

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

Jun 12, 2024 • 33min
899: Scaling Civil Discourse - with Michelle Sobel, President, Unify America
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode,
YOUR guest is Michelle Sobel, President, Unify America
YOUR host is Dr. Laurie Shanderson, Host, EdUp Accreditation Insights
How did Michelle's diverse background, from the Jellyvision creative team behind "You Don't Know Jack" to digital health solutions, shape her approach to fostering unity & collaboration at Unify America?
What is the Unify Challenge College Bowl, & how has it connected over 10,000 students across geographic & ideological differences for respectful conversations?
From staying curious to perspective-taking, what skills & norms does Unify America focus on imparting to students to equip them for bridging divides?
How are faculty incorporating the College Bowl into curricula across disciplines, & what benefits are they seeing in terms of student confidence & civic engagement?
With a new "deep dive" format focusing on a single topic like gun violence, how might Unify's model be adapted for healthcare students to build cultural competence?
As Unify America scales up with the goal of reaching every college student, what is Michelle's vision for the future of constructive dialogue on campus & beyond?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

Jun 11, 2024 • 31min
898: Providing a Financial Advantage to the University Community - with Megan Eisenhard, Chief Growth Officer, University Credit Union
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode,
YOUR guest is Megan Eisenhard, Chief Growth Officer, University Credit Union
YOUR cohost is Dr. Joe Sallustio
As a credit union founded by UCLA staff in 1951, how does University Credit Union provide tailored products & services to the university community?
With partnerships across the University of California system & beyond, what benefits can University Credit Union offer to university employees & students?
From budgeting basics to building credit, how is University Credit Union promoting financial literacy & wellness among students & young adults?
As NIL deals change the game for student-athletes, how can University Credit Union guide them in managing sudden influxes of money?
What are some of the key financial challenges facing universities & their constituents today, from affordable housing to loan consolidation?
Beyond serving individuals, how does University Credit Union give back to the broader university community through initiatives like fighting food insecurity & offering staff scholarships?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

Jun 10, 2024 • 36min
897: Supercharging Marketing with AI - with Max Raphel, Investor & Co-Founder, TrendSights.ai
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode,
YOUR guest is Max Raphel, Investor & Co-Founder, TrendSights.ai
YOUR cohost is Cheryl Boeckman, Senior Vice President, Education, LeadSquared
YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
What drove Max to start TrendSights.ai as an AI-first product to give marketers "superpowers" & support fast decision-making?
How does TrendSights.ai's platform enable real-time media monitoring, competitor tracking, & sentiment analysis across digital & traditional channels?
From automated reporting to an upcoming AI agent for data interpretation, how is TrendSights.ai helping resource-strapped marketing teams level up?
As marketing feels the impact of AI, how can the top 5-10% of visionary marketers leverage the technology to accelerate their work & change market positioning?
With many universities outsourcing marketing, how can tools like TrendSights.ai empower in-house teams to be more responsive & "in tune with the moment"?
From evolving value propositions to the role of AI, what does Max see for the future of higher education in a world of rapid change?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

Jun 4, 2024 • 33min
896: An Innovative Learning Experience - with Riccardo Ocleppo, CEO & Founder, OPIT
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, President Series #281,
YOUR guest is Riccardo Ocleppo, CEO & Founder, OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
YOUR host is Dr. Laurie Shanderson, Host, EdUp Accreditation Insights
What inspired Riccardo to found OPIT, & how did his experience with the student community DoxCity influence that decision?
How is OPIT differentiating itself in the market by coupling fresh tech curricula with hands-on application & practice?
With AI transforming industries, how is OPIT integrating AI & related topics across its degree programs, including its unique Master's in Responsible AI?
As the half-life of skills shrinks, how can universities adapt quickly & provide lifelong learning opportunities beyond traditional degrees?
What lessons did Riccardo learn about brand-building & flexibility while growing DoxCity into a global community of 15 million students?
From expanding into research to offering PhDs, what is Riccardo's long-term vision for establishing OPIT as an innovative, well-rounded university?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

Jun 4, 2024 • 36min
895: De-risking Higher Education - with Dr. Amy Smith, Chief Learning Officer, StraighterLine
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode,
YOUR guest is Dr. Amy Smith, Chief Learning Officer, StraighterLine
YOUR host is Dr. Laurie Shanderson, Host, EdUp Accreditation Insights
How is StraighterLine expanding access to higher education for all types of learners?
What innovations allow StraighterLine to provide affordable, low-risk courses that fit into students' busy lives?
How does StraighterLine partner with colleges & universities to help students persist & graduate on time?
From healthcare to early childhood education, what industry verticals & student populations does StraighterLine focus on serving?
With on-demand online courses, 24/7 tutoring, & wraparound supports, how is StraighterLine meeting learners where they are?
What does Dr. Smith see as the future of higher education, & how can institutions become more learner-centric?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

Jun 3, 2024 • 51min
894: The Davenport Difference - with Richard J. Pappas, President, & Carlos Sanchez, Executive Director, Casa Latina, Davenport University
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, President Series #280,
YOUR guests are Richard J. Pappas, President, & Carlos Sanchez, Executive Director, Casa Latina, Davenport University
YOUR cohost is Douglas A.J. Carlson, Head of Partnerships - Americas, LeadSquared
YOUR cohost is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How is Davenport University adapting to the changing needs & demographics of students, with initiatives like Casa Latina's bilingual degree programs aimed at serving the Latino community?
As the largest private non-profit university in Michigan, how is Davenport balancing career-focused education with lifelong learning & the liberal arts to prepare students for an evolving workforce?
What strategies has Davenport employed to dramatically improve student outcomes like graduation & retention rates, earning national recognition as a "transformational institution"?
How does Casa Latina leverage the strengths & meet the unique needs of bilingual, bicultural students & their families through a tailored educational approach?
From stackable credentials to flexible online/hybrid options, how is Davenport innovating its educational delivery & business model to expand access & affordability?
As traditional colleges struggle with relevance & value proposition, what lessons can be learned from Davenport's vision for a more agile, responsive, & inclusive future for higher education?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

May 29, 2024 • 25min
892: LIVE from Jenzabar's Annual Meeting (JAM) 2024 - with Devin Ray, Enterprise Application Services Manager, Edgewood College
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, recorded LIVE from Jenzabar's Annual Meeting (JAM) 2024 conference in Dallas, Texas,
YOUR guest is Devin Ray, Enterprise Application Services Manager, Edgewood College
YOUR guest cohost is Jeff Elliott, Senior Director of Product Management, Jenzabar
YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience
● Support EdUp at The EdUp Merch Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

May 29, 2024 • 34min
891: EdUp Mini Series, "The Currency of Change", Part 2 - with Dr. Jamie Brownlee-Turgeon & Andy Benis
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
This episode continues the EdUp Mini Series, "The Currency of Change", part 2
YOUR hosts are Dr. Jamie Brownlee-Turgeon, Vice Provost of Operations, Graduate and Professional Studies at Point Loma Nazarene University & Andy Benis, Associate VP of Marketing and Interim VP of Enrollment at Los Angeles Pacific University.
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
● Support EdUp at The EdUp Merch Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

May 28, 2024 • 52min
890: Not Your Grandfather's Carnegie - with Dr. Timothy Knowles, President, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, & Dr. Shirley M. Collado, President & CEO, College Track
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, brought to YOU by Jenzabar's Annual Meeting (JAM 2024),
YOUR guests are Dr. Timothy Knowles, President, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, & Dr. Shirley M. Collado, President & CEO, College Track
YOUR cohost is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How is the Carnegie Foundation, under Dr. Knowles' leadership, taking an assertive run at the Carnegie Unit & pushing for transformation in both K-12 & post-secondary education?
What role is the Carnegie Post-Secondary Commission playing in reimagining higher education as an engine of social & economic mobility, & why was it important to have leaders like Dr. Collado co-chair?
How does College Track's intensive, 10-year commitment to underserved students from high school through college completion reflect the organization's conviction that "talent is everywhere, opportunity is not"?
From new classifications focused on social mobility to partnerships with College Track & African universities, how is Carnegie using its platform to drive innovation & collaboration for student success?
With the value proposition of higher ed increasingly questioned, what gives Drs. Knowles & Collado hope that post-secondary can evolve to meet the needs of today's learners?
As first-gen college students themselves, how do Drs. Knowles & Collado's lived experiences shape their sense of urgency & optimism about transformation in education?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!

May 26, 2024 • 49min
889: Passport to Possibility - with Terrence Cheng, Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, President Series #278,
YOUR guest is Terrence Cheng, Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
YOUR cohost is Laura Ipsen, President & CEO of Ellucian
YOUR cohost is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How is CSCU leveraging technology like AI to better support its 85,000 students across 12 community colleges, 4 universities, & an online state college?
As a first-generation college student & immigrant, how does Terrence's background shape his leadership approach in making higher education more equitable & accessible?
What key lessons has CSCU learned from its recent consolidation of 12 community colleges into a singly accredited institution, & what advice would Terrence offer other system leaders considering similar mergers?
With CSCU institutions serving as the primary drivers of socioeconomic mobility & workforce development in Connecticut, how is the system partnering with industry & government to strengthen career pathways?
From addressing learning loss to cultivating a culture of belonging, what are the most pressing challenges & opportunities facing CSCU in the years ahead?
As student demographics, learning modalities, & workforce needs rapidly evolve, what does Terrence see as the future of public higher education?
Listen in to #EdUp!
Thank 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 Experience!
We make education YOUR business!