Just Jared Podcast

What happens when a community’s greatest asset is also its greatest risk? Dean Jared Auclair sits down with Lara Brait, co-founder of the Atlantic Resiliency Innovation Institute (ARI) and executive director of the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce, to talk about how a local economic development meeting grew into a coastal hazards research lab and a blue economy workforce academy under one roof. From...

What happens when you let AI crash the conversation about the future of higher ed? Dean Jared Auclair sits down with EdD student Matthew Spearing and recent grad Gayathri Manoj for an unscripted, no-BS take on AI in education and the workplace — from student voice to AI literacy to why universities need to stop waiting for perfect answers and start experimenting. Nobody has it all figured out, but...

Jared sits down with Richard Meiklejohn of Lahey Clinic’s Innovation Hub and Diego Martins, a current CPS graduate student, to discuss Massachusetts' first registered apprenticeship in AI — a partnership between Northeastern, Lahey Clinic, and the state. Richard explains how the Innovation Hub, launched in mid-2025, is using the apprenticeship model to build talent from the ground up while giving...

Jared is joined by a national caregiver advocate, a wellness leader, and a mindfulness practitioner for a conversation about what it really costs to care. CPS students, faculty, and staff carry more into the classroom and the office than their coursework and project lists. They are raising children, supporting aging parents, managing chronic illness, and holding together households — often while p...

Dean Auclair sits down with Joseph Randall Kwadwo-Obeng Manford and Sushmitha Katherine Jayaraj in an honest reflection about what worked, what was surprising, and what could have been done differently during their journey at Northeastern. This is an authentic, unscripted glimpse into the CPS experience from the student perspective.  

CPS is centered on teaching and workforce and economic development, but our research is expanding to serve both of those core strengths.  The Center for Higher Education and Work (CHEW) is a great example of that as a lab that has successfully partnered with both public and private funders to deepen our understanding of the changing role of higher ed and the demands of shifting workforce and econo...

This episode focuses on a successful and expanding educational partnership that created an “associates to masters” pathway, allowing RCC students a seamless transition to a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree at Northeastern. Guests: Francesca Grippa, Senior Associate Dean of Research Earlene Avalon, Teaching Professor and Academic Lead Hillel Sims, Associate Vice President of Academic Af...

Dean Jared Auclair sits down with two leaders in the Bachelor’s Completion space at the College of Professional Studies to explore the value of the bachelor’s degree and the changing face of today’s bachelor’s student (hint: they have some live experience under their belt and are already in the workforce). Guests: Erin Clair , Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs Chris Cook , Senior Director, Lo...

Jared talks with two academic voices from the College of Professional Studies to explore the evolving philosophy of education. Together, they dive into what’s needed to shape the future of higher education, especially in relation to workforce development, and how the college is leading that transformation. Guests: Sasha Goldman , Director of Supplemental Academic Support & Assistant Teaching P...

Jared gets real with researchers and educators in the College of Professional Studies to discuss the importance of mental health during mental health awareness month. Revealing his own journey to identify personal mental health issues, Jared discusses the impact that evidence-based research can have on improving lives. Guests: Francesca Grippa, Senior Associate Dean of Research Kristen Lee, Teachi...

Jared talks with two alumni about the impact of their CPS experience to help them realize their goals and equipped them to make a difference. Guests: Carmen Aliber  (Double Husky) BS Organizational Communication, 2013 MS, Organizational Leadership/Human Resource Management, 2016 Puya Moghadam , BS Information Technology 2024

Jared invites ElevateBio Senior Vice President of Global Head of Government Affairs, Heidi Wagner for a virtual conversation about the growing importance of collaboration between higher education and industry to meet the needs of learners and the workforce.  Joining Jared for the episode: Heidi Wagner , Senior Vice President, Global Head of Government Affairs, ElevateBio

Jared sits down with Amanda Welsh, Associate Dean Workforce and Economic Development and Chris Cook, Senior Director, Workforce and Economic Development to explore the vital importance of workforce and economic development and CPS’s role in advancing collaborative programing to connect learners with industry needs.  **Correction: at the 40:24 mark, Amanda mentions a statistic of 40% of the workfor...

Jared discusses the impact of AI on the educational and industry landscape, as well as what CPS is doing to ensure learners are prepared to thrive in an increasingly dynamic workplace. Joining Jared for the episode: Uwe Hohgrawe , Associate Dean Global Network and Product Development Allison Ruda , Associate Dean Use-Inspired Research & Development

Jared discusses life at CPS, the challenges of building community in a non-residential college experience, thoughts on the role of AI i, and the realities of balancing studies with other demands like family and work. It’s not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.  Special Guests:  Valeria Garcia Niin, MPS Digital Media – Connect   Seniyah Hood, BS Interdisciplinary St   Randel Azcona, BS Manageme...