Episode Details

Today's guests, Professors Preston and David Green, embody the ultimate American success story. Raised in the historic Black community of Gum Springs, Alexandria by a single mother, the Greens excelled both athletically and academically. As standout athletes at Fort Hunt and West Potomac High Schools, they were also top students who went on to attend prestigious universities—Preston to the University of Virginia ('89) and David to Boston University ('91). Preston, now an attorney (Columbia Law '92), serves as the John and Maria Neag Professor of Urban Education at UConn, while David has spent the last 20 years as associate professor at UVA in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. In this conversation, we explore the circumstances that shaped their remarkable success and discuss whether today’s students with similar talents could achieve as much. We also touch on the challenges faced in secondary and higher education, while reflecting on their formative years, competing in sports, and growing up in Northern Virginia. It was an insightful and inspiring discussion.