Carole grew up in the Washington, DC area and now lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a master’s and PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Carole has led statewide and national educational nonprofit organizations, taught undergraduate students, and worked with high school counselors and college admissions directors over the past twenty years. Carole is passionate about the need to increase college access.

Wisconsin Coalition on Student debt Hotline (available 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday): 833-589-0750

Benjamin Lee is a board member of the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt. He is also a Vice President at Ascendium Education, a nonprofit organization making education and training beyond high school a reality for more people. Benjamin’s focus includes compliance, bankruptcy, incident response, and risk management, and he is a frequent trainer and presenter on student loans. Benjamin received his law degree from the University of Minnesota, where he studied nonprofit, corporate, and consumer law, and took on student loans of his own.

Kaitlin Henze lives just north of Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys outdoor adventures with her pup Mia, practicing and teaching yoga, and volunteering for local nonprofits. She works for a business that teaches STEM and critical thinking skills to kids, inspiring the next generation with a love for data, graphing, and lifelong learning.

In May 2023, Kaitlin’s life was turned upside down when she fell victim to an elaborate and devastating identity theft scam that stole her entire life savings in just three weeks. Now, she’s courageously sharing her story to help others recognize, recover from, and most importantly, prevent similar cybercrimes. This episode is a powerful listen—and one worth sharing—to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.