

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Dustin Ramsdell
The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 26, 2024 • 18min
Bonus Live Episode from Engage Summit: Maya Demishkevich on Elevating Community Colleges with Marketing
In this special live episode recorded at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, Dustin chats with Maya about her podcast, "The Hidden Gem," which aims to transform the narrative around community colleges. She emphasizes the importance of marketing and communications in elevating community colleges' profiles and addresses the challenges they face, including limited resources and under-appreciation. Maya also shares insights on digital transformation, particularly the integration of AI, and how it can enhance efficiency and create delightful student experiences.Guest Name: Maya Demishkevich, Chief Marketing Officer at Carroll Community CollegeGuest 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.

Jun 25, 2024 • 19min
Bonus Live Episode from Engage Summit: Shane Baglini on Breaking Silos and Digital Evolution at Muhlenberg College
In this special live episode recorded at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, Dustin chats with Shane about his journey into podcasting as well as the importance of cross-campus partnerships. Shane shares actionable insights on how to break down silos in higher education. and highlights successful collaborations that have made a significant impact on his campus.Guest Name: Shane Baglini, Senior Director of Marketing at Muhlenberg CollegeGuest 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.

Jun 19, 2024 • 28min
Episode #235: Harnessing AI for Personalized Learning and Workforce Development
This week, Dustin chats with Kayvon Touran, CEO and co-founder of Zal.ai. Kayvon shares his journey in early-stage tech startups and the inspiration behind creating Zal.ai, a platform that uses AI to provide contextualized, personalized assessments for learning and development. They discuss the importance of AI in enhancing both higher education and workforce development, focusing on the potential for AI to make learning more dynamic, interactive, and aligned with individual and organizational goals.Guest Name: Kayvon Touran, CEO and Co-Founder of Zal.aiGuest Social Handles: LinkedInGuest Bio: Kayvon Touran has spent his entire career working in early stage technology startups, and most recently as a product leader in education technology where he created and implemented a next generation lifelong learning platform for higher education institutions.
- - - -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.

Jun 13, 2024 • 2min
Enrollify.org Relaunch: More Content, More Community
In this Bonus announcement, join Mallory, Chief Strategist of Enrollify, as she introduces the newly relaunched Enrollify.org. This episode highlights the fresh features and content now available on the site, emphasizing Enrollify’s commitment to revolutionizing higher education. Learn about the variety of resources—from podcasts to ourses to webinars—that can help professionals make impactful changes in their careers and institutions.
- - - -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.

Jun 12, 2024 • 34min
Episode #234: From Students to Citizens: How Campus Compact Builds Community Leaders
We’re proud this week to feature Natalie Furlett and Will Brummett from Campus Compact, an organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement in higher education. Natalie and Will discuss their roles and share the impactful work Campus Compact does to support student and institutional outcomes. They explore the importance of student voice, community engagement, and the positive effects of these efforts on students' personal and professional development. The conversation highlights the significance of fostering strong town-gown relationships and integrating civic engagement into the core of higher education.Guest Names:Natalie Furlett, Senior Director of Member & Student EngagementWilliam Brummett, Student Engagement Manager at Campus CompactGuest Bios:Natalie Furlett is the Senior Director of Member and Student Engagement for Campus Compact, the nation’s largest national organization dedicated to higher education civic and community engagement. In this role, Natalie leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen campus engagement with their local communities and the Campus Compact network.Will serves as the Student Engagement Manager at Campus Compact. In this role, he supports students who are civic and community engagement leaders to develop the skills, connections, and resources to make equitable and sustainable changes in their communities and their own lives. His role manages the Newman Civic Fellowship, the student leadership design team, Student Compact, and all other student engagement programs.Guest Social Handles: Natalie LinkedInWilliam 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.

Jun 5, 2024 • 33min
Episode #233: Live from SXSW EDU 2024 - Creating Equitable Pathways for Diverse Learners
In this episode recorded live in Austin at SXSW EDU 2024, Dustin chats with Eva about the work her and her team at Capital IDEA do to support diverse learners achieve careers in fields like healthcare and tech. She explains the nuances of how to personalize each student’s experience to set them on a path for success. Guest Name: Eva Rios-Lleverino, Deputy Executive Director at Capital IDEAGuest Social Handles: LinkedInGuest Bio: Eva Rios-Lleverino has been with Capital IDEA since its launch in 1998. She plays an instrumental role in leading the organization’s programmatic operations and administration. Eva has more than 25 years of experience in the higher education and nonprofit sectors. She was selected as a McBee Fellow by the Austin Area Research Organization in 2014, and was named an Emerging Leader in 2012 through the Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders’ Leadership Program. She is a 2007 graduate of the Hispanic Austin Leadership Class and a 2004 recipient of the Austin Business Journal’s “Rising Star Award.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M International University. Her passion for Capital IDEA’s mission is centered on a desire to provide opportunities for people to have a better future and to see lives changed forever.
- - - -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.

May 29, 2024 • 32min
Episode #232: Live from SXSW EDU 2024 - Driving the Future of Digital Learning
In this episode recorded live in Austin at SXSW EDU 2024, Dustin speaks with Carl about his work building Construct Education into one of the world’s leading digital learning companies and what he sees on the horizon for higher education. Guest Name: Carl Dawson - Co-Founder & CEO North America at Construct Education Guest Social Handles: LinkedInGuest Bio: Carl Dawson co-founded Construct Education in 2013, a rapid growth company that provides digital learning solutions to clients across the UK, USA, Australia, and South Africa. He has shaped digital learning strategies for global entities, including the UK Cabinet Office, the Prime Minister of Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia's desert tech programs, and the Bank of England. He has also collaborated with universities like Oxford, Howard, Michigan, and Tennessee on academic innovation. In 2021, he became an advisor to the World Bank and IFC on digital and blended learning. Carl holds a BA in British Politics and Legislative Studies from the University of Hull and a Transformational Leaders Fellowship from Oxford. He is fluent in French and Spanish and has PRINCE2 Agile® Project Management Certifications.
- - - -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.

May 22, 2024 • 25min
Episode #231: Live from SXSW EDU 2024 - Harnessing Education Technology for Social Impact
In this episode recorded live in Austin at SXSW EDU 2024, Dustin speaks with Juanita about her efforts to bridge gaps between work, learning, technology, and the social good. She shares details about the collaboration between edX and Verizon as an example of leveraging corporate partners and education technology to address systemic issues. Guest Name: Juanita Soranno - Vice President, Global Social Impact & Innovation at edXGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Juanita Soranno’s career spans over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, finance, and social impact. As a leader in the education technology sector, she has had the privilege of driving significant initiatives that leverage technology for social good, transcending traditional educational boundaries and touching lives across the globe. Holding an MBA with a specialization in Technology & Innovation Management from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Juanita’s journey has been marked by a commitment to sustainable growth through innovation.
- - - -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.

May 15, 2024 • 33min
Episode #230: Live from SXSW EDU 2024 - Addressing the Stop Out Student Crisis
In this episode recorded live in Austin at SXSW EDU 2024, Dustin chats with Terah about her commitment to supporting stop out students all over the country. She details the urgency of this issue and the methods for higher education to address it.Guest Name: Terah Crews, CEO at ReUp EducationGuest Social Handles: LinkedInGuest Bio: Terah is the CEO of ReUp Education, the national leader in serving the 41M Americans with some college no credential (SCNC). ReUp pioneered the SCNC space 8 years ago at its founding. It is now leading the industry in supporting even more SCNC learners through innovative new technology and state government partnerships to get more people back to school and on to a better life and a more prosperous economy. Prior to ReUp, Terah was the Vice President of Learning Marketplace Solutions at edtech unicorn and education benefit provider Guild. Prior to Guild, she was Senior Partner at Entangled Group, an education venture studio and strategy consultancy acquired by Guild in 2020. Terah is a former high school stopout who went on to receive degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill, Brown, and Harvard.
- - - -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.

May 8, 2024 • 30min
Episode #229: Live from SXSW EDU 2024 - Designing the Future of Work and Education
In this episode recorded live in Austin at SXSW EDU 2024, Dustin chats with Don about the unique work of the Education Design Lab and their approach to help build a smarter ecosystem that better serves the needs of learners, employers, and institutions.Guest Name: Don Fraser, Senior Vice President of Design & Innovation at the Education Design LabGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: As the Education Design Lab’s Senior Vice President, Design + Innovation, Don is responsible for measuring and driving innovation and emerging programs at the Lab, as well as strengthening the Lab’s reputation as a leader in equity-based, human-centered design and the design of scalable education + workforce solutions. Don is instrumental in identifying strategic partners to amplify the Lab’s design work and associated products and building ecosystem partnerships and employer relationships.Don is a nationally recognized expert in postsecondary planning and college success. He has an acute understanding of the learner experience, as well as ways in which schools across the K-16 spectrum can develop innovative programs in order to foster learner success and increase economic mobility, especially for those from historically underrepresented populations. He believes deeply in the combination of technology and interpersonal relationships as a means to improve learner outcomes.
- - - -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.