The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

In this special episode recorded live on site at SXSW EDU , Dustin sits down with Shaun Carver , Executive Director of the International House at UC Berkeley as well as President of the International House Association . He shares his experience creating opportunities for his students from all over the world to connect with one another and why it is more important now than ever. He also explains ho...

What does “free tuition” actually mean — and why isn’t it enough? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Van Ton-Quinlivan , CEO of Futuro Health and host of the WorkforceRx podcast, to unpack how her organization is tackling the healthcare workforce shortage by helping adults earn debt-free credentials in allied health fields. From redesigning incentives around completion (not just enrollment) to...

In this podcast swap episode, Dustin sits down with Ashish Fernando , Founder and CEO at EDMO as well as the host of the EDU Unlocked podcast, to unpack how AI is reshaping admissions and enrollment. From fixing broken transfer credit processes to building AI systems that prioritize both speed and student experience, Ashish shares what he’s learned from years of conversations with presidents and C...

In this forward-looking conversation, Dustin sits down with Andy Morgan , Chief Partnerships Officer at 2U , to unpack what digital education looks like in 2026—and where it’s heading next. From the maturation of online learning to mounting regulatory pressure and the rapid acceleration of AI, Andy outlines the three major forces reshaping higher ed strategy today. The big takeaway? Moving a progr...

In this episode, Dustin chats with Michelle Craig, Director of Marketing at AppsAnywhere, about how institutions can better support today’s digitally fluent, mobile-first students. They explore the critical need for flexibility in how students access learning tools and why digital equity isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a must. From device agnosticism to smarter infrastructure investments, this co...

What if the path to transforming higher ed isn't about radical reinvention—but about finally using the tools we already have? In this episode, Dustin chats with Kelly Rogan , COO of Ellucian , about how AI and data can revolutionize student experiences, institutional operations, and leadership decisions—if we’re brave enough to modernize. Drawing from her background at Microsoft and her deep dive...

In this thought-provoking episode, political philosopher and Penn GSE professor Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath joins host Dustin to unpack one of higher ed’s most pressing—and polarizing—topics: the future of free speech and academic freedom on campus. Drawing from her books Free Speech on Campus and Cancel Wars , Dr. Ben-Porath makes the case for a more inclusive vision of free expression in higher educati...

In this week’s episode, Dustin sits down with Brian Hartnack , Founder and CEO of Archer Education , for a rich conversation about the evolution of digital marketing and enrollment management in higher ed. Brian shares the origin story behind Archer, his thoughts on the shifting landscape of online education, and what institutions should really be doing right now to stay competitive in an AI-power...

Most students aren’t dropping out because they’re disengaged—they’re falling behind because your tech isn’t meeting their needs. In this energizing episode, Dustin chats with Shana Holman , Head of Strategic Engagement and Alliances at Pathify , about the results of Pathify’s 2025 Student Digital Experience Survey . They unpack why digital friction is far more than an IT problem—it's a barrier to...

What do Montenegro, Gen Z protests, and open educational resources have in common? According to Julia Sherwin , everything. In this episode, Dustin Ramsdell sits down with Julia—Executive Director of the Global Education Initiative at Global Post Media —to explore why global literacy isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore. They unpack how free access to high-quality international journalism can trans...

In this premiere episode of the 2026 season, Dustin welcomes back Taran Lent , now CTO of the soon to be rebranded Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD ), for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in higher ed. They dig into the rationale behind the rebrand, the creation of the Higher Ed Innovation Index report, and how institutions can sustainably mo...

In this final episode of the year, Dustin talked with Ruth Bauer , President at InsideTrack , who shared how the organization’s new Coaching Lab is expanding access to coaching far beyond traditional college students. Ruth reflects on 12+ years of building human-centered, tech-supported student success systems and explores how flexible, scalable coaching can support everyone from GED earners to re...

What if launching a business was a graduation requirement? At Paul Quinn College, that’s exactly what students are doing.  In this episode, Dustin sat down with Jeff Meade from Paul Quinn College (PQC), who shares how this HBCU is integrating entrepreneurship into the student experience—not as an elective or a club, but as a campus-wide, curriculum-infused mission. You’ll hear how students from ev...

In this episode, Dustin chats with Sabih Bin Wasi , Founder and CEO of Stellic , about rethinking course registration, degree planning, and the broader student experience. What started as a tool to help Sabih navigate his own college journey as a first-gen student has evolved into a platform used by over a million students worldwide. Together, they unpack why registration is more than a transactio...

What if your student success team had AI-powered tools that could prep meeting notes, flag at-risk students in real time, and prove the ROI of your campus programs—all without needing “perfect” data? In this episode, Civitas Learning CEO Will Ballard breaks down how their platform makes this possible. From demystifying data integration to showcasing real-world use cases of predictive and generativ...

Shai Reshef , founder of University of the People , joins Dustin to share how his radically accessible, tuition-free, accredited online university is scaling globally and rewriting the rules of what college can be. From refugee learners in conflict zones to first-generation students from all over the world, University of the People is serving 170,000+ students with a bold vision: higher ed should...

In this bonus episode, Dustin caught up with Annie Chechitelli , Chief Product Officer at Turnitin . After recording earlier this year at SXSW EDU , they reconnected to unpack the biggest myths and realities around AI in higher ed. Building upon her recent blog post as well as the prior conversation Dustin had with Annie’s colleague, Eric Wang , this conversation dives into the evolving role of AI...

In this final bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin chatted with Jenny Maxwell , Head of Grammarly for Education at Superhuman (formerly Grammarly), fresh off the announcement of their exciting rebrand . This timely conversation dives into the evolution of AI writing tools in higher education and how intentional product design is key to ethical, effective use. Jenny breaks d...

In this episode, Dustin chats with Shannon McDonald and Brandon Chavez from the Division of Extended Studies at UC San Diego about how continuing education can be a powerful catalyst for institutional resilience and workforce transformation. With decades of experience between them, Shannon and Brandon share how their team builds agile, data-informed, employer-driven programs that deliver value to...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin sat down with Nicole Muscanell from the Research and Insights team at EDUCAUSE. Nicole shares insights from EDUCAUSE’s latest research outputs—like the Horizon Report on Teaching and Learning as well as the annual Top 10 IT Issues —while offering a grounded perspective on how institutions are evolving their digital strategies. Fr...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin chatted with Larry Tumblin of Ohio University for a fascinating look at how dual enrollment is being reimagined for today’s learners. Larry breaks down the College Credit Plus initiative and how Ohio U is bringing college courses directly into high school classrooms using cost-effective, easy-to-deploy video conferencing tech. Wi...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin sits down with Justin Price , VP of Global Customer Experience at StarRez , to unpack the evolving residential student experience—and how tech is rising to meet the moment. With 20+ years in higher ed housing and over a decade at StarRez, Justin brings a uniquely grounded view of what students and institutions really need. From s...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin speaks with Nicole Engelbert , VP of Product Strategy at Oracle , about how institutions can future-proof their tech stacks and focus on what really matters—helping students thrive. Nicole unpacks Oracle’s latest certification milestone for PeopleSoft Campus Solutions and shares what it means for digital transformation and studen...

What happens when your institution has too many systems—and none of them talk to each other? In this episode, Dustin chats with Justin Beck , CEO of Gravyty , about how colleges and universities can stop tech creep from derailing the student experience. Drawing from his background at Apple, Blackboard, Salesforce, Instructure, and now Gravyty, Justin shares hard-earned insights on how schools can...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin spoke with Ryan Lufkin , VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, about the current crossroads in higher ed, technology, and workforce readiness. The conversation touches on findings from the latest State of Learning and Readiness report, the real (and perceived) gaps in student skill preparedness, and why now is the time f...