

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 8, 2021 • 50min
343: The Higher Ed Marathon - with Dr. Lillian Schumacher, President at Tiffin University
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, President Series #114, YOUR guest is Dr. Lillian Schumacher, President at Tiffin University, YOUR special guest co-host is Dr. Eric James Stephens, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is LeadSquared!
Joe & Eric talked to Lillian about the current state of Tiffin University. Lillian discusses the collaboration phase during coronavirus, between institutions, & how the competitive phase has arrived. She also discusses her secrets for retaining great faculty and staff during difficult mental health times, & gives us an insight into how hard it was to restructure in the middle of the pandemic.
Dr. Lillian “Lil” Schumacher took the helm as Tiffin University’s Interim President on January 11, 2016 & was named President just five months later on June 8, 2016. Prior to her presidency, she has been an integral part of the University since 2010, first as Dean of the School of Business & more recently as Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
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Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Nov 5, 2021 • 46min
342: Crystallizing A Brand - with Bev Ryan, Founder, & Bill Faust, Senior Partner & Chief Strategy Officer, Ologie
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, YOUR guests are Bev Ryan, Founder, & Bill Faust, Senior Partner & Chief Strategy Officer at Ologie, YOUR guest is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is Claremont Lincoln University!
Joe talks with Bev & Bill about the state of higher education competition. The importance of crystallizing a brand, communicating a defined value proposition, & having the right data systems in place to understand trends are simply non-negotiable in the ever-increasing battle for students. As a woman-owned business helping higher education for decades, Bev discusses why having a great partner like Ologie can make the difference between success & failure.
Recently recognized as one of Columbus’s 30 most influential women by Business First, Bev continues to be engaged in the community, particularly in helping aspiring women leaders become successful.
Prior to Ologie, Bill spent 12 years at global branding agency Fitch Worldwide, ultimately as North American CEO, where he oversaw more than 300 consultants in offices from Boston to Seattle.
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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Nov 4, 2021 • 41min
341: Higher Ed's Landscape - with Kona Gray, Landscape Architect & Principal, EDSA
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, YOUR guest is Kona Gray, Landscape Architect & Principal at EDSA. YOUR special co-host is Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is MDT Marketing!
Physical space. How do colleges & universities renovate, repurpose, or reimagine their use of space on campus in a post-COVID world? What are the design trends? How are students feeling? Kona talks all about these topics & more, tune in!
Strong leadership and a sense of purpose are part of Kona’s DNA. With experience in 30+ countries, his global management sense has positively shaped the outcomes of many award-winning assignments. He successfully integrates creativity & regional resources into functional environments that invigorate the imagination. With an uncompromising dedication to quality, Kona creates welcoming public places that bring a strong sense of vitality back to neighborhoods. Blending sensitivity with innovative design solutions, he unites a client’s vision with his own vanguard designs to produce programs with purpose & presence.
Another awesome episode with YOUR sponsor MDT Marketing! Get YOUR free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Nov 3, 2021 • 43min
340: The Shared Responsibility for DEI - with Niya Blair Hackworth, Director of Inclusion, NCAA
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, YOUR guest is Niya Blair Hackworth, Director of Inclusion at the NCAA. YOUR special co-host is Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is UnMudl!
Joe & Michelle talk with Niya about how the NCAA facilitates diversity, equity, & inclusion training & adoption. Specifically, Niya discussed the shared responsibility we all share for DEI & why what happens after training is even more important than the training itself. She also discussed the importance of giving today's student-athletes a voice & she champions those efforts at the NCAA. Niya also references the concept of belonging & its impact on DEI efforts.
Niya Blair Hackworth became a part of the NCAA office of inclusion team in August 2019 after spending over a decade working at institutions of higher education. As the director of inclusion, Blair Hackworth leads, partners & assists in diversity & inclusion related initiatives, focusing on race and ethnicity and student-athletes with disabilities for member institutions & the national office staff.
Make sure to be the first person to claim YOUR school on Unmudl!
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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Nov 2, 2021 • 51min
339: Mission Driven - with Dr. Elsa Núñez, President, Eastern Connecticut State University
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, President Series #113, YOUR guest is Dr. Elsa Núñez, President at Eastern Connecticut State University, YOUR special co-host is Lisa Honaker, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is MDT Marketing!
Listen in as Joe & Lisa have a fantastic conversation with Elsa about how she made a decision 6 years ago that affected her Institution’s Covid response. They also talk about what it means for Eastern to be mission driven.
Under Dr. Núñez’s leadership, Eastern Connecticut State University has received several major national recognitions, including being ranked the #1 public regional university in New England in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded "Green Campus" status by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row.
Another awesome episode with YOUR sponsor MDT Marketing! Get YOUR free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Nov 1, 2021 • 47min
338: Graduate Fast & Identify Passions - with Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President, California State University, Fresno
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, President Series #112, YOUR guest is Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President at California State University, Fresno, YOUR special guest co-host is Dr. Amardeep Kahlon, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is LeadSquared!
We talk with Saúl about coming into a presidency during covid & how that has shaped his decison-making. Saúl also talks passionately about the experiential learning & community impact resulting from CSU-Fresno student activity. He also discusses the desires of students to graduate fast & identify early passions to shape their lives.
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval has roots in Fowler, a city 15 minutes south of Fresno, & his commitment to the region & higher education form part of his personal mission to promote the region’s economic & cultural ascendency. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is an immigrant to the San Joaquin Valley, having arrived in the region from Mexico as a 10-year-old. He worked in his father’s small farm, & grew to appreciate the many cultures, languages & communities of the Valley.
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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Oct 29, 2021 • 44min
337: Defining Value in a Crowded Marketplace - Dr. Brian C. Ralph, President, William Peace University
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, President Series #111, YOUR guest is Dr. Brian C. Ralph, President at William Peace University, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is MDT Marketing!
In this amazing episode of the EdUp Experience, Joe talks with Dr. Brian Ralph about William Peace University & the innovative model they have for students. Specifically, every single student has to do a mandatory internship to help them become work-ready & ensure the program they've selected is in line with their goals. Brian also discusses the incredibly competitive recruiting environment & what it takes to stay ahead of the curve in a crowded marketplace.
As president of WPU, Dr. Ralph oversees a student body of almost 1,000 full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate day, evening, and online programs, & an alumni body of more than 9,000. An astounding 97 percent of graduates from the classes of 2015 & 2016 were employed &/or in graduate school within one year after graduation.
Another awesome episode with YOUR sponsor MDT Marketing! Get YOUR free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Oct 28, 2021 • 56min
336: Passion, Purpose, Credential - with Dr. Anthony Cruz, Campus President, Miami Dade College - Hialeah Campus
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, President Series #110, YOUR guest is Dr. Anthony Cruz, Campus President at Miami Dade College - Hialeah Campus, YOUR special co-host is Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is MDT Marketing!
In this amazing episode, Joe and guest co-host Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson talk with Tony about re-engaging community college students in the Latino/Latina community. The critically important points Tony makes regarding awarding certificates & ensuring certificate credentials ladder into an Associate Degree bring some sense to the "wild-west" environment that is certificate education. Tony also discusses why MDC - Hialeah campus & greater MDC system are critically important in upskilling & reskilling the workforce!
Dr. Anthony Cruz recently served as vice chancellor of student affairs at St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Missouri. During his 22 years of higher education experience, Dr. Cruz has used his expertise to increase educational opportunities, enhance the student experience & bolster student success. Prior to joining St. Louis Community College, Dr. Cruz worked at several community colleges and universities, including Sinclair Community College, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Broward College, Kaplan University, & Florida International University.
Another awesome episode with YOUR sponsor MDT Marketing! Get YOUR free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Oct 27, 2021 • 46min
335: Shareability Defines Value - with Anne Olderog, Partner, Vivaldi Group
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, YOUR guest is Anne Olderog, Partner at Vivaldi Group, YOUR guest is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is Claremont Lincoln University!
Anne discusses her marketing experience working with Fortune 500 companies & how technology will help define the future of learning. What does the technology adoption curve look like today? Anne says that VALUE is defined by SHAREABILITY today, regardless of the quality of the content. If the content is not shared, people won't experience it or believe that it has value. When an industry is going through disruption, it's important to stand for something & communicate what that something is -- effectively. Wow, one of our favorite all-time episodes & one that will bring you INSTANT value.
Anne is a Partner at Vivaldi, leading projects on growth/innovation strategy, positioning and brand architecture.
Prior to Vivaldi, Anne was a Partner at Horizontia Consulting, leading marketing & branding projects for clients in financial services, technology & consumer goods. Prior to Horizontia, Anne was Head of Strategy at Clark McDowall, where she created new brands & laid out innovation strategy for clients such as Pepsi, Kellogg’s, Dannon or Twinings. Her background in branding (at Wolff Olins, part of the Omnicom Group) as well as in strategy (at McKinsey & Co & the Boston Consulting Group) enables her to combine the rigor of an analytical approach with creative insights & out-of-the box thinking. She also brings experience in leading organizations through change gained on the client side, as Senior Director of Strategy & Corporate Development at Bertelsmann, one of the world's largest media companies. She started her career in the mergers & acquisitions/corporate finance group at Goldman Sachs.
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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!

Oct 26, 2021 • 47min
334: Uncommon Integrity - with Dr. John C. Knapp, President, Washington & Jefferson College
We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience!
In this episode, President Series #109, YOUR guest is Dr. John C. Knapp, President at Washington & Jefferson College, YOUR special co-host is Dr. Bill Pepicello, former President at the University of Phoenix, YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio, & YOUR sponsor is MDT Marketing!
Joe & Bill talk with John about why academic intimacy & a robust liberal arts education are critical in our society. W&JC graduates people of uncommon integrity - not only training leaders but ethical leaders. Also discussed are the transition to online learning during the pandemic, de-densification, & the complexity of challenges for a small college.
John C. Knapp, Ph.D., is the 13th president of Washington & Jefferson College, one of America’s oldest & most distinguished liberal arts institutions, founded in 1781. He also serves as a professor of religion in the college’s Department of Philosophy.
Another awesome episode with YOUR sponsor MDT Marketing! Get YOUR free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/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
● Learn more about what others are saying about their EdUp experience
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!
● YOU can follow us on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
Thank YOU for listening!
We make education YOUR business!