The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

In this final episode recorded live from Transact 360 , Dustin chats with Derek Bierman , CIO at Doane University, for a candid, future-focused, and wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to lead digital transformation on campus. From AI overload to cloud sticker shock to the very real challenge of prioritizing hundreds of tech contracts, Derek offers a rare look behind the scenes of...

In this inspiring conversation, Dustin welcomes Dr. Siva Kumari , CEO of College Possible , to unpack how her team is rewriting the narrative for first-gen and low-income students. From helping students find their best-fit college to coaching them all the way to graduation (and beyond), College Possible proves that persistent, personalized support can change lives. Tune in to hear how they're blen...

In this final episode recorded live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin spoke with Tanya Weigold and Kathryn Harris from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education . They shared how their small team is using Element451 and AI agents to scale support for thousands of South Carolina students. From transforming an admissions platform into a scholarship gateway to increasing FAFSA completion r...

In this bonus episode recorded live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin chats with Dan Roberts , Special Projects Manager at San Diego Miramar College. Dan has one job: lead the implementation of Element451 across campus. With decades of experience in marketing and student engagement, Dan breaks down what it really takes to lead a CRM transformation: cross-campus buy-in, empathy for overworked st...

Live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin sits down with team members from DIS-Study Abroad to unpack how digital transformation is reshaping the student experience abroad. From streamlining pre-departure logistics to embracing CRMs and AI for internal efficiency, this conversation explores how DIS is thoughtfully building a more connected, student-first journey. Plus, the team opens up about thei...

In this episode recorded live from Transact 360 , Dustin sat down with Alison Cove , Founder and CEO at USEFULL, to discuss her company’s mission to make reusable containers the default—not the exception—on college campuses. What starts as a conversation about ditching plastic turns into a deeper exploration of how tech-forward systems can drive student behavior change, reduce operational costs, a...

Live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin sits down with Brian Piper —AI integration consultant, host of the AI for U podcast, and author of Epic Content Marketing for Higher Ed . Brian shares how his early embrace of AI tools shaped his thinking on content strategy and scalability in higher ed. From creating workflows with AI agents to reframing adoption as culture change, this episode explores h...

Live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin chats with Carrie Phillips , Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and creator of Lessons in Leadership . Carrie unpacks her leadership philosophy, her personal and professional AI journey, and why curiosity and calendar discipline are her secret weapons. From building custom GPTs to managing data-driven st...

Live from the Engage 2025 Summit , Dustin sits down with Devin Purgason , Associate VP of Student Experience, Marketing, and Outreach at Forsyth Technical Community College. In this insightful and energizing conversation, Devin shares how Forsyth Tech became an early adopter of AI, how they’re integrating it across departments, and why staying grounded in student needs is the key to meaningful tec...

This week, Dustin is pleased to welcome back higher ed design strategist and author Elliot Felix to discuss his forthcoming book, The Connected College . Together, they unpack what it takes to build institutions that work better together—from breaking down silos to smarter strategy execution. Elliot brings the wisdom of over 100 campus collaborations, offering a hopeful and highly practical roadma...

In this episode recorded live from Transact 360 , Dustin gets insights from Patrick Beirne who serves as Senior Director of Student Financial Services at Wayne State University. In this rare sit-down with a real-life bursar (finally!), Pat offers a front-line view of how digital transformation is changing the way institutions bill and collect payments—and why it matters more than ever. From phasin...

In this episode recorded live from Transact 360 , Dustin chats with Read Winkelman from Transact about his unique dual lens of personal experience as a parent of college students and decades of professional experience. Read offers a compelling look at how mobile credentials are driving convenience, enhancing campus safety, and enabling smarter student support through real-time behavioral data. Fro...

In this week’s episode, Dustin chats with Jennifer Lonchar , co-founder of AmbioEDU and higher ed marketing veteran, about the future of enrollment marketing—spoiler alert: it's already in your living room. Jennifer breaks down why performance TV (think streaming ads with measurable ROI) isn’t just the “next big thing”—it’s the now big thing. From her early days at Carnegie to launching AmbioEDU,...

In this episode recorded live from Transact 360 , Dustin sits down with Mike Maxsenti , SVP of Product at Genea , to explore how higher ed is embracing digital transformation—specifically in the world of campus security. They unpack how mobile credentials, cloud-based access systems, and IoT sensors are changing what it means to create a safe, smart, and student-friendly campus. From eliminating t...

In this week’s episode, Dustin sits down with Kathleen deLaski — author of Who Needs College Anymore? — to explore why the traditional four-year degree is no longer the only path to career success. Kathleen shares insights from her research on alternative learning models, highlights innovative colleges embracing change, and lays out a vision for an experience-first approach to higher ed. They tack...

In this special bonus episode, Dustin sits down with Dr. Chris Lewis , Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, to unpack how creating strategic content like podcasts can serve as a dynamic enrollment and marketing tool in higher ed. Chris shares his multi-decade journey through higher education, his love for storytelling, and how he’s turned personal content-creation ski...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU , Dustin speaks with Ana Homayoun , executive functioning expert, author, and founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting and Luminaria Learning. Ana has spent 25 years helping students develop the organization, planning, and adaptability skills they need to thrive in school, work, and life. She explains why higher ed institutions must start tea...

In this episode, Dustin Ramsdell sits down with Scott Anderberg , CEO at Moodle , for a deep conversation on why open source matters more than ever in higher education. Scott shares how Moodle’s global reach, customizable architecture, and vibrant community are shaping more inclusive, creative, and scalable learning experiences. Plus, the duo gets real about AI’s potential—not as a threat, but as...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU , Dustin speaks with Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva , President of Complete College America (CCA), a national advocacy organization dedicated to helping more students access, persist, and graduate from college on time. Yolanda shares CCA’s systems-level approach to student success, the importance of transfer-friendly policies, and how institutions mus...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU , Dustin speaks with Diego Arambula , Vice President of Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation . Diego discusses how higher education must evolve to remain a powerful engine for economic opportunity — especially for students who are furthest from it. He unpacks the need to rethink degree structures, the role of digital transformat...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU , Dustin speaks with Halley Hoot from Summer Discovery . Halley shares how her team partners with top universities to offer transformative summer learning experiences for students as young as first grade through high school. She discusses how these programs not only expose students to college-level academics but also help them develop critical l...

What does it look like when faculty lead the charge in building AI-powered learning tools—without losing their human-centered roots? In this live episode from the AI Show at the ASU+GSV Summit , Dustin speaks with UCLA professor Dr. Zrinka Stahuljak and PhD candidate Elizabeth Landers about their work developing a first-of-its-kind AI-assisted, human-guided textbook for a large general education c...

In this special live episode recorded live at the AI Show at ASU+GSV , Dustin and guest Tara Gilboa unpack how her work at Zal. AI is helping higher ed institutions build real-time, skills-based pathways between education and employment. Tara breaks down what it actually takes to align curriculum with workforce needs, how AI is the secret ingredient to faster, smarter decision-making, and why we n...

In this special live episode recorded live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV , Dustin sits down with Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan —AI strategist at San Francisco Bay University—for a thought-provoking and practical look at how AI is reshaping the university experience. From tutoring and enrollment to mental health support and empathy-driven VR, Shalini shares how she’s embedding AI into every corner of the...

Julia Dixon , Forbes 30 Under 30 and founder of ESAI , joins Dustin live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV to unpack how her AI-powered platform is helping students craft authentic, compelling college essays—without crossing ethical lines. Drawing from her years as an admissions advisor, Julia explains why storytelling is the ultimate soft skill in today’s AI-driven world—and how the right tools can emp...