The Champions Coffee Podcast

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Carole Goldsmith, Chancellor of the Colleges at State Center Community College District. With a career spanning decades in leadership, student success, and community engagement, Carole has become a driving force in advancing equitable access and excellence across California’s community coll...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Mike Gavin, President of Delta College, Aspen Presidential Fellow, and founder of Education for All — a movement that positions higher education as a vehicle for social justice, economic mobility, and the development of a more humane society. A respected scholar and thought leader, Dr. Gavi...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with President Todd Haynie, the 22nd President of Eastern Arizona College, where he has dedicated over 25 years to expanding access, opportunity, and excellence in community college education. A proud native of Arizona’s Gila Valley and an EAC alumnus, President Haynie has led the institution throug...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr Matt Daily, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, to explore his mission of empowering first-generation and low-income students through culturally responsive leadership and innovative program design. A passionate higher education advocate, Matt has built and led...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Cynthia Aguilar, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). With nearly 15 years of higher education experience, Cynthia has built her career around advocacy, leadership, and empowering students to thrive. A proud UTEP alumna, she now leads criti...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr Amanda Jordan, Director of Student Experience at Chattanooga State Community College. With over 15 years of experience across community colleges and universities, Amanda has built a career dedicated to student engagement, first-generation advocacy, and leadership development. Ben and Amanda...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Nuno Fernandes, President of the American Public University System (APUS), to explore his mission to make higher education more accessible, affordable, and outcomes-driven. Since taking office in 2022, Nuno has been leading a global digital transformation, integrating personalized, collaborativ...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Seth Harden, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management at Jackson State Community College. A strategic higher education leader, Seth is committed to empowering students through inclusive initiatives that span high school engagement, recruitment, academic advising, and student life. Ben...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Michael Preston, Associate Vice President for Student Success at Texas State University. A first-generation college graduate and higher education leader with nearly 25 years of experience, Dr. Preston brings a proven record of driving innovation and collaboration to advance student retentio...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Harry Ingle, Jr., Executive Director for Student Affairs and an experienced higher education leader dedicated to advancing student development and institutional success. With a strong background in enrollment management, leadership, and student recruitment, Harry has spent his career drivin...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. LaNaé Budden, Director of the First-Generation Center at the University of South Carolina. A higher education and organizational development executive with a passion for helping others feel seen, connected, supported, and proud, LaNaé has dedicated her career to enhancing the student experi...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Ana Velázquez, Director of Equity and Justice, first-generation Latina educator, and committed equity accomplice. Ana is dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers in higher education and creating pathways that empower underrepresented students to thrive. Ben and Ana explore her inspiring journ...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Han Kiat Ho, Dean of Students at the National University of Singapore (NUS). As a dedicated higher education leader, Han Kiat oversees student affairs at one of Asia’s most prestigious universities, guiding programs and policies that foster belonging, personal growth, and holistic success for a...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Kimberly Burgess, Executive Director of Student Success at Albany State University, an accomplished higher education professional specialising in advising, first-year experience, student success, and academic planning. A dynamic speaker and program developer, Kimberly has led initiatives ac...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Joel Di Trapani and Vygo’s Director of Sales Lyndin Smith-Francis sit down with Professor Nick Klomp, Vice-Chancellor and President of CQUniversity. With more than five years at the helm of one of Australia’s largest regional universities, Professor Klomp has championed a mission to unlock the potential of regional Austr...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with MeShonya “Dr. MeMe” Wren-Coleman, Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students at Bethel College – North Newton. A dynamic higher education leader, Dr. MeMe brings a data-driven, results-oriented approach to designing and improving student success programs that meet the highest standa...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Shelley Errington Nicholson, educator, social justice advocate, and Dean of Students at Greenfield Community College. With extensive experience in student development, advising, volunteer management, public speaking, assessment, and grant writing, Shelley has dedicated her career to empower...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Michael Heim, Director of Federal Grants – Migrant Education Student Access & Support (MESAS) at Washington State University. Michael leads with a coach-first philosophy, developing high-performing teams, empowering student leaders, and cultivating community partnerships with a special focu...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Kelly Soucy, Associate Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin. A compassionate higher education leader dedicated to supporting the whole student, Dr. Soucy brings a wealth of experience in fostering belonging, well-being, and academic success across diverse student communitie...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Ryan P. Barone, Assistant Vice President for Student Success at Colorado State University. A first-generation college graduate turned higher education leader, Ryan bridges academic affairs and student affairs to drive campus-wide strategies that foster belonging, equity, and achievement. He...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Amanda Shelnutt, Director of First-Generation Student Success at Oberlin College. With a deep commitment to youth empowerment, equity, and the arts, Amanda has dedicated her career to creating inclusive spaces where students can thrive, connect, and lead. Drawing on her expertise in volunteer m...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Darryl B. Holloman, Vice President for Student Affairs at Spelman College and NASPA Board Chair (2025–2028). With nearly three decades of higher education leadership, Dr. Holloman has dedicated his career to advancing student success, fostering community, and shaping inclusive learning envi...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Shoshana Zeisman-Pereyo, Executive Director of Student Academic Support Services at Portland State University. A student-centred educational leader and champion for inclusive excellence in STEM, Shoshana is an expert in designing, scaling, and sustaining programs that drive academic success...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Shené Owens, Director of Student Affairs, and Dr. Bernadette Poerio, Assistant Director of Student Affairs at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. Together, these dynamic leaders bring a powerful combination of strategic vision, student-centred practice, a...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis, sits down with Rosie George, Manager of Student Engagement & Experience at the University of Adelaide. A strategic and creative higher education professional, Rosie is passionate about building inclusive, student-centred programs that help individuals belong, navigate, and thrive. From transforming orien...