Kiana’s Story: How Hybrid Higher Education Supports Today’s Students

At the Haas, Jr. Fund, we believe a bachelor’s degree should be within reach for all students—especially first-generation and low-income students, and those who need the flexibility to work while pursuing their college education. With that goal as our north star, we support innovative models that make higher education more affordable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of today’s learners.

One of our partners in this work is ASU Local, a program of Arizona State University that combines online coursework with intensive in-person support to deliver a relevant, accessible, and high-quality pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

With its “hybrid” program, ASU Local has reimagined the college experience for thousands of students across the country, with 82% of its students coming from underrepresented communities. One of those students is Kiana Tovar. We recently spoke with Kiana about her family’s journey to the United States, her path to ASU Local, and how the program has helped her launch an Emmy Award-winning career in sports media.

Here’s her story. 

 As a first generation American, Kiana Tovar says that going to college was always a “sure thing” for her and her brother. “It was like we didn’t have any other option. We knew our parents didn’t sacrifice everything to come here for us to do nothing,” she said.

But navigating the college system in the U.S. was a challenge for Kiana, who said her high school provided little to no college guidance. Similarly, a lack of counseling and support from the community college meant she was still a few credits shy of an associate’s degree after several years of enrollment.  As she was weighing her next steps, Kiana saw an ad on Instagram for an Arizona State University hybrid program called ASU Local. She clicked on the link, entered her information, and within days received a call back. After talking with a counselor about admissions and financial aid, she was transferring her credits and signing up for classes. She started at ASU Local in the fall of 2021.  

Before long, Kiana switched her major from political science to mass communications and media studies after some deep conversations with her ASU "success coach” about what she wanted to do with her life and career. That’s just one of the signature aspects of the ASU Local hybrid approach: a dedicated advisor who meets with you weekly to help you identify strengths, connect to resources, and navigate your way to a degree.  

The Path to Sports Media—and an Emmy

While she was enrolled at ASU Local, the program connected her with a marketing internship, a work-study job with the university, and an opportunity to interview for a part-time position in community relations with the LA Clippers. From career networking to workshops and coaching focused on resume development, interviewing, and more, ASU Local makes a point of providing students with the skills, the connections, and the opportunities to pursue their career goals.  

Between her work commitments and a full course load, Kiana was very busy while she was enrolled at ASU Local—but she appreciated the flexibility of its online programs and the extensive support she received from her success coach, professors and peers during a weekly in-person gathering. “I felt way more supported than I ever was before,” she said.

Kiana completed her studies for a bachelor’s degree while working with the Clippers. In 2024, she was hired by the Memphis Grizzlies as a content coordinator for the team’s charitable foundation while she completed her studies. By 2025, she was developing digital content for the entire Grizzlies organization. In March, she won an Emmy Award for a documentary project for the team. “I am beyond grateful and honestly still in shock,” she said of the honor. 

Kiana’s story reveals so much about our current system of higher education: how it fails many students with limited support to access financial aid, transfer credits, and plan for courses and career; and how it is based on dated assumptions that students can put their lives on hold and set aside family and work responsibilities while they pursue a degree. In the face of these and other challenges, many students are forced to find their own way while others languish.  

But Kiana’s story also reveals the promise of new models of hybrid learning to open new pathways to a successful life and career for students who might otherwise get lost in the system. At a time when more students are working, parenting, and taking on other family responsibilities, hybrid learning provides the flexibility and support they need to balance learning, work, and life.

“All it took was for some people to reach out and care about me and give me direction and help me find my path, and I want to do the same for others,” Kiana said. “Now my focus is on the impact I can make on the world.” 

Scaling Hybrid Learning in California  

Colleges and universities have recognized for some time that the way they deliver learning to students needs to change.

Hybrid programs like ASU Local offer a solution. The question is how to make these programs and practices stick. The Haas, Jr. Fund has commissioned a new report for release in April that offers a roadmap along with best practices for hybrid learning. Now is the time for California’s higher education leaders—together with policymakers, funders, business, and other partners—to help shape a new future where all students can find a path to thrive.