Episodes of YOUR Higher Education Podcast

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Kathy Bakhit, Community College Faculty Fellow, University of La Verne
In this episode, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog


YOUR host is Dr. Jodi Blinco

How does a redesigned doctoral program with research built into coursework ensure students graduate with dissertations in hand instead of becoming ABDs?


Why does an immigrant woman who started in ESL classes ...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with ⁠Dr. Joe Parisi, President, Missouri Valley College
In this episode, President Series #480, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog


YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio

How does a college with students from 63 countries, 5 NFR world champion rodeo grads & a new trap & skeet national title post record enrollment, retention & graduation year over year?


...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Charlie Nguyen, Founder & CEO, Employer-Funded Financial Aid (EFFA) Inc.
In this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,


YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How does flipping the tuition reimbursement model from pay first to direct bill finally solve the problem when employees take out loans, get reimbursed & then spend the money instead of paying off the debt?


Why is tuition benefit no longer...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Marsha Familaro Enright, President, Reliance College Fund
In this episode, President Series #479, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Jodi Blinco
How does a Montessori educator who ran an elementary school for 25 years now work to start a college focused on strengthening reasoning power & self confidence?

Why are tech CEOs telli...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Jesse M. Bernal, President, Western Connecticut State University
In this episode, President Series #478, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does Connecticut's largest public Hispanic serving institution with 40% Pell students & families making under $75,000 become #1 in the state for social mobility?

Why d...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Dale Nesbary, Interim Executive Director, University System of Maryland
In this episode, President Series #477, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a university center 7 miles from the world's largest naval test air station bring programs from 12 universities to 500,000 underserved residents of Southern...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp!

And the HigherEd PodCon Awards finalists are...

Outstanding Podcast Series
“Where What If Becomes What’s Next” (Carnegie Mellon University) - Randy Scott
“Lab Coat Optional” (Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise) - Pete Zrioka
“Policy and Governance Perspectives” (George Mason University) - David Ramadan
Episode of the Year
“Individual Choices, Challenges, and Social Changes” Series: Good Is In The Details - Gwendolyn Dolske (Cal Poly Pomona) and Rudy Salo (Ch...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Shawn Powell, President, Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell
In this episode, President Series #476, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a community college on a former SAC bomber base where the Enola Gay stopped serve rural southeastern New Mexico with nursing, aviation maintenance & workforce cred...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Kevin Halle, VP for Enrollment Management, Wayne State College
In this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,

YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Jodi Blinco
How does a campus of 4,500 students with 50% first generation & 40% Pell eligible create an environment where even the newest employee feels it's conducive to welcoming new students?

Why do Wildcat Chats at Starbucks & meetups in the community matter when famili...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Charles R. Modica, Chancellor, St. George's University
In this episode, President Series #475, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a self-appointed chancellor who founded a medical school in Grenada at 25 celebrate 50 years leading the same institution?

Why did writing Harvard, Yale & Stanford for curricul...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Zev Eleff, President, Gratz College
In this episode, President Series #474, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does the oldest Jewishly sponsored college in North America grow from 400 to 700 graduate students as the field leader in Holocaust & Antisemitism Studies?

Why does a 40 year old president who started...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Alisa White, President, Sam Houston State University
In this episode, President Series #473, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does the only Texas university with polytechnic authority stack credentials from certificates to doctoral degrees all in 1 institution?

Why does meeting students where they are ma...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Chris Vitelli, President, Merced College
In this episode, President Series #472, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR cohost is Christi Segal, Vice President Managed Services & Executive Business Engagement, Ellucian
YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a Hispanic serving institution in the gateway to Yosemite serve 21,000+ students wh...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Maura Flaschner, Assistant Vice President Undergraduate Admissions & Student Success, Florida Atlantic University
In this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,

YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does combining undergraduate admissions & student success under one leader ensure that the students who enroll are best fit students who are going to retain & graduate?

Why are students saying they found y...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Rob Pepper, President, Huntington University
In this episode, President Series #471, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR cohost is Bridget Moran , Director of Content Marketing, Coursedog
YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a Northeast Indiana liberal arts university serve dual enrollment, traditional, working adults & graduate stude...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with ⁠Ethan Pollack, Senior Director of Financing the Future Initiative, Jobs For the Future (JFF)
In this episode, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does outcomes based financing shift risk away from students by basing payments on earnings rather than fixed dollar amounts?

Why did Purdue's Back a Boiler ISA increase completion by 3 points ...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Susan Looney, President, Reading Area Community College (RAC)
In this episode, President Series #470, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does the largest college in Berks County serve 8,500 students at $6,500 per year while 6 college presidents meet quarterly as partners not competitors?

Why do community c...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Hunter Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Sophia Learning
In this episode, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog


YOUR cohost is Mark Milliron, President, National University
YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Jodi Blinco

How does a 25 year old nonprofit focused on equitable social mobility use coaching to help students unlock their potential & reach their goals across the full student life ...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Jamie Ceman, Senior Executive VP of Reputation Services, & Myla Edmond, VP of Integrated Marketing, EducationDynamics
In this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,

YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does reputation management become a long game driver for revenue when your reputation is in the room long before students are making a decision?

Why do marketing & communications leaders get relegated ...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Ruth Bauer, President, InsideTrack
In this episode, sponsored by the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a 25 year old nonprofit focused on equitable social mobility use coaching to help students unlock their potential & reach their goals across the full student life cycle?

Why does re-enrollment coaching for stopped out students build trust with institutions throug...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Nora Miller, President, Mississippi University for Women
In this episode, President Series #469, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Jodi Blinco
How does the 1st state supported college for women founded in 1884 now serve 20 to 25% male enrollment with a nursing program in the top 4% nationally?

Why does partnering with rural hospitals to grow t...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Rachel Gordon, Vice President of Student Financial Aid Services, American University of Antigua College of Medicine
In this episode, part of our Voices in Financial Aid Leadership Series, sponsored by YELO Funding
YOUR host is ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Jodi Blinco
How does a financial aid leader with over 30k LinkedIn followers & over 2 million impressions create centralized systems that support enrollment outcomes?

Why is admissions the window but financial aid is the door when stud...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Heather Perfetti, President, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Selena Grace, President, Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities, Dr. Maria Toyoda, President, WASC Senior College & University Commission, Dr. Rebecca Busacca, President, The National Accreditation Commission
In this episode, sponsored by the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How do ...

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Erin Shy, CEO, Watermark
In this episode, sponsored by the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by Coursedog

YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio
How does a system of record for the provost finally exist when every other leader has their SIS, CRM, LMS & ERP but the provost has been eating last for decades?

Why does the anecdote trap hurt higher ed when provosts can tell you about one great student but can't answer how many g...