IngenioUs

In this inspiring new episode, host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Patty Lynott , President of RockfordUniversity, to explore how unwavering optimism and strategic risk-taking can transform both careers and institutions. What You'll Learn: How career setbacks can become unexpected launching pads for extraordinary growth. Why "hands-off" leadership often produces the most re...

What happens when an entire university could be run by a single academic, supported almost entirely by AI? In this provocative installment of his University Design column, David Staley explores the emerging concept of the “soloversity”—a higher education institution operated by one human professor with a network of AI agents handling teaching support, administration, research, and student services...

Join host Melissa Morriss-Olson for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Rhona C. Free , president of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. As the first non-Catholic president of this Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Dr. Free has transformed USJ into what the Carnegie Foundation recently recognized as an "opportunity college"—one of only 16% of...

In this month’s University Design column, David Stale y explores the provocative idea of The Agentic Student . With AI agents increasingly embedded in our daily lives, what happens when students begin sending them to class—not just to take notes, but to participate, ask questions, and even take exams? Staley examines the possibilities and challenges of this emerging “representative education,” whe...

About This Episode Join host Melissa Morriss-Olson for an extraordinary conversation with Dr. Danielle Wilken, President of the University of Bridgeport, as she shares her remarkable journey from a 20-year career at Goodwin University to leading one of higher education's most compelling turnaround stories. This episode offers rare insights into transformational leadership, authentic communication,...

In this episode of the IngenioUs podcast, host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills , president of Aurora University and the first Latina to lead the institution. Susana’s inspiring journey—from immigrating to the United States during the Salvadoran Civil War to becoming a transformative leader in higher education—offers a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and purpos...

What if we told you that the most successful higher education leaders don't avoid chaos—they harness it? While others are paralyzed by uncertainty, these "chaos pilots" are transforming disruption into opportunity, setbacks into sidesteps, and ambiguity into innovation. In today's release—the fifth installment of Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson's  IngenioUs Leadership  blog series—...

In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs , host Melissa Morriss-Olson speaks with Dr. Marcheta Evans , the 12th—and first African American—president of St. Catherine University in Minnesota. With warmth, wisdom, and conviction,Dr. Evans shares her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in the segregated South to the highest levels of higher education leadership. Listeners will gain insight int...

In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs , host Dr. MelissaMorriss-Olson speaks with Eileen Moran Brown , founding president of Cambridge College , whose legacy in higher education is both bold and deeply human. With no blueprint but an unwavering belief in the potential of underservedlearners, Eileen built one of the most progressive and inclusive colleges in the country—long before terms like “acc...

What does it take to lead through waves of challenge, transformation, and deep institutional change—without losing your sense of purpose? In this week’s IngenioUs episode, I sit down with Dr. Sandra Harper , a seasoned and celebrated higher ed leader whose story is both refreshingly candid and deeply inspiring. Dr. Harper is a two-time university president, the first woman and first Catholic to le...

What does it take to build a new kind of university from the ground up—and lead it with both strategy and soul? In this powerful episode of IngenioUs , we sit down with Dr. Lori Carrell , Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), whose leadership journey is as courageous as it is unconventional. From her early days teaching in a remote Alaskan village to co-leading a national init...

In this powerful episode of IngenioUs , we sit down with Dr. Kate Smith , President of Rio Salado College— widely recognized as America’s OnlineCommunity College—for a deep and inspiring conversation about what it truly means to lead with both heart and fire. A lifelong educator who began her career in the classroom, Kate neverintended to become a college president. But as you'll hear, her journey...

Perpendicular Futures: A Footlights College In this imaginative and thought-provoking episode, futurist and historian Dr. David Staley reads his latest blog article , “Perpendicular Futures: A Footlights College.” Known for his boundary-pushing scenarios for the future of higher education, Staley offers a bold and unexpected vision: What if colleges used performance arts—like theater and show choi...

In this special mini-episode, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson takes listeners inside Chapter 6 of her book, IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education. Through short, powerful audio clips from interviews with some of higher education’s most visionary leaders, Melissa illustrates seven leadership practices that unleash true innovation in today's dynamic and demanding...

In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs , host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls , the 14th—and only the second woman—president of Washington & Jefferson College. With over twodecades of leadership experience and a powerful personal story shaped by trailblazing women mentors, Dr. MacLeod Walls offers a compelling vision for the future of liberal arts education.  F...

What does it take to lead across sectors, clear hurdles, andcultivate possibility — not just for yourself, but for others? In this episode of IngenioUs , we sit down with Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the first woman to serve as president of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, andthe first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from her state. President Herseth Sandlin shar...

In his newest University Design blog post, futurist and higher education thought leader David J. Staley invites us to rethink the very foundation of undergraduate education: the major. Staley challenges the brittle, hyperspecialized approach that dominates college pathways today. Drawing from new research and emerging models like the Field of Study approach, he makes a compelling case for a more r...

In this week’s IngenioUs U episode, we sit down with Tracy Hartzler , President of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) , to explore how values-based leadership, strategic foresight, and collaborative innovation are transforming the community college landscape. With a rich background in law, public policy, and finance,Tracy brings a distinctive lens to her role—one that is both deeply pragma...

We are excited to share with you our latest episode—a powerful conversation with Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson , President of San José State University. In this episode, we explore President Matson's journeyfrom being a first-generation college student to becoming a transformational university president. Along the way, she shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, the role of mentor...

Higher education is at a crossroads. With college closures increasing, public confidence declining, and financial pressures mounting, institutions must rethink what leadership looks like in this moment of crisis. What if the answer has been in front of us all along?  In her latest  ⁠ IngenioUs ⁠  blog,  Higher Education is in Crisis. Women Leaders May Hold the Key. ,  ⁠Melissa Morriss-Olson⁠  expl...

Leadership is a journey—one filled with unexpected twists,challenges, and, if you're lucky, a few game-changing 'aha' moments along the way. Our guest today, Dr. Barbara K. Mistick, knows this better than most. As the president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), she’s been at the forefront of higher education policy and innovation. But Barbara’s path to l...

What does it take to go from working on the assembly line atGeneral Motors to leading a college that transforms thousands of lives eachyear? Meet Dr. Annette Parker. As the longtime president of South Central College, Dr. Parker has dedicated her career to student success, workforce innovation, and breaking barriers. Her story is one of resilience, bold leadership, and a deep commitment to opening...

In his latest University Designs column and conversation, David Staley discusses the concept of plasticity in universities, drawing parallels with neuroplasticity in the human brain. He explores the challenges of institutional transformation and the importance of mindset shifts, as articulated in J essica Riddell' s work on hope circuits. The discussion emphasizes the need for universities to adap...

IngenioUs Leadership Series: The Power of Purposeful Leadership In this episode of IngenioUs , Melissa Morriss-Olson explores how visionary leaders ground their decisions in a deep sense of purpose, using their personal and institutional missions to drive meaningful change. Leadership isn’t just about holding a title—it’s about leading with conviction, aligning with your "why," and using...

In this engaging interview, President Tuajuanda Jordan of St. Mary’s College of Maryland offers an authentic glimpse into her inspiring leadership journey. Her unique blend of humility, resilience, and visionary thinking has guided her through transformative achievements at the institution and beyond. As she approaches retirement, President Jordan reflects on the forces that shaped her, the challe...