Engaged By Design

What if the biggest challenge in leadership isn’t strategy, but managing yourself? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Douglas, we shift from external leadership skills to the internal work that makes great leadership possible . Jenny shares why so many high-performing leaders struggle under pressure—and what’s often missing from traditional leadership development. The answer isn’t mor...

What shapes a leader long before they ever step into a leadership role? In this first part of our conversation with Dr. Jennifer “Jenny” Douglas, we explore the formative experiences that influence how leaders think, learn, and lead. From her upbringing in rural Pennsylvania to her work in higher education leadership, Jenny shares how work ethic, community, and lifelong learning laid the foundatio...

UDL often comes with a sense of pressure: more to do, more to build, more to manage. In Part 2, Michelle Patterson helps us move past that overwhelm by reframing UDL as an iterative, human-centered design process. Instead of trying to do everything, she introduces practical ways to start small—what she calls the “plus one” approach. The conversation also explores: How systems and leadership suppor...

What if the biggest limitation in our course design is the idea of the “average learner”? In this episode, Michael Cottam sits down with Michelle Patterson to explore Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a mindset shift—not a checklist. Together, they unpack how designing for learner variability changes how we think about engagement, access, and success. Rather than asking how to “fix” students,...

In part two of our conversation with President Bruce Kusch of Ensign College, we explore Ensign College’s groundbreaking move to three-year bachelor’s degrees and what that means for the future of higher education. President Kusch discusses accreditation challenges, workforce alignment, vocational education, AI disruption, and why colleges must rethink how they prepare students for meaningful care...

In part one of our conversation with President Bruce Kusch of Ensign College, we explore the remarkable transformation of the institution formerly known as LDS Business College into a global, applied-learning institution serving students in more than 100 countries. President Kusch shares the story behind the Ensign College mission statement, the institution’s close partnership with BYU-Pathway Wor...

From gatekeeping to door-opening—and how to truly engage learners. In part two, Kelvin Thompson shifts the conversation from strategy to practice—exploring what it really takes to engage learners in today’s complex educational landscape. From rethinking faculty roles as “door openers” to scaling impact across institutions, Kelvin highlights the power of human connection as the foundation of effect...

In part one of our conversation with Kelvin Thompson, we explore the deeper purpose behind online learning and digital innovation in higher education. Kelvin shares his journey from K–12 to national leadership in online learning, along with powerful insights on why teaching should be viewed as a core student success intervention. We also dive into how online learning makes teaching more visible—an...

As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in higher education, institutions are facing new questions about governance, academic integrity, and strategic implementation. In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast , Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith continue their conversation with Heather Pelkie , who leads AI initiatives at West Coast University and serves as an Assistant Profess...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping higher education and the workforce our students are entering. The question for institutions is no longer whether to engage with AI—but whether they will do so intentionally. In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast , Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith talk with Heather Pelkie , who leads AI initiatives at West Coast University and serves as an Assi...

In this final installment of their conversation with Dr. Kate Zatz , Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith explore one of the most difficult and urgent topics facing higher education today: antisemitism on college campuses and the responsibility of institutional leaders to respond with integrity and wisdom. Kate begins by sharing personal background about her family, her children’s Jewish upbringing, an...

In part two, the conversation turns to artificial intelligence and its impact on higher education. Kate shares her experiences teaching during the rapid rise of AI tools and discusses the challenges they create for assessment, academic integrity, and course design. The discussion also explores how educators can respond by designing meaningful learning experiences that emphasize collaboration, crit...

In part one of this conversation, Dr. Kate Zatz shares the personal story that shaped her commitment to students and higher education. From her journey as a first-generation college student to her leadership roles across multiple institutions, Kate reflects on mentorship, student involvement, and the importance of belonging in higher education. She also discusses her decades of work with the Girl...

What can leaders learn from the natural world? In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast , Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith continue their conversation with Dr. Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham , co-authors of The ABCs of Murmuration: Collective Wisdom of Nature. Building on the concept of Flock Logic , the conversation explores how leaders and organizations can adapt, move together, and learn...

In this episode, Michael and Vernon continue their conversation with Dr. Ira Lovitch as they explore the final two elements of his Five M’s framework for innovation . While technology and processes matter, Ira argues that lasting innovation ultimately comes down to people and the environments in which they work and learn . The conversation highlights how leadership, culture, and care for students...

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael and Vernon welcome Dr. Ira Lovitch, an experienced business faculty member and longtime educator in online higher education. Ira introduces his Five M’s framework for innovation , a model that helps leaders understand how change happens inside organizations. In this first part of the conversation, the discussion focuses on the first three e...

Episode Description In Part 2 of this conversation on the Engaged By Design Podcast , Dr. Michael Cottam continues his discussion with Andrea Dunn , focusing on the evolving landscape of Open Educational Resources, generative AI, and change leadership in higher education. Andrea reflects on how institutions are responding to rising costs, emerging technologies, and shifting learner expectations—an...

Episode Description In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast , Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Vernon Smith are joined by Andrea Dunn , a strategic technology and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large-scale initiatives in higher education. Andrea shares behind-the-scenes insights from her work leading enterprise course materials and Open Educational Resource (OER...

Episode Description What does it really take to lead change from the middle of an institution? In Part 2 of this conversation, Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Christina Dryden explore leadership, trust-building, and the realities of managing change across complex higher education organizations. The discussion then turns to AI—how instructional design, assessment, and faculty roles are evolving, and why...

Episode Description How do students really choose a college—and what do families often overlook? In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Christina Dryden explore how students make college decisions, what criteria matter most to them, and why the true value of higher education goes far beyond rankings and prestige. Drawing from Christina’s experience as a Vice Provost, assessment...

Episode Description In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Kate Smith , we turn our focus to the future of learning, workforce development, and artificial intelligence in higher education. Kate shares how Rio Salado College is partnering with national employers, emerging industries, and workforce organizations to create flexible, skills-based pathways for learners across the country. We explore pa...

Episode Description In Part 1 of our conversation, we sit down with Dr. Kate Smith , President of Rio Salado College, to explore how culture, empathy, and innovation shape sustainable leadership in higher education. Kate shares her personal leadership journey—from completing an Ironman to stepping into the presidency at a pivotal moment—and reflects on what it takes to intentionally steward cultur...

Episode Description: In the final episode of this series, Dr. Tom Lombardo challenges us to see the future as a shared act of creation. Wisdom, agency, and responsibility—at both individual and collective levels—are essential to shaping what comes next. Key Topics: - The future as participatory, not predetermined - Wisdom as future-directed action - Individual and collective agency - Nurturing the...

Episode Description:  In part two, Dr. Tom Lombardo explores science fiction as more than entertainment—it is the evolutionary mythology of the future. This conversation examines how stories shape our imagination, reflect cultural values, and expand our understanding of what humanity could become.    Key Topics:  - Science fiction as modern mythology  - Stories as tools for ethical and future thin...

Episode Description:  In part one of this three-part series, Dr. Tom Lombardo reflects on the experiences that shaped his lifelong curiosity about time, history, and the future. From childhood fascinations with dinosaurs and the Civil War to formative lessons learned through weightlifting, mentorship, and education, Tom explores how character, discipline, and imagination form the foundation for wi...