The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

Michael D. Smith shares profound insights on the digital transformation of higher education, emphasizing the moral and social justice aspects intertwined with technological disruption. Drawing parallels between higher education and other industries, he advocates for a shift from preserving traditional models to focusing on missions that align with societal needs and technological advancements. The episode underscores the importance of accessibility, diversity, and the reevaluation of credentials in fostering a more equitable educational landscape.Guest Name: Michael D. Smith, Professor of Information Technology & Marketing, Carnegie Mellon UniversityGuest Bio: Michael D. Smith is J. Erik Jonsson Professor of Information Technology and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Public Policy and Management. Smith is coauthor of the book Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data and the Future of Entertainment (MIT Press).Guest Social: LinkedIn - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

In a candid discussion with Bill Coplin, we dive deep into the critical examination of the liberal arts education model. Bill shares his journey from being disillusioned with traditional education pathways to pioneering a skills-focused approach at Syracuse University. This episode sheds light on the importance of experiential learning, the pitfalls of a scholar-focused system, and the need for higher education to serve the "commoner" by preparing students for real-world challenges and careers.Guest Name: Dr. Bill Coplin, Professor of Policy Studies, Syracuse UniversityGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio:  Dr. Bill Coplin is the founder and professor of the highly successful undergraduate Policy Studies Major at Syracuse University which meets the goals of an undergraduate professional program while maintaining the integrity of a degree in the liberal arts. He is the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence at the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. An author of 110 books and articles, many of which are in education, has taught and advised tens of thousands of undergraduates over his 50+ years of teaching. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

In this enlightening conversation with Rebecca Agostino, VP of Learning at Multiverse, we delve into the transformative potential of apprenticeships in higher education and workforce development. Rebecca shares her journey from the K-12 sector to championing apprenticeships, offering insights into how these programs provide rigorous, joyful, and career-defining opportunities that traditional college paths may not. The episode explores the benefits of applied learning, the importance of durable skills, and the evolving landscape of career preparation.Guest Name: Rebecca Agostino, Vice President of Learning at MultiverseGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Rebecca Agostino is vice president of learning at Multiverse in North America, leading the program, coaching and intervention teams for the U.S. region. While at Multiverse, she has helped create new talent development programs, like AI Jumpstart, to ensure apprentices have access to the skills they need in the future of work. Rebecca is passionate about her work and has spoken about skills and the importance of hiring for skills at leading conferences, including EdTech Week and the ASU+GSV Summit. Prior to her time at Multiverse, Rebecca was the founding principal of Freedom Prep High School, a college-preparatory school in Camden, New Jersey, and a special educator in New York City. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

In this week’s special episode, we’re bringing you a live discussion our host, Dustin, moderated at the recent Times Higher Education Student Success Summit. The panelists discussed how adult learners are enrolling in higher education in record numbers, and the looming enrollment cliff is predicted to put more pressure on colleges to enroll working learners. Adults often require different kinds and modes of support to succeed, so the group shared ways that institutions can adapt their offerings to serve them better.Guest Names:Chris Dickson - Assistant Dean for Student Success at College UnboundAshley Flood - Manager of Student Success Coaching at Purdue GlobalChristopher Guymon - Associate Provost for Academic Programs & Director of Graduate Studies at Utah Tech UniversityGuest Social Handles:Chris D. AshleyChris G.Guest Bios: Chris Dickson is the assistant dean for student success for College Unbound. As a student-centered college, his role is to best support students in finding their way to the center of the college. This happens through supporting students when they fall behind, to the fringes, and out of the peripheries of staff and faculty. He ensures that every student and their unique voices and talents are heard and harnessed. As a professor of pedagogy for the College Unbound Prison Education program, Dickson has redesigned its five-course sequence of class curricula and instructs these classes.Ashley Flood is a manager of student success coaching at Purdue Global. With experience in success coaching and K-12 education, she is committed to putting people first to drive student success. She manages a team of eight success coaches who work with students to create success plans to help them in their academic and personal achievements at the institution. This includes helping students navigate through basic-needs insecurities that they may be facing. Her major contributions include developing comprehensive training for the coaching teams, developing processes to implement Purdue Global’s best-in-class basic-needs support, and working with the tech team to develop tools and solutions to further enable coaching. Christopher Guymon is associate provost for academic programs and director of graduate studies at Utah Tech University. During his tenure, he has led the development of several online degrees; significantly increased enrollment in degrees and certificate programs; developed strategic relationships in Europe, East Asia, and South Asia; and created and executed a $2 million fundraising campaign to support students and faculty. Before joining Utah Tech in August 2020, he served at The University of Chicago as interim dean, and senior associate dean and COO. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

In another Enrollify Podcast Network crossover, Day joins Dustin to reflect on her amazing inaugural season of Talking Tactics and discuss what is to come in the year ahead. She also talks about her work at Ologie and teases her upcoming book all about email.Guest Name: Day Kibilds - Strategy Director at OlogieGuest Social Handle: LinkedInGuest Bio: Day is strategy director at Ologie, an employee-owned marketing and branding agency built for education. Prior to Ologie, Day led enrollment and digital innovation work at Penn State, Cornell and Western (Canada). She regularly speaks about enrollment marketing, email strategy, productivity and stakeholder management at conferences worldwide. Day is the host of Enrollify's Talking Tactics podcast, and is co-authoring a book about email to be released in spring 2024. As a lifelong immigrant who has lived in six different countries, equity and diversity are really important to her. She sees content as a tool for equity, and part of her motivation to work in higher ed is to help students access the educational institutions they deserve to be a part of. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Arina joins Dustin to share her perspective on how institutions can better lay out pathways from work to college and vice versa. She has examined the landscape thoroughly to find several gaps in how organizations work to support learners who have earned the increasingly complex world of microcredentials.Guest Name: Arina Berezovsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Let Me GraduateGuest Social Handle: LinkedInGuest Bio: Arina Berezovsky earned her Bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College where she was able to earn credit for the majority of her prior coursework thanks to Excelsior’s flexible transfer credit policy. It was during this process that she first learned about the American Council on Education (ACE) and various other innovative organizations working towards ensuring students are recognized for the skills and competencies they acquire both inside and outside the classroom. Arina has since been involved in various efforts to map the learning opportunities ecosystem in a push to increase access to higher education for students for whom synchronous, in-person content delivery may be a barrier. This work is also helping employers produce the tools needed to recognize prospective candidates who do not hold traditional postsecondary credentials. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Nick Dazé joins the podcast this week to discuss the trailblazing work happening at Heirloom around identity management. He shares the impact their innovative technology has had on academic credentials, which empower both students and institutions to experience far more fluidity, effectiveness, and efficiency.Guest Name: Nick Dazé, CEO of HeirloomGuest Social Handles: LinkedInGuest Bio: Nick Dazé is the co-founder and CEO of Heirloom, which builds no-code tools allowing schools and employers to tokenize credentials on the blockchain. Before co-founding Heirloom, he co-founded PocketList and was an early team member at tech companies such as Faraday Future ($FFIE), Fullscreen (acquired by AT&T), and Bit Kitchen (acquired by Medium as Knowable). - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Dustin is pleased to welcome Josh from Padcaster to the podcast this week to discuss his work supporting students in both K-12 schools and higher ed to learn how to create high quality content. He shares the importance of both intuitive hardware and software, as well as the continuum of building these skills early and awareness of how these skills can serve students at any point in their lives.Guest Name: Josh Apter - Owner at PadcasterGuest Social Handle: LinkedInGuest Bio: After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Josh Apter attended NYU’s Graduate Film program which enabled him over the years to have worked in all areas of filmmaking, from location sound recording on numerous feature films, to videographer and film editor. Josh then founded Padcaster to enable consumers to conveniently and easily realize their creative vision. Padcaster’s customers include some of the world’s most well known news corporations, professional service firms, government agencies, television news stations, journalists, reporters, schools, and filmmakers. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Fellow Enrollify host Jaimie Hunt joins Dustin this week to reflect on her nearly two years of hosting her amazing show, Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO. She shares lessons learned and looks forward to what is to come in the new year!Guest Name: Jaime Hunt - Vice President for University Communications & Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion UniversityGuest Social Handle: LinkedInGuest Bio: Transformation has been a hallmark of Jaime Hunt’s career. In her more than 18 years working in higher education, Jaime has proven herself to be a strategic, entrepreneurial, and innovative leader. Advancing higher education communications and marketing and – as she says – “busting silos” to achieve business objectives are her passions. Jaime is currently the vice president for university communications and chief marketing officer for Old Dominion University – her third vice presidency. Prior to joining the ODU family in 2022, she served as vice president and chief communications and marketing officer at Miami University (Ohio) and vice chancellor for strategic communications and chief marketing officer for Winston-Salem State University. She has also served in public relations, marketing, digital strategy and media relations leadership roles at three other institutions. Jaime holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

The use of audio content in courses is an exciting and relatively newer way to diversify the delivery of learning experiences, and builds upon the current momentum of podcasting. Adrienne shares how she got into this space and the advice she has for professionals looking to dive in. She also shares what she’s seeing on the horizon from her vantage point as a faculty member.Guest Name: Adrienne Trier-Bieniek, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at Valencia CollegeGuest Social Handles: Website, LinkedInGuest Bio: Adrienne Trier-Bieniek, Ph.D. is the author and editor of several books focused on pop culture including Sing Us a Song Piano Woman:  Female Fans and the Music of Tori Amos (2013 Scarecrow Press), Fan Girls and Media: Consuming Culture (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015) , Feminist Theory and Pop Culture: 2nd Edition (Brill, 2019) and Gender and Pop Culture: A Text-Reader: 2nd Edition. (Brill, 2019) Her education-focused podcast, Most Popular, has grown a modest following, been a featured podcast for several platforms, and was detailed in the journal Radio Journal, a publication she has also guest-edited. Her research can be found in Radio Journal, Qualitative Research and Humanity and Society as well as several book chapters. Additionally, she has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Glamour Magazine, USA Today, NPR France, The Tampa Bay Times, and has been a consultant for Reuters, Canadian Broadcasting Company, NPR France, and The Independent. She has been a guest columnist for The Orlando Sentinel and HuffPo. She is currently a professor of sociology at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.