Oct. 20, 2026

What If Your Mentor Met With You Every Single Week? - with Debbie Fowler, SVP, Academic Delivery, Western Governors University

Key Takeaways

Debbie Fowler transitioned from a background in law with no prior higher education experience to leading 3,000 faculty and staff over a 21-year tenure at Western Governors University.
Western Governors University prioritizes strong student support by having mentors meet with students every single week to guide their academic progress.
Weekly mentor meetings serve as one of the most effective tools for detecting and preventing academic integrity issues before they escalate.
Academic integrity in professional programs like nursing is critical because cheating in school directly compromises safety in real-world patient care environments.
This episode is part of the Academic Integrity Series, powered by Integrity4Education and co-hosted by Jamie Morris.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Debbie Fowler, SVP, Academic Delivery, Western Governors University

In this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, powered by ⁠Integrity4Education

YOUR cohost is Jamie Morris, VP of Partnerships, ⁠Integrity4Education

YOUR host is Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How does a recovering lawyer with no higher ed experience end up leading 3,000 faculty & staff across 21 years at WGU?
Why does cheating yourself also mean you might hurt someone else when that nursing student has a needle in your vein?
What makes mentors meeting with students every week one of the best tools for detecting academic integrity issues?

Listen in to #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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Debbie Fowler?

Debbie Fowler is the Senior Vice President of Academic Delivery at Western Governors University, bringing over two decades of leadership experience to higher education.

What is Western Governors University known for in this episode?

Western Governors University is highlighted for its innovative academic delivery models, particularly its weekly mentoring system that supports student success and maintains academic integrity.

Why is academic integrity emphasized so heavily in programs like nursing?

Academic integrity is crucial in professional programs because cutting corners during education can lead to dangerous and harmful mistakes when students enter their actual careers, such as healthcare.