

The EdUp Experience
YOUR Higher Education Podcast
We welcome YOU to America’s leading higher education podcast! Hosted by Dr. Joe Sallustio, whose down-to-Earth approach & industry experience helps to make dry & complicated educational topics more fun & engaging to discuss. Elvin Freytes, Producer, brings YOU the most innovative leaders in higher education to the microphone. The EdUp Experience team brings over 40 years of experience in higher education - YOU will feel refreshed, upskilled, & reskilled after listening to this podcast.
LEARN MORE:
edupexperience.com
We make education YOUR business!
LEARN MORE:
edupexperience.com
We make education YOUR business!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 5, 2025 • 37min
From Firearms to Drones: Teaching Trades Without Classrooms - with Jarred McNeely, Chief Academic Officer, Sonoran Desert Institute
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by Integrity4EducationYOUR guest is Jarred McNeely, Chief Academic Officer, Sonoran Desert InstituteYOUR cohost is Thomas Fetsch, CEO, Integrity4EducationYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does an online trade school put the lab in students' living rooms & deliver hands on gunsmithing & drone training to 3,000 students across the country without traditional campuses?What happens when faculty focus on video demonstrations instead of papers & why is watching students physically build & repair things more effective than AI detection software for combating academic integrity violations?How does a mid 30s veteran heavy student population learn to use AI as a responsible tool for customer communication & why does SDI teach open book testing to prepare students for industries that change faster than memorized knowledge?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Nov 4, 2025 • 45min
What College Presidents Need to Know About Rankings, ROI & the Demographic Cliff - with Dr. LaMont Jones, Managing Editor for Education, U.S. News & World Report
Join Dr. LaMont Jones, Managing Editor for Education at U.S. News & World Report, as he dives into the evolving landscape of college rankings. Discover how families can leverage U.S. News' vast resources for better educational choices. Dr. Jones discusses the importance of outcomes-based metrics over traditional prestige, and how community colleges and alternative paths offer impressive ROI. He also explores the impact of AI on admissions and shares strategies for colleges facing the demographic cliff, all while maintaining a focus on transparency and mission clarity.

Nov 3, 2025 • 47min
The University That Refused to Accept the Demographic Cliff - with Dr. Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University
Dr. Aondover Tarhule, President of Illinois State University and a climate/hydrology scholar, shares his inspiring journey from Nigeria to university leadership. He discusses strategic enrollment management to combat demographic declines and emphasizes the need for programs that align with workforce demands. Dr. Tarhule reveals how data analytics helped the university improve student retention by addressing financial barriers and course failures. He also outlines initiatives that transformed nursing and engineering programs to meet local industry needs.

Oct 31, 2025 • 39min
How Colleges Can Double Enrollment with Varsity-Lite - with Brent Richard, CEO, IMG Academy
It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, part of our EdUp Extra series (because who doesn’t love a little extra goodness in their life), & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Brent Richard, CEO, IMG AcademyYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does a 50 year old tennis academy transform into a 600 acre boarding school with 1,600 student athletes taking 4 hours of academics & 4 hours of sports daily while teaching resilience like algebra?What happens when 60% of high school students play sports but only 500,000 NCAA roster spots exist for 8 million athletes & why does IMG's survey show 95% of families care about sports as education over money?How does the "Varsity-Lite" model let universities double enrollment by recruiting student athletes to 2nd & 3rd teams using existing fields & why are High Point & Liberty already proving it's profitable?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 30, 2025 • 31min
How an English Professor Turned AI from "Cheating Tool" to Career Essential - with Dr. Susan Ray, Associate Professor of English, Delaware County Community College
It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, part of our EdUp Extra series (because who doesn’t love a little extra goodness in their life), & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Susan Ray, Associate Professor of English, Delaware County Community CollegeYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does an AI transparency journal transform students from viewing AI as "always cheating" (35%) to becoming confident digital citizens?What happens when 89% of students already use ChatGPT weekly but arrive at college with zero guidance on ethical use?How does integrating AI across composition curriculum achieve 100% retention rates & prepare students for careers where 71% of employers prefer AI skills?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 29, 2025 • 50min
Anticipatory Tiptoes - with Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #417, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityYOUR co-host is Christi Segal, Vice President Managed Services & Executive Business Engagement, EllucianYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a community college serving 18,000 students across 5 campuses get approval to offer bachelor's degrees in respiratory care to fill critical workforce gaps?What does it take to be 1st runner up in Dancing with the Stars Kansas City style while leading a major community college?How can higher education adapt to AI & changing student expectations without compromising rigor & services?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 28, 2025 • 39min
EdUp Extra: How 1M Test Takers Achieve 90% College Persistence Without Seat Time - with CT Turner, CEO, GED Testing Service
It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, part of our EdUp Extra series, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is CT Turner, CEO, GED Testing Service YOUR cohost is Darius Goldman, Founder & CEO, Career-BondYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does a proficiency based program serve 1 million test takers yearly & achieve 85.5% semester to semester college persistence?What happens when a 39 year old single mom with an autistic son uses GED to enter nursing school & get off Medicaid?How does GED serve over 90 countries, including refugees born in camps who use the credential as their only pathway out?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 26, 2025 • 40min
What "Explore the Uncommon" Really Means at Linfield University - with Dr. Mark Blegen, President, Linfield University
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #416, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Mark Blegen, President, Linfield UniversityYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a new president lead a university where 40% of incoming students are first generation & achieve an 85.5% retention rate?What happens when a college president visits every faculty member's office for 30 minutes to build relationships & culture before strategic planning?How does "explore the uncommon" differentiate Linfield University in a crowded higher education marketplace? EdUp Premium Subscriber Only Conversation:What advice should aspiring college presidents follow to land the job & lead authentically?How do new presidents build a support network when you're the only president on campus?What does the future hold for higher education amid demographic cliffs & federal challenges?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 24, 2025 • 36min
What 2U's Turnaround Reveals About Higher Ed's Future - Kees Bol, CEO, 2U
It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Kees Bol, CEO, 2UYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does a CEO turn around a company 9 months after emerging from bankruptcy & what assumptions proved right about 2U's core assets?What happens when over 50% of all students now take some education online & why are the bright lines between on campus & online education disappearing?How does AI tutoring show an order of magnitude higher adoption than human tutors & why are alternative credentials outpacing degree program growth?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Oct 23, 2025 • 50min
What Every University President Should Know About AI Literacy Requirements - with Dr. Christina A. Clark, President, La Roche University
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #415, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Christina A. Clark, President, La Roche UniversityYOUR co-host is Brent Ramdin, CEO, EducationDynamicsYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a Catholic university achieve 97% job/grad school placement while serving primarily lower & middle income families?What happens when you embed AI literacy & ethical AI training into every student's education before they graduate?How does a university teach students constructive dialogue techniques to navigate political differences without protests?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!


