Scholar Scoop

In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with Vernon Wall, a higher-education professional, leadership educator, and longtime student development leader whose work has helped college students and administrators think more deeply about values, purpose, and leadership. Vernon works with LeaderShape, supporting leadership development programs on college campuses, and has spent his ca...

What if the school you didn’t expect to choose becomes exactly where you’re meant to be? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin welcomes the show’s first current student guest: LayLa Davis, a junior at the University of Kentucky and Vice President of the NSCS National Leadership Council. LayLa shares how she went from being waitlisted at her dream school, Purdue, to accepting a full ride...

Wondering how AI might change your path through college? In this replay episode of Scholar Scoop , we’re revisiting Steve Loflin’s conversation with AI pioneer and entrepreneur Anne Balduzzi, who’s spent decades at the forefront of innovation with companies like AOL and Apple. Anne shares practical insights into how students can harness AI to gain an edge - whether applying to college, selecting a...

In this replay episode of Scholar Scoop , we’re revisiting Steve Loflin’s conversation with Marlo Lyons, career coach and author of Wanted → My First Career , a guide designed to help students and recent graduates successfully transition from college to the workforce. Marlo joins Steve to talk about one of the biggest questions students face: How do I start building a career that is not only succe...

What if your first job is not a lifelong commitment, but the first step in discovering what matters to you? In this episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with Todd Altomare, faculty member at Arizona State University and advisor to the NSCS chapter at ASU, for a practical conversation about career paths, leadership, networking, mentorship, and the value of staying open to unexpected opp...

What if the path you planned is not the path that leads you where you are meant to go? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with Jill Mitchell, professor of accounting at the University of Virginia, former textbook author, and award-winning educator, to talk about career pivots, student success, and the relationships that can shape your future. Jill shares her winding journey...

What happens when a high school student takes one deeply personal experience and turns it into a national movement? In this powerful episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Yasmine Arrington Brooks , founder of ScholarCHIPS , CNN Hero, and L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, to talk about transforming the pain of parental incarceration into scholarships, mentorship, and community for...

What if your early failures were actually preparing you for your greatest impact? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with serial entrepreneur Jon Brandt to explore how struggle, self-awareness, and purpose can shape a meaningful career. Jon shares his journey from growing up with undiagnosed ADD and navigating early business failures to building and exiting successful compan...

In this special solo episode of Scholar Scoop , host and NSCS founder Steve Loflin celebrates the podcast’s one-year anniversary and reflects on the conversations, connections, and lessons that made the first year so meaningful. Steve shares the story of returning to the University of South Carolina to receive the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an honor that prompted him to look back...

Originally released in May 2025, In the debut episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin reconnects with longtime friend and Global Leadership Development Specialist Karin Wiedemann for a conversation about the experiences that shape us long after college ends. Karin reflects on her time at Penn State University, sharing how stepping into leadership roles as a resident assistant and orientation leader...

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting this powerful conversation from the Scholar Scoop archive. Originally released in May 2025, this episode features Steve Loflin in conversation with Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds. Alison shares the deeply personal story of losing her brother Brian to suicide during his freshman year at the University of Penn...

What happens when someone expects greatness from you and you start to believe it too? In this replay episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with Dr. William A. Keyes IV, founder of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship and author of The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success , to explore how belief, mentorship, and the simple act of saying “yes” can shape a stu...

What happens when you actually trust your “crazy ideas”? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with longtime NSCS leader, healthcare administrator, and fashion entrepreneur Mira Yaache to explore how saying yes to opportunities and stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to unexpected and incredible paths. From growing up in Trinidad and Tobago to attending Penn State, Mira...

What does it really take to navigate college successfully as a first-generation student? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with higher education expert and student success advocate Tina Gridiron to explore how students can build a meaningful and attainable college experience, no matter where they’re starting from. Tina shares her journey from community college to UC Berkele...

How can international experiences transform your college journey and your future career? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with Dr. Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo, an expert in international education and longtime leader connected with Semester at Sea, to explore how studying and traveling abroad can shape students’ growth, confidence, and opportunities. Together, they discuss wh...

What if board service wasn’t something you waited 30 years for? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , Steve Loflin sits down with executive career coach Marlo Lyons and board career strategist Naomi Kent to discuss their new book, Wanted a Board Career , a practical, step-by-step guide to building a path to board service starting far earlier than most people think. This conversation is especially rel...

Scholar Scoop is back! After a brief hiatus, Steve Loflin, founder of National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), returns with a timely and deeply relevant conversation with Michael Huckaby, founder of Life Ramp. In this episode, Steve and Michael unpack what today’s high-achieving college students and young professionals are actually struggling with, and why it’s not a lack of motivation or t...

In this heartfelt and wisdom-packed episode of Scholar Scoop, host Steve Loflin reconnects with longtime friend, mentor, and respected communication scholar Dr. Mary Z. Ashlock, Professor of Communication at the University of Louisville. Together, they take listeners on a candid journey through graduate school, professional growth, and the foundational skills every student needs to thrive in today...

What if the key to your success isn’t what you already know, but what you don’t know yet? In this inspiring episode of Scholar Scoop, host Steve Loflin sits down with bestselling author, consultant, and innovation expert Alan Gregerman. They talk about what it really means to unlock your genius, no matter your age, major, or background. Alan shares powerful insights from his books Surrounded by Ge...

What does improv have to do with leadership, and how can saying “yes” more often transform your life? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Jordana Cole, a global learning and development leader, certified coach, and proud NSCS alumna whose career has been shaped by curiosity, courage, and connection. From her early days managing 30 interns at just 23 years old to her...

What happens when a student leader turns his college experience into a career dedicated to empowering others? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Andrew Gaeckle, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and change-maker who now serves as a leader at the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). From growing up across the country and serving as Student Body P...

What does it take to create a college experience where every student feels supported, seen, and empowered? In this episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Dr. Stacy L. Jones, Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President at The University of Alabama, where she’s been helping students thrive for more than 30 years. Dr. Jones shares her incredible journey from starting out in the...

Choosing a college isn’t just about rankings, it’s about alignment, authenticity, and knowing yourself. In this episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Evan Giokas, founder of College Confidence Coach, to explore how students can navigate the admissions process with clarity and confidence. Evan shares his personal story, from transferring universities to launching a coaching bu...

What happens when your college journey takes an unexpected turn? For Garrett Mintz, Founder & CEO of Ambition in Motion, getting arrested as a freshman at Indiana University was the wake-up call that changed everything. In this episode of Scholar Scoop , host Steve Loflin sits down with Garrett to talk about how setbacks can open new doors, why authentic mentorship is transformative, and how t...

In this episode, host Steve Loflin sits down with Marine Corps veteran, attorney, and national security expert Lindsay Rodman to get some Scholar Scoop about taking risks, finding your path, and leading with courage. From Duke University to Harvard Law, from serving as NLC President at NSCS to introducing General Colin Powell at the society’s 20th anniversary, Lindsay’s journey is a masterclass in...