IngenioUs

What does it mean to lead an institution forward without feeling compelled to reinvent it? In this latest episode, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson sitsdown with Dr. Laurel Bongiorno, the newly appointed president of Hartwick College, to explore a leadership journey shaped by mentorship, appreciative inquiry, collaboration, and a deep commitment to institutional stewardship. Laurel's path to the pres...

One of the most important leadership lessons I've learned recently didn't come from a boardroom, strategic planning retreat, or leadership conference—it came from a pottery wheel. In this short video reflection, I share how learning ceramics has reminded me of the value of humility, patience, experimentation, and lifelong learning. 📖 Read the full article: https://ingeniousu.wpcomstaging....

What if the most important thing a leader can do is help someone see possibilities they cannot yet see in themselves? In this episode of IngenioUs , Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Isabelle Cherney, President of Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about leadership, humanpotential, and the power of believing in others. Born and raised...

In this episode of IngenioUs , Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Brooke Barnett , President of Rollins College, for a candid and inspiring conversation about authentic leadership, innovation, and the evolving future of higher education. Just months into her presidency, Dr. Barnett reflects on the experiences that shaped her leadership journey—from growing up in rural Kentucky and beginning...

There is a moment in leadership that doesn’t get talked about very often. It’s not the moment when a decision is made. It comes earlier—when something starts to become clear, but not yet to everyone else. In this short video, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson introduces her latest reflection on this often-overlooked phase of leadership: the space between recognizing a shift and bringing others along. Draw...

In this episode of IngenioUs , I sit down with President Krista L.Newkirk J.D.of the University of Redlands —an extraordinary leader whose journey to the presidency is as compelling as her approach to leadership. From her early years growing up on a cattle ranch in Missouri, to her career as an attorney, to leading complex institutional transformation, Krista’s story is one of resilience, adaptabi...

What makes a university—and its surrounding city— sticky ? In this episode, David J. Staley explores a powerful concept shaping the future of higher education: stickiness —the ability of a college or university not only to attract students, but to inspire them to stay, build careers, and contribute to the region after graduation. Drawing on a recent consulting experience at a Midwestern university...

In a time when higher education is facing profound questions about its value, purpose, and future, what does it take to lead with both clarity and conviction? In this episode of IngenioUs , I sit down with Dr. Summer McGee, president of Lenoir-Rhyne University—a dynamic and forward-thinking leader whose career has been defined by building: building programs, building strategy, and building institu...

In this episode of IngenioUs , Melissa Morriss-Olson explores a dimension of leadership that doesn’t often get named—but is deeply felt by those in leadership roles. We talk a lot about transparency in leadership. We encourage it. We expect it. And in many cases, we equate it with effective leadership. But what happens when leaders can’t fully share what they know? Drawing from recent conversation...

In this episode, David J. Staley reads from his latest University Design blog entry, Educable , where he explores a provocative new concept drawn from Leslie Valiant’s recent work: that what truly distinguishes humans is not intelligence—but educability . What if education is not simply about acquiring knowledge or skills, but about undergoing a fundamental “state change” —a transformation in how...

In this episode of IngenioUs , Melissa Morriss-Olson speaks with Rachelle Keck PhD, JD, president of Grandview University , about leadership, agency, and the evolving future of higher education. Rachelle’s path to the university presidency is far from traditional. After more than two decades practicing law, she transitioned into higher education leadership and eventually became the president of Gr...

In this episode of the IngenioUs Leadership Podcast , Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with historian and higher education leader Carol Quillen , former president of Davidson College and now President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation . Carol brings a historian’s lens to leadership—one grounded in humility, courage, and a deep respect for the power of community and place . Ove...

Where does innovation really begin? After interviewingdozens of college presidents, one surprising leadership habit kept appearing: listening. When we talk about innovation in higher education, theconversation often centers on bold ideas, new programs, or visionary strategies. But insights from leaders across the field suggest that meaningful innovation often begins somewhere much quieter. It begi...

In this episode, David J. Staley reads his latest CHELIP: University Design column , “Interestingness,” inspired by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman’s Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective . What if the pursuit of clearly defined objectives is actually the enemy of breakthrough innovation? Drawing on the intellectual journey of urban theorist Jane Jacobs, insights from compu...

In this latest epsiode, Dr. Morriss-Olson is joined by Van Ton-Quinlivan , Founder and CEO of Futuro Health , for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven leadership, systems change, and what it really takes to build opportunity at scale. Van’s leadership journey began “behind the starting line” as a child refugee from Vietnam, and that lived experience continues to shape how she leads today....

This episode features a brief video reflection introducing a recent CHELIP blog essay by Melissa Morriss-Olson, Ph. D. that examines one of the quietest—and most consequential—forces shaping leadership culture: silence. The video frames the essay within a broader exploration of why innovation and change so often stall in higher education. Rather than focusing on a lack of ideas or commitment, it p...

In this episode of IngenioUs , host Melissa Morriss-Olson is joined by Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, President of SUNY Empire State University, New York’s first and only public online university. Dr. Vollendorf shares a deeply thoughtful and values-driven conversation about leadership in higher education at a time when access, equity, and public purpose matter more than ever. Drawing on her own journey—fro...

In this episode of University Design , David J. Stale y reflects on the ideas behind his new book, T he AI Symposium (Innovation Press, 2026), using this month’s column—and its accompanying recording—as an opportunity to explore a provocative rethinking of AI, dialogue, and learning in higher education. Rather than revisiting familiar debates about banning AI or defining its “ethical use” in the c...

In this short audio reflection, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson shares the thinking behind her recent CHELIP essay, Why Innovation Fails: Reflections From Where I Sit . Drawing on her lived experience in senior leadership roles and her ongoing work with higher education leaders through IngenioUs , Dr. Morriss-Olson reflects on why innovation so often stalls—not because of bad ideas, but because of how i...

What does it mean to lead with authentic mission alignment in today's complex higher education landscape? Dr. Christina Clark, the eighth president of La Roche University, knows the answer intimately—because she's living it. In this conversation, Christina shares how growing up as an "army brat" in Alaska and the Philippines instilled in her the leadership fundamentals that guide her presidency to...

In this episode, David J. Staley reads his latest University Design essay, “Underemployment,” a timely and compelling examination of the rising underemployment of college graduates in the United States. Drawing on Peter Turchin’s framework of “eliteoverproduction,” national labor market data, and comparative insights from global economies, Staley explores the widening disconnect between higher edu...

What happens when a French literature professor becomes a university president for 15 years? Dr. Ann McElaney-Johnso n shares why creative courage matters more than we think, the power of saying yes to the unplanned, and why leaders must trust the spark even when the data isn't complete. In this powerful conversation, Ann McElaney-Johnson, President of Mount St. Mary's University in Los Angeles, r...

From a small Mississippi community during the civil rights movement to the chancellor's office at the University of Washington Tacoma, Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange' s leadership journey is a masterclass in authenticity, mentorship, andstaying true to your purpose. In this conversation, Dr. Lange opens up about the teachers and"aunties" who saw potential in her when she couldn't s...

In this episode, David J. Staley reads his latest University Design blog article for the Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP). What does it really mean to attend a particular university? During the pandemic, one of Staley's students captured something essential: "I don't feel like I attend the Ohio State University." His frustration reveals a de...

Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide and sexual assault within the context of student mental health and recovery. The discussion focuses on hope, resilience, and the impact of supportive relationships in higher education. What happens when a leader sees potential in people who've never seen it in themselves? In this deeply moving episode of IngenioUs, Dr. Kristin G. Est...