Trusted Voices

Teresa leads off Episode 4 of Season 5 looking at the limitations of using early-career earnings to measure the success and value of college degrees, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond limited data points. Erin then revisits Cornell’s response to the ongoing sexual assault scandal, exploring presidential accountability and the need to examine internal policies and procedures to determine who they truly protect. From there, Teresa highlights international enrollment challenges and rising global tuition costs, noting this is not a uniquely American problem but United States policy is also compounding the issue right now. Erin then takes a moment to reflect on her time at the New Athletics Enterprise conference, discussing the importance of athletics being driven by mission and sharing why she is keeping an eye on Sonoma State. Teresa then examines how faculty concerns over ranking may be revealing larger vulnerabilities in institutional leadership, and closes out the current events segment celebrating a friend and newly appointed MacArthur genius.Erin and Teresa then “take the leap of faith” with Dr. Cheryl Nixon, president of Berea College, who shares how the institution's longstanding commitment to educational access is shaping its plan to provide fully funded degrees to all students. President Nixon details Berea’s work college model, its founding commitment to equality, and its approach to redefine the value of higher education beyond return investment. You can subscribe to Trusted Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you never miss an episode. And now, full video episodes are available on YouTube at youtube.com/@TrustedVoicesPodcast.

Higher education has made national headlines recently; Erin and Teresa are back for Episode 3 of Season 5 to analyze why. Leading off with Cornell, Erin and Teresa focus on the role of student journalists in pushing for administrator accountability while the Jane Doe story continues to develop.From there, Erin cites the influx of large dollar donations to institutions across the country as a possible proof point that higher education still has value and deeply matters. But with big gifts come big questions, like how do these institutions balance celebrating large gifts while still navigating significant financial challenges elsewhere? Teresa also asks, with the language accompanying some of these donations, does a large dollar amount come with an assumed leadership stake in the institution?Teresa uses this national spotlight as an opportunity to share resources that help talk about why higher education matters, how the industry creates value, and how to communicate the impact of our institutions in our communities. This leads our hosts to, once again, highlight the importance of institutions differentiating themselves and celebrate that other areas on campuses besides marketing and communications are now asking for institutions to move away from being all things to all people.Teresa notes how some universities stand out because of their athletics-driven institutional deficits and the role the federal government is trying to take to again adjust the Division I intercollegiate athletics power dynamic. Closing the conversation, Teresa and Erin discuss the ethics in university marketing and branding, reminding us that altering images to fit a constructed image of your campus misrepresents your community to your audiences.You can subscribe to Trusted Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you never miss an episode. And now, full video episodes are available on YouTube at youtube.com/@TrustedVoicesPodcast.

Erin leads off Trusted Voices Season 5, Episode 2 discussing the unsure footing of higher ed when engaging with the Trump administration, citing deliberations between both institutions and associations regarding the first Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Teresa notes artificial intelligence used in institutional responses and our hosts theorize on the reasoning behind that approach.Focusing on human-centric stories, Erin and Teresa discuss the  difference between presidential ownership versus stewardship  and analyze the role we all play in ensuring the health and safety of our colleagues, especially those in marginalized communities. This conversation includes the discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs help, please call or text 988 to connect with a local crisis center. If you would like to bypass this topic, please fast forward to 21:30 into this recording to hear the rest of this conversation and the discussion with Brad Wolverton.Erin discusses the importance of staying plugged in to industry headlines, as Teresa reinforces that any of our institutions could be the focus of these stories and reminds us that we should be using them as case studies to prepare our teams. Finally, Teresa calls for creativity in communication tactics, citing the surprising social media platform usage trends of Gen Z.Brad Wolverton, editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education, then joins Erin and Teresa to discuss outside forces focusing on higher ed, the opportunities ahead for trade media, and the importance of hearing from those with critiques.You can subscribe to Trusted Voices on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you never miss an episode. And now, full video episodes are available on YouTube at youtube.com/@TrustedVoicesPodcast.

Trusted Voices is back with a new look for a new season! In the first episode of Season 5, Erin and Teresa share what stories they are reading and the topics they are watching. Join them for a discussion of the ever-changing details and participants in the Department of Education’s higher education Compact saga, their latest thoughts on revenue and reputation considerations for leaders, why the social sciences are under the gun, the rise in human-centered programs in a quickly changing AI world, and why we should take FOIA requests seriously and partner with our media colleagues.

The academic year might be over, but higher ed's biggest problems aren't taking a summer vacation. In this season’s finale of Trusted Voices, Teresa and Erin lay out exactly what leaders should be planning for before students return. From the identity crisis sparked by rushed AI rollouts in the CSU system to the looming chaos of July 1st's federal financial aid changes, this episode is a must-listen.

Temple University President John Fry joins Teresa and Erin to talk consolidation, mergers, and what 24 years in the presidency has taught him about leading well — and leaving work at the office.

In this episode of Trusted Voices, Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot unpack the realities facing higher education leaders today. Drawing from recent conferences and sector-wide conversations, they explore how institutions are navigating overlapping challenges—from policy shifts and leadership turnover to the growing uncertainty in international education.

In this episode of Trusted Voices, Anne Harris, president of Grinnell College, shares her perspective on leading a liberal arts institution through a time of political volatility and cultural change. From navigating government relations to fostering a culture of critique on campus, Harris explores how colleges can stay grounded in their mission while adapting to external pressures.

Live from the ACE Experience conference, Teresa Valerio Parrot and Erin Hennessy discuss early insights from the upcoming 2026 Survey of College and University Presidents. From sustained institutional risk and political pressure to AI governance and public accountability, this episode explores how higher ed leaders are navigating an increasingly complex operating environment — and what that means for the future of presidential leadership.

State politics are playing a larger role in shaping higher education governance. In this episode of Trusted Voices, Teresa Valerio Parrot and Erin Hennessy sit down with governance scholar Michael Harris to examine presidential searches, board authority, transparency, and the shifting balance of power between campuses and capitols.