Data Stakes – Giving Data a Voice in Higher Education

Data governance doesn't have to be intimidating. All too often, the topic induces sighs and eye-rolls across higher education campuses. But what if data governance was viewed not as a set of restrictive rules, but as a framework to empower your colleagues and maximize institutional value? In this episode of Data Stakes , host Debbie sits down with Dr. Tara Webb, Associate Vice President and Chief...

Is your institution’s latest data technology rollout feeling more like a failing relationship than a lasting partnership? You aren't alone. In this episode of Data Stakes , Debbie sits down with John Ingram—Assistant Director of Institutional Research at Delaware Valley University and chapter author of the upcoming book, Priority Partners: Turning Vendor Spending into Mission Strengths . John and...

In this episode of Data Stakes , Debbie is joined by Dr. Ken Matthews, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, to discuss how higher education institutions can transform accreditation from a simple compliance checklist into a powerful engine for institutional growth. They dive into the intersection of knowledge management, st...

Episode Summary Higher education is evolving at a faster rate than anyone could have anticipated. How can institutions move past simply reacting to change and start actively anticipating it? In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie sits down with Dr. Viviana Unda, Head of Institutional Research and Planning at El Camino College, to explore the transformative power of "Futures Thinking" in higher edu...

In this episode of Data Stakes , host Debbie Phelps explores how to transform high-level institutional strategy into tangible daily practice. She is joined by Dr. Callie Holden (College Director of Strategic Planning and Grant Development) and Misty Tollett (Director of Strategic Planning) from Ozarks Tech, a two-year technical community college in Springfield, Missouri. Callie and Misty share the...

Back by popular demand! After the massive success of our first AI-focused episode, the Data Stakes podcast is returning to the world of Artificial Intelligence—but this time, we’re peeling back the curtain on what actually makes these systems work. In this special roundtable episode, host Debbie sits down with three key members of the Datatelligent (DT) team : Founder and CEO Larry Blackburn , and...

In this episode of Data Stakes , host Debbie sits down with Peyton Snively (Director of Student Life at Cowley College) and Eric Burr (Hope Squad Advisor and retired Chief of Police) to explore the growing mental health challenges students face today. From the peer pressure of middle school to the unique struggles of international and non-traditional college students, the stressors are real and mo...

Higher education is facing unprecedented shifts, from shifting enrollments to financial strain and job insecurity. How can institutional leaders stay calm and strategic when the pressure hits? In this episode of Data Stakes , Debbie is joined by Dr. Telletha "Tee" Valenski, Campus Director at San Juan College West and the recent Kirtland Educator of the Year. Dr. Valenski shares her deeply persona...

How do you go from a drum major to a Vice President? In this episode of Data Stakes , host Debbie Phelps sits down with Dr. Melanie Jenkins-Simpson, the Associate Vice President of Institutional Research at the University of Alabama, to map out the road to leadership in higher education. Together, they explore the evolution of the Institutional Research (IR) field—from printing spreadsheets on gre...

Is higher education fully tapping into the power of Artificial Intelligence? In this episode, Debbie sits down with IT executive Robert Miller to cut through the AI hype and explore "Agentic AI" —highly focused, specialized tools designed to solve specific campus challenges. Robert explains why the future lies in Augmented Intelligence, not just artificial intelligence. Using real-world examples f...

In this inaugural interview, host Debbie Phelps sits down with Leah Ewing Ross to discuss how the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) supports data professionals at all stages of their careers. They explore AIR's "Data and Decisions Academy," which offers a range of professional development opportunities, from holistic management courses to skills-based workshops for those new to the fiel...

Welcome to Episode 00 , the official kickoff of the Data Stakes podcast! In this brief introduction, host Debbie Phelps sets the stage for our series, sharing our mission to give data a real voice in higher education and what you can expect from the show. Consider this just the beginning—we have a packed schedule of great episodes coming soon, featuring expert interviews, real-world success storie...