

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

Sep 7, 2025 • 40min
What Happens When Students Only Take 1 Class at a Time - with Jonathan Brand, President, Cornell College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #398, sponsored by ScholarlyYOUR guest is Jonathan Brand, President, Cornell CollegeYOUR host is Dr. Jodi (Ashbrook) Blinco, Vice President for Enrollment Management Consulting, EducationDynamicsHow does a 171-year-old liberal arts college operate on a "block system" where students & faculty focus on only 1 course at a time for 3.5 weeks?What happens when your entire campus is on the National Historic Register & you achieve double the national med school acceptance rate through immersive learning?How does a president discover the "emotional why" that creates a web of support helping students do hard things & graduate with confidence?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!

Sep 4, 2025 • 10min
HigherEd PodCon II - The Big Reveal! - with Dr. Michael Baston President, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, sponsored by the 2026 HigherEd PodCon IIYOUR guest is Dr. Michael Baston, President & CEO of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio What happens when HigherEd PodCon II comes to Cleveland on July 16-17, 2026 at Tri-C campus?How does a community college president build a podcast studio from the ground up to help small businesses compete with big corporations?Why does this president believe "unchallenged narratives shackle hopes & dreams" in higher education storytelling?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!

Sep 4, 2025 • 51min
When Students Stop Believing in Their Professors, They Start Cheating - with Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman, Professor of History of Education, University of Pennsylvania
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by Pangram Labs,YOUR guest is Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman, Professor of History of Education, University of Pennsylvania YOUR cohost is Jason Nicholson, VP of K-12, Pangram LabsYOUR host is Bradley Emi, CTO, Pangram LabsHow does Dr. Zimmerman define academic integrity & why does he emphasize helping students come to their own honest conclusions?What role does faculty engagement play in preventing academic misconduct & fostering genuine learning?How should educators adapt to AI while maintaining the value of authentic intellectual struggle?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!

11 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 41min
If You're Not Teaching Students to Question AI, You're Failing Them - Michael Hammond, President, Gordon College
Michael Hammond, President of Gordon College and advocate for the union of faith and education, discusses the unique mission of his institution in the evolving landscape of higher education. He emphasizes the critical need for students to engage with AI ethically, fostering discernment in an age of misinformation. Hammond highlights the value of human relationships in education and innovative strategies to support student success. He also explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on institutional values and the importance of maintaining a moral compass amidst technological integration.

Sep 2, 2025 • 43min
How One VP Revolutionized College Admissions (300+ Schools Copied Her) - with Yvonne Romero, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Rice University
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Yvonne Romero, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Rice UniversityYOUR host is Dr. Jodi (Ashbrook) Blinco, Vice President for Enrollment Management Consulting, EducationDynamicsHow can strategic planning revolutionize enrollment operations? What is committee-based evaluation & how does it transform admissions? How can transparent financial aid messaging increase accessibility? 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 31, 2025 • 35min
How One Uncle's Story Became Amazon Prime's Biggest College Secret - with Alex Boylan, Founder/Executive Producer/Host, The College Tour Amazon Prime Series
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Alex Boylan, Producer of The College Tour Amazon Prime SeriesYOUR host is Dr. Jodi (Ashbrook) Blinco, Vice President for Enrollment Management Consulting, EducationDynamicsHow can colleges showcase their authentic student experience through media?What makes The College Tour different from traditional campus marketing?How does open casting help uncover untold institutional stories?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 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 • 52min
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 #EdUp In 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!


