Free Beyond the Ivory Tower by Jill Blake Page A

world where the love of learning won’t help a kid who graduates with a poly-sci degree and two hundred grand in debt. That kid will most likely have to take a job that isn’t at all interesting or fulfilling—just so he can pay back the debt and cover the bills and maybe support a family.”
    Anna frowned. “If more students chose to go into STEM fields, they’d be better prepared for a career that’s both intellectually and financially rewarding.”
    “What the Fellowship offers is even better, Anna. It provides students an alternative route to success.” He braced both feet on the floor and leaned forward. “It gives them the freedom to pursue their dreams without having to worry about outdated rules and grades and mountains of debt. You tell me what college program can guarantee that.”
    Listening to Ethan’s impassioned speech, Anna could see how someone might be swayed by his line of reasoning. It sounded so convincing. So emotionally appealing.
    And yet, reality was far different from the picture Ethan painted. Credential inflation was seeping into every industry these days. The minimum qualifications required for any given job were growing, as inevitably as the rise of sea levels from global warming. What may have required a high school degree in the past was increasingly requiring a college degree today, while positions previously filled by college grads now demanded master’s or doctorate degrees. And even doctorate degrees were often not enough. Post-docs were now almost de rigueur in academia.
    What Ethan was proposing flew in the face of logic. She’d known that from day one, when Klara had explained that thanks to the Talbot Fellowship, she was dropping out of school.
    The only thing that had changed since then was Anna’s perception of Ethan Talbot. More specifically, his motivations. Yes, he probably stood to benefit financially from whatever projects the Talbot Fellows managed to grow into successful startups. But she no longer believed that was his primary objective.
    For a man who made his living as a venture capitalist, he seemed remarkably altruistic—driven by a sincere desire to change what he saw as a flawed system, rather than by any profit motive.
    But that didn’t change the fact that they had a fundamental difference of opinion.
    She sighed, too tired and disheartened to argue. “I’m sorry, Ethan—”
    He cut her off. “Don’t say no. Please. These kids are brilliant. All they need is a little guidance from someone who understands them, who can point them in the right direction. Say you’ll do it. A few hours of your time, Anna, that’s all I’m asking. The Foundation will cover your expenses. Travel, accommodations, meals. All you need to do is show up and teach.”
    Anna bit her lip. “Where?”
    His smile was blinding. “San Francisco.”
    She had to be crazy to even consider it.
    “Come on, Anna. Say yes. You’ll get to visit your sister…”
    “I can do that without participating in your program.”
    “True.” He studied her for a moment. “What if I offered to fund a full scholarship for your top three incoming undergraduates?”
    Her brows shot up. “Seriously?”
    “Seriously,” he said. “I just want you to keep an open mind. Give me two or three days this summer and next. If after that you’re still convinced the Fellowship is a bad idea, fine. But if by chance you’ve changed your mind, I want you to blog about it.”
    “I won’t change my mind.”
    He made a tsking sound. “Doesn’t the scientific method call for making up your mind only after you run the experiment and gather all the data?”
    “Which class did you learn that in?”
    He grinned. “I’ll have my lawyer draw up the paperwork.”
    “I thought you were a lawyer.”
    “Yes, but you know what they say about the man who represents himself having a fool for a client.” He stood up. “I’m no fool.”
    Maybe not, but she was beginning to have some doubts about herself. “I