The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin chats with Gaurav Bradoo from Logitech about how colleges and universities can embrace hardware innovation to enhance teaching and learning—without overcomplicating things. From lecture capture and audio solutions to flexible classroom design and accessibility, Gaurav shares Logitech’s approach to creating simple, scalable, and h...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin sits down with Crista Copp and Mark McCormack from EDUCAUSE to unpack their just-released 2026 Top 10 List . From AI and digital literacy to resilience and community building, the conversation explores the critical shifts happening in higher ed technology. The theme? Intentionality and connection—both between people and across sy...

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin has an energizing conversation with Jeff Dinski and Mike Wulff from Ellucian . They discuss the evolving role of technology in higher education—from designing intuitive student-first systems to closing the gap between academic credentials and real-world workforce needs. They unpack what it really takes to build agile, data-driven...

Stephen Laster , CEO of Panopto and a 25-year veteran in the edtech space, joins Dustin to talk about how smart technology—and especially AI—can elevate educators rather than overshadow them. From his early days pioneering blended MBA programs to leading at institutions like Harvard Business School and McGraw-Hill, Stephen shares how technology should be applied to serve pedagogy, not the other wa...

In this bonus episode recorded live from EdTech Week 2025, Dustin chats with Matt Stinson , CRO at Starbridge . They discuss Matt’s journey to joining the team, and how their unique platform is enabling more efficient and effective partnerships to be forged between edtech companies and public institutions using AI. Guest Name: Matt Stinson - Chief Revenue Officer at Starbridge Guest Social: Linked...

In this bonus episode recorded live from EdTech Week 2025, Dustin chats with K. Rocco Shields , CEO of Genius Academy . They discuss the important work her and her team are doing partnering with institutions to create high quality, immersive learning content for a variety of disciplines. Rocco also shares a bit about her personal story that drives her work and underpins why it is so important. Gue...

What if innovation didn’t require a stroke of genius—just a willingness to be a little “-ish”? In this episode, Dustin chats with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden , co-authors of Innovation-ish , a new book that challenges the myths surrounding creativity and innovation. Drawing from years of teaching at Stanford and Harvard, Tessa and Rich share how higher ed pros can reframe innovation as accessibl...

We’re pleased to have Faton Sopa from Manaferra back on the show this week (listen to his previous episode !) to discuss the recent research his team produced that unpacks new details about student search behaviors. Faton shares why traditional SEO tactics are no longer cutting it—and what institutions must do instead to gain visibility, build trust, and drive enrollment. Spoiler: it's time to dit...

In this milestone 300th episode, Sophie Nguyen , Senior Policy Manager at New America , joins Dustin to unpack the newest findings from the new 2025 Varying Degrees report — a data-rich look at how Americans view the role, value, and future of higher education. From surprising bipartisan agreement to the communication failures of institutions, this episode reveals what colleges need to know and do...

We’re popping into your feed with a very special bonus episode to commemorate 300 weekly episodes of the podcast. Dustin shares some brief notes of gratitude and reflections on the journey, as well as thoughts on the future of the show. Thank you to all our listeners, guests, and of course many thanks to the wonderful teams at Enrollify and Element451 for their support of the show. - - - - Connect...

Samyr Qureshi , Co-Founder and CEO of Knack , returns to the podcast to unpack how his team is reshaping peer tutoring into a powerful engine for student success and workforce readiness. With a tech-enabled, Uber-style platform, Knack empowers high-achieving students to tutor peers while building soft skills and resumes. Samyr and Dustin explore the evolution of tutoring in higher ed, the role of...

Dr. Maria Toyoda , newly appointed president of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), joins Dustin for a refreshingly candid conversation about the current and future state of accreditation in higher ed. She shares how accreditors can be powerful partners for institutional change, why student success—not compliance—is the true north, and what’s actually happening behind all th...

What do you do when your institution no longer needs acres of land and buildings? You sell it and build a more agile, student-centered future. In this episode, Dustin chats with Dr. Beth Martin , President of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), about the bold and forward-thinking decision to sell their historic campus and double down on serving adult learners. Beth shares what it takes to lead...

In this episode, Dustin sits down with Mike Stratta , CEO of Arcaléa , to unpack how AI is reshaping marketing strategies across industries—and what that means for higher ed. From his frustrations with top-line-only marketing to developing a data-powered product called Galileo, Mike shares how higher ed institutions can finally move beyond assumptions and start measuring what really works. They al...

What does it actually look like to teach with AI — and teach about it — in higher ed today? In this episode, Dustin chats with Dr. Evan Kropp , Executive Director of Distance Education at the University of Florida , about how AI is transforming course design, assessment strategies, and the student experience. Dr. Kropp offers practical examples and powerful insights on how institutions can embrace...

What if AI could make student writing more honest—not less? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Eric Wang , VP of AI at Turnitin , to talk about the launch of Turnitin Clarity : a new AI-powered document editor that helps students build critical thinking skills and helps educators better understand the process behind students’ assignment submissions. Eric unpacks the “why” behind Clarity, what...

Amy Swank , Executive Director of Parent and Family Programs at the University of Oregon, joins Dustin to unpack the transformative potential of family engagement in higher ed. Drawing on two decades of experience and her work with CampusESP and AHEPPP , Amy shares how institutions can strategically cultivate meaningful, lifelong relationships with parents and families—not just for student support...

Tech support isn’t sexy—but it might be the most important thing your institution isn’t thinking enough about. In this episode, Dustin welcomes Christopher Schmidt , Global Director for Client Support at Transact , to unpack why support systems are breaking under pressure and what higher ed needs to do about it. With deep experience in both the military and campus technology, Chris shares a ground...

What does it actually look like to run a truly digital-first institution? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Erika Orris , Senior Vice President of Operations at American Public University System , to unpack how her team supports a fully online student body. From personalized program pathways to AI-powered outreach, Erika shares the tools, systems, and philosophies that make American Public Un...

What makes a tech stack work for people, not just processes? In this energizing episode, Dustin chats with Sarah Kotlinski , Director of Enrollment Systems and Analytics at Gettysburg College, about the real art behind edtech integration. Sarah shares her “three gates” framework for evaluating tools, how she turns everyday tech into superpowered solutions, and why she’s a firm believer in departme...

In this bonus episode recorded live from the eduWeb Summit , Dustin sits down with Eric Butler from Modern Campus about how today’s content management systems are powering smarter, more personalized digital experiences for students. From AI-powered personalization to low-code flexibility for campus editors, Eric shares how Modern Campus is helping institutions turn their websites into dynamic, stu...

In this bonus episode recorded live from the eduWeb Summit , Dustin speaks with Thomas Steinman from Halda about how AI is reshaping the future of admissions and marketing—one prompt at a time. From demystifying AI in the hands-on “AI Studio” at the event to making the case for stronger data integration, Thomas breaks down what higher ed pros need to know about creating more personalized, scalable...

What does it take to design an institution around students who work full-time, raise kids, serve in the military, or all of the above? In this conversation, National University President Dr. Mark Milliron shares how NU has been built from the ground up to meet the needs of today’s learners—and why that's not a side hustle, it’s the whole hustle. With a laser focus on access, flexibility, and outco...

In this bonus episode recorded live from the eduWeb Summit , Dustin sits down with Sean Fitzpatrick , CMO at Overit and former higher ed marketing leader, to unpack how AI is transforming the SEO landscape. From structured data to conversational content and zero-click search, Sean explains how institutions can stay visible and relevant in an AI-first web. The takeaway? It’s not about fighting the...

In this bonus episode recorded live from the eduWeb Summit , Dustin chats with Destinee Mack from Workzone about how project management is evolving to meet the unique demands of higher ed. From managing competing priorities to streamlining collaboration between teams and agencies, Destinee shares how WorkZone is helping colleges and universities work smarter—not harder—without needing a full-time...