In The Ascenders, Jarvis Marlow-McCowin leverages creative and accessible writing to illuminate the factors that helped rural Black men thrive in higher education. Informed by interviews with rural Black men who successfully persisted to and through college, the book highlights how upbringing, cultural and social wealth, relationships, and identity shape pathways to success. Blending research with practical guidance, The Ascenders adopts an anti-deficit, asset-based approach that challenges dominant assumptions and reframes how we understand student achievement. Filled with actionable strategies and reflection, the book invites educators, campus leaders, families, and support networks to recognize and leverage the strengths students already carry with them while creating conditions where they can fully thrive.