the pursuit of education meaningful to their personal and professional ambitions seem unreachable. But as Rio Salado College President Kate Smith points out, when learning providers bring compassion and intention to design flexible programs for working adults, and when mission-aligned employers invest in talent development and career mobility, opportunity becomes a tangible reality for many — not just the few.