

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

Aug 28, 2025 • 39min
Why Academic Integrity Is Everyone's Job - with Dr. Kelly H. Ahuna, Director, Office of Academic Integrity, University at Buffalo
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by Pangram Labs,YOUR guest is Dr. Kelly H. Ahuna, Director, Office of Academic Integrity, University at BuffaloYOUR cohost is Bradley Emi , Cofounder & CTO, Pangram LabsYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does Dr. Ahuna define academic integrity & why does she believe the core value remains unchanged despite evolving technology? What makes University at Buffalo's standalone Office of Academic Integrity unique & how do they go beyond just handling cheating cases? How is the office addressing the trust barrier that AI has created between faculty & students? 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!

Aug 27, 2025 • 51min
If You Build It, They Won't Come: The New Reality of Higher Ed - with Dr. Ronald Rochon, President, California State University, Fullerton
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #396, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Ronald Rochon, President, California State University, FullertonYOUR cohost is Dr. Noreen Golfman, Former Provost, Podcaster, & Studiosity Advisory Board MemberYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does Cal State Fullerton serve 44,000 students as the sole CSU in Orange County? What does "radical hospitality" mean in practice for first-generation students? How can universities transition from "enrolling" to truly "serving" students?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!

Aug 26, 2025 • 45min
How to Lead Through the Noise in Higher Education - with Dr. Lillian Schumacher, President, Tiffin University
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #395, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Lillian Schumacher, President, Tiffin University,YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How has Tiffin University achieved enrollment growth during a challenging demographic period? What does it mean to lead with "co-evolution over collapse" in higher education? How can universities build the courage to transform before they're comfortable? Extended conversation exclusive for EdUp subscribers only:Playing the "Academic F-Word Game" - Fund It, Fix It, or Forget It Navigating the challenges of office relocations during campus growth Creating innovation opportunities through strategic donor partnerships 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!

Aug 24, 2025 • 46min
How One College Turned Date Nights Into Suicide Prevention (And Why It's Working) - with LaToscha Sherman, Associate Dean of Counseling, Collin College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is LaToscha Sherman, Associate Dean of Counseling, Collin CollegeYOUR co-host is Dr. Nicole Trevino, VP for Student Success, TimelyCareYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a community college with 60,000 students & only 8 counselors creatively address serious trauma, domestic violence, & international student challenges rather than just academic stress? What happens when YOU rebrand suicide prevention as "Connect4" & create date nights, friendship workshops, & relationship skills events to meet students where they are? How do mental health services overcome data silos & confidentiality constraints to demonstrate their impact on student retention & completion in performance-based funding models? 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!

Aug 21, 2025 • 39min
What Happens When 40% of Your Students Are First-Gen & AI is Everywhere? - with Dr. Paul Krouss, Teaching Professor & Faculty Lead for Innovative Pedagogies, Washington State University Vancouver
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Paul Krouss, a Teaching Professor at Washington State University Vancouver, shares insights on the unique challenges of a campus with 40% first-generation students. He emphasizes the pivotal role of student intent in academic integrity. Alongside Bradley Emi, Cofounder and CTO of Pangram Labs, they explore innovative AI integration in education, tackling the hurdles faced in math learning. The conversation also highlights strategies for supporting marginalized learners through inclusive teaching practices.

Aug 20, 2025 • 55min
(Sneak Peek) How This College Is Preparing for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet - with Dr. Tiffany Hernandez, President, Glendale Community College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #394, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Tiffany Hernandez, President, Glendale Community CollegeYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How is Glendale Community College innovating with real world cybersecurity training through municipal partnerships?What does it mean to offer bachelor's degrees at community college tuition rates?How can institutions build comprehensive retention support that addresses students' basic needs?Extended conversation exclusive, normally for EdUp subscribers only:Why do most colleges stick to 3-5 year strategic plans when the real challenges require 10+ year thinking?What leadership mistakes do first time college presidents make that veteran leaders wish they could prevent?How do university leaders balance multiple revenue streams while managing complex projects without losing focus on their core mission?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. Support the podcast trusted by higher ed leaders. Get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content by supporting Elvin & Joe for only $5.99 a month. YOU can also donate or gift a subscription at edupexperience.com

Aug 19, 2025 • 48min
How 1 University Eliminated Every Committee & Still Thrives - with Dr. Erika Latty, President of the Enterprise/ Chief Academic Officer, Unity Environmental University
Dr. Erika Latty, President of the Enterprise and Chief Academic Officer at Unity Environmental University, discusses radical shifts in higher education. She reveals how eliminating committees has streamlined decision-making, allowing new academic programs to be developed in mere months. Erika explains the innovative restructuring of faculty roles into six specialized positions to better cater to over 10,000 online learners. The conversation also touches on transitioning to year-round, 5-week terms while keeping tuition flat, showcasing a bold approach to modern challenges.

Aug 17, 2025 • 38min
What Happens When AI Reads Your 100-Page Faculty CV in 30 Seconds - with Rusty Cowher, Founder & CEO, Scholarly
Rusty Cowher, Founder & CEO of Scholarly, shares insights into how AI is revolutionizing the faculty lifecycle in higher education. He discusses the innovative AI-powered platform designed to streamline complex processes like tenure applications and workload management. The conversation dives into the centralization of disparate faculty data, highlighting the benefits for accuracy and utility. Rusty also addresses the ethical considerations of AI use and the importance of collaboration for informed decision-making in educational institutions.

Aug 14, 2025 • 37min
If Your College Embraces AI, Are You Still Teaching Integrity? - with Dr. Adam D. Garland, Dean of Student Affairs, Ensign College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by Pangram Labs,YOUR guest is Dr. Adam D. Garland, Dean of Student Affairs, Ensign CollegeYOUR cohost is Bradley Emi , Cofounder & CTO, Pangram LabsYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does Dr. Garland define academic integrity & why does he see character development as integral to a student's journey?What makes Ensign College's faith-based approach to academic integrity unique & how does their mission to develop "trusted disciples" shape their policies?How is the college proactively embracing generative AI tools while maintaining academic standards & preparing students for the future workforce?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. Support the podcast trusted by higher ed leaders. Get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content by supporting Elvin & Joe for only $5.99 a month or $44.99 a year. YOU can also donate or gift a subscription at edupexperience.com

Aug 13, 2025 • 50min
If You're Not Tracking 30 Metrics Daily, You're Not Scaling Right - with Thomas Rametta, President, Ultimate Medical Academy
Joining Dr. Joe Sallustio is Thomas Rametta, President of Ultimate Medical Academy, a leader in allied health education. They discuss how the academy has scaled to over 20,000 students through tailored support and a focus on market needs. Thomas shares insights on using data analytics to improve student outcomes and the importance of a human touch in healthcare training. They also explore innovative approaches like provisional enrollment that prioritize student well-being, highlighting the evolving landscape of education in a fast-paced job market.