The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

In this special bonus episode, Dustin sits down with Dr. Chris Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, to unpack how creating strategic content like podcasts can serve as a dynamic enrollment and marketing tool in higher ed. Chris shares his multi-decade journey through higher education, his love for storytelling, and how he’s turned personal content-creation skills into professional wins. With the eduWeb Summit just around the corner, Chris also offers a preview of his upcoming talk and some candid truths about what it really takes to make podcasting work for institutions.Guest Name: Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs, University of Michigan-FlintGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Dr. Lewis currently serves as the Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan- Flint, where he has successfully increased enrollment, revitalized graduate admissions policies, and enhanced student engagement through innovative initiatives, including the creation of the Victors in Grad School and Law School Insider podcasts. His leadership extends beyond administration — he is a thought leader committed to elevating the graduate student experience. Dr. Lewis has held pivotal roles at institutions such as Lansing Community College, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc, and Grand Valley State University. His expertise spans student services, enrollment management, strategic planning, and digital engagement—always with a focus on student success, equity, and access. - - - -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 special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Ana Homayoun, executive functioning expert, author, and founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting and Luminaria Learning. Ana has spent 25 years helping students develop the organization, planning, and adaptability skills they need to thrive in school, work, and life. She explains why higher ed institutions must start teaching executive functioning skills, how this can boost retention and student well-being, and why these abilities are just as critical as technical knowledge for career success.Guest Name: Ana Homayoun - Author, Nonprofit Executive, & Independent Academic AdvisorGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Ana Homayoun is a noted author, academic advisor, and early career development strategist. Her work focuses on helping students develop executive functioning skills in today's technology and social media world. Her latest book, Erasing the Finish Line: The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades and College Admissions, underscores the fundamental skills needed for academic success, emotional well-being and long-term workforce development. Ana is the founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting, a Silicon Valley-based academic advising firm that helps students, parents and educators with crucial executive function and life-management skills. She is also the founder and executive director of Luminaria Learning Solutions, a non-profit initiative developing the Life Navigator School Advisory Program, an executive function skills curriculum rooted in social and emotional well-being that aims to prepare students for success in and outside of the classroom. - - - -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 episode, Dustin Ramsdell sits down with Scott Anderberg, CEO at Moodle, for a deep conversation on why open source matters more than ever in higher education. Scott shares how Moodle’s global reach, customizable architecture, and vibrant community are shaping more inclusive, creative, and scalable learning experiences. Plus, the duo gets real about AI’s potential—not as a threat, but as a tool to help educators and learners thrive.Guest Name: Scott Anderberg, CEO, MoodleGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Scott Anderberg has dedicated his career to supporting universities around the world to develop and deliver better educational experiences online. He started this journey in the USA at the eCollege help desk, directly supporting educators and students in their teaching and learning activities and was instrumental in their product, sales and account management functions. Following the acquisition of eCollege by Pearson, Scott spent 15 years in roles spanning from market development across EMEA to establishing and launching Pearson’s Online Program Management business in Australia and leading Pearson’s Online Learning Services business in markets outside of North America.Scott joined Moodle in February 2024 to replace Moodle Founder Martin Dougiamas, who after 24 years as CEO, announced his transition to Head of Research. Scott is incredibly excited to be joining the Moodle community to continue to enable Moodle's impact for educators and students around the world. - - - -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 special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of Complete College America (CCA), a national advocacy organization dedicated to helping more students access, persist, and graduate from college on time. Yolanda shares CCA’s systems-level approach to student success, the importance of transfer-friendly policies, and how institutions must shift from being college-ready to student-ready. She also discusses CCA’s Council on Equitable AI and how AI can support, rather than hinder, student success. If you're passionate about higher ed reform, retention, and equity, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!Guest Name: Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva - President at Complete College AmericaGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Dr. Watson Spiva’s 25+ year career in postsecondary education spans a range of executive leadership, general management, federal government, public affairs, operations and academic officer positions. Dr. Watson Spiva serves as the President of Complete College America (CCA). Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, CCA is a bold national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates and closing equity gaps by working with states, systems, institutions, and partners to scale highly effective structural reforms and promote policies that improve student success. CCA has become a national leader in the movement to dramatically increase the percentage of individuals earning a postsecondary credential. Complete College America is organized as an Alliance of 53 (and growing) states, territories, and higher education consortia where executives have committed to ambitious goals of increasing college completion rates, tracking progress toward their goals and implementing a set of evidence-based practices or “Game Changers” that have proven to dramatically increase college completion rates. - - - -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 special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Diego Arambula, Vice President of Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation. Diego discusses how higher education must evolve to remain a powerful engine for economic opportunity — especially for students who are furthest from it. He unpacks the need to rethink degree structures, the role of digital transformation, and how institutions can better prepare students for career success. Tune in to hear how the Carnegie Foundation is leading efforts to reshape college classifications and workforce connections for the next generation of learners.Guest Name: Diego Arambula - Vice President of Educational Transformation, Carnegie FoundationGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Diego Arambula is vice president for educational transformation at the Carnegie Foundation. As vice president, Diego leads ambitious, actionable strategies and builds partnerships with educators, policy makers, parents, employers and community based organizations to advance Carnegie’s mission. Diego exercises his passion for transformational change in education through his positions on multiple boards. In 2020, he was appointed to an 8-year term as trustee for the California State University System, the largest and most diverse postsecondary system in the nation. At CSU, he serves as chair of the Education Policy Committee. He also serves as board chair of Summit Public Schools and the Central Valley Community Foundation. He received his bachelor’s (A.B.) in government from Harvard University and a master’s in education from Stanford 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.

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Halley Hoot from Summer Discovery. Halley shares how her team partners with top universities to offer transformative summer learning experiences for students as young as first grade through high school. She discusses how these programs not only expose students to college-level academics but also help them develop critical life skills and career clarity. Tune in to hear how experiential learning, AI-driven courses, and global education trends are shaping the future of pre-college programs.Guest Name: Halley Hoot, Director of Domestic Recruitment & Customer Success at Summer DiscoveryGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Halley Hoot is the Director of Domestic Recruitment & Customer Success at Summer Discovery where she leads a team of professionals who are dedicated to providing superior pre-college programs for middle and high school students. Halley aids in developing students for the 21st century and teaching transferable skills coveted by employers and university admissions teams.In addition Halley is also passionate about supporting the development of gifted, academically talented, and creative students through Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG). At SIG, she helps with summer programs emphasizing developing the whole person and using a STEAM+ curriculum, to let students explore their interests and passions. Halley holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Fashion Merchandising from LIM College. - - - -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.

What does it look like when faculty lead the charge in building AI-powered learning tools—without losing their human-centered roots? In this live episode from the AI Show at the ASU+GSV Summit, Dustin speaks with UCLA professor Dr. Zrinka Stahuljak and PhD candidate Elizabeth Landers about their work developing a first-of-its-kind AI-assisted, human-guided textbook for a large general education class.But this isn’t about replacing faculty—it’s about freeing them up. Freeing up time for deeper conversations. For more feedback. For actual teaching. You’ll hear how they partnered with Kudu to build an integrated learning experience that enhances accessibility, strengthens writing instruction, and makes space for meaningful, student-centered engagement. - - - -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 special live episode recorded live at the AI Show at ASU+GSV, Dustin and guest Tara Gilboa unpack how her work at Zal.AI is helping higher ed institutions build real-time, skills-based pathways between education and employment.Tara breaks down what it actually takes to align curriculum with workforce needs, how AI is the secret ingredient to faster, smarter decision-making, and why we need to ditch static PDFs for dynamic, collaborative systems. Plus, she offers a sneak peek into the groundbreaking Quantum Talent Partnership—one of the most ambitious workforce alignment initiatives in the country.Guest Name: Tara Gilboa, VP of Partnerships, Zal.aiGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Tara Gilboa is the Vice President of Partnerships at Zal.ai, where she is advancing a more aligned and equitable workforce ecosystem to power the future of skills-based hiring. Prior to Zal.ai, she served as Executive Director of Colorado’s Tech Talent Partnership, an initiative of ActivateWork that convened an employer-led steering committee and an education task force to build pathways into high-growth tech careers. Tara has also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor with the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator for the past seven years, bringing deep insight into scaling innovation. Tara is driven by a passion for designing solutions that drive both economic mobility and human potential. - - - -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 special live episode recorded live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV, Dustin sits down with Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan—AI strategist at San Francisco Bay University—for a thought-provoking and practical look at how AI is reshaping the university experience. From tutoring and enrollment to mental health support and empathy-driven VR, Shalini shares how she’s embedding AI into every corner of the campus ecosystem.This conversation covers both the bold possibilities and the essential guardrails needed as higher ed steps into a rapidly evolving AI landscape. It’s a call to reimagine—not just digitize—the future of college.Guest Name: Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan, AI Strategist, San Francisco Bay UniversityGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan is an AI Strategist at San Francisco Bay University. She has been a serial entrepreneur , researcher, international speaker and author. Her research interests include Technology and analytics to build and accelerate social enterprises, public policy in entrepreneurship, women leadership and impact investing. - - - -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.

Julia Dixon, Forbes 30 Under 30 and founder of ESAI, joins Dustin live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV to unpack how her AI-powered platform is helping students craft authentic, compelling college essays—without crossing ethical lines.Drawing from her years as an admissions advisor, Julia explains why storytelling is the ultimate soft skill in today’s AI-driven world—and how the right tools can empower students to own their narrative, impress admissions officers, and build a lifelong practice of self-expression.Guest Name: Julia Dixon - Founder and CEO at ESAIGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Julia Dixon is the Founder and CEO of ESAI (pronounced [ES] + [AY] + [EYE]), the storytelling platform for college applicants and young professionals. As a former college advisor, Julia saw a major inequality emerging as only the wealthiest families could afford resources for their students to stand out and get into the most competitive colleges and universities. She created ESAI to help level the playing field, so students of all backgrounds and resources could have a fair shot at telling their unique stories. - - - -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.