THE PLEXUSS PRESIDENTIAL PODCAST SERIES

Dr. JP Novin talks with Brien Lewis, President of Transylvania University, about how artificial intelligence is shaping higher education and the future workforce. President Lewis explains how Transylvania adapts its curriculum to emphasize critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, while taking a balanced approach to AI by encouraging students to learn and use the tools in some contexts...

Dr. JP Novin talks with President Derek Brown of Barclay College about the institution’s mission, faith-based and vocational focus, and its tuition-free model supported by donor contributions. President Brown discusses the enrollment challenges tied to Barclay’s remote location and its commitment to maintaining a clear institutional identity, as well as the college’s cautious, consensus-driven app...

Dr. JP Novin talks with Aaron Sadoff, President of Marian University, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and the future workforce. President Sadoff shares how his background in K–12 education informs Marian University’s transformation around AI, with a focus on preparing learners to be “best for the world.” The conversation highlights the growing importance of foundati...

Dr. JP Novin talks to Dr. Kate Smith, President of Rio Salado College, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce and redefining the role of higher education. Dr. Smith explains that AI is not replacing most jobs but fundamentally changing them, making adaptability and continuous learning essential. She emphasizes the need for institutions to prioritize durable skills such as dat...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Mahesh Daas, President of Boston Architectural College, to the podcast to discuss AI’s impact on higher education and the future workforce. Dr. Novin highlights Plexuss’s role in enrollment marketing and shares his pursuit of a doctorate in higher education. Dr. Daas provides an overview of Boston Architectural College’s 137-year history and its distinctive work-integrate...

Dr. JP Novin and Dr. Paul Maurer discuss AI’s growing impact on the workforce and education, with Dr. Maurer, President of Montreat College, emphasizing that AI is reshaping learning from K–doctorate and poses the greatest risk to “knowledge workers,” as defined by Peter Drucker. Dr. Maurer explains Montreat College’s response, including developing a theological position on AI to affirm the distin...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes President Laura Walker to discuss AI education and the future workforce. President Walker explains Bennington College’s student-centered, interdisciplinary approach, where students design their own education and participate in internships as a core part of their learning. She discusses the impact of AI on the workforce, highlighting Bennington’s “AI and Ethics” course and the...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Pano Kanelos - who has an extensive background in higher education and is the founding president of the University of Austin, and now a founding partner of the Athos group - to discuss the impact of AI, the future workforce, and the challenges facing higher education. Dr. Kanelos explains the founding of the University of Austin (UATX) and the creation of the AOS group, w...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, President of Athens State University, to discuss the university’s focus on upper-division courses and transfer students, emphasizing accessible education for adult learners and career-connected programs. Dr. Wehlburg shares her background in higher education administration and explains how Athens State integrates AI literacy into its curriculum to prep...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Nuno Fernandes, President of American Public University System, to the  Higher Education Leader Podcast  to discuss the impact of AI on education and the workforce. Nuno Fernandes explains how APUS prepares students for AI integration through its “APUS Signature Skills” initiative and by promoting transparent AI use in the classroom. The conversation also explores AI’s role i...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Stephen Spinelli, President of Babson College, to discuss Babson’s entrepreneurial focus and the integration of AI into its educational model. Dr. Spinelli highlights Babson’s unique experiential learning approach, where students start businesses in their first week and are prepared for continuous learning through customized career roadmaps. He emphasizes how AI enhances...

JP Novin welcomes Dr. Fernando Delgado, President of Lehman College, who highlights the college's mission to promote social mobility in the Bronx as a Hispanic Serving and Minority Serving Institution. President Delgado discusses the challenges of the "digital divide" in the Bronx, which impede AI integration, and emphasizes the need for students to master AI tools for future workfor...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Brian Bruess, President of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, to the Plexuss Higher Education Leadership Podcast . Dr. Bruess shares how he is leading two long-standing partner institutions through bold transformation under a strong integration model. The discussion covers unifying governance and operations, restructuring around student learning, a...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Jeremy Singer, President of the College Board, to Episode 29 of Season 3 of the Plexuss Presidential Podcast . They discuss the College Board's 125-year evolution and how it leverages technology to improve student outcomes. Jeremy highlights AI’s growing impact on education and the workforce, noting an “authenticity crisis” in assessments due to AI and grade inflation, wh...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Ali Houshmand, President of Rowan University, to discuss how entrepreneurial leadership can redefine higher education. Under Dr. Houshmand’s direction, Rowan has doubled its enrollment and become one of the fastest-growing public research universities in the country—now home to three medical schools. Dr. Houshmand shares how his background in engineering and his commitmen...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes President Bryon Grigsby, who discusses Moravian University's rich history, its commitment to access and inclusion, and how it prepares students for careers in health sciences, computer science, and business. President Grigsby highlights AI’s transformative impact on the workforce, emphasizing the need for colleges to equip all students with AI skills and integrate them ac...

Dr. JP Novin introduces Dr. Roger J. Best, the 16th president of the University of Central Missouri (UCM). Dr. Best provides an overview of UCM's growth and diverse programs, emphasizing its role in serving first-generation college students. The discussion focuses on AI's dramatic impact on the workforce, distinguishing between job displacement and augmentation. Dr. Best highlights UCM&#39...

Dr. JP Novin and Dr. Colleen Perry Keith discuss Goldey-Beacom College's adaptation to workforce needs, emphasizing the integration of AI into the curriculum and the development of workforce training certificates, particularly at the graduate level. Dr. Keith highlights the college's focus on listening to students, graduates, and employers to offer relevant programs, addressing the impact...

Dr. JP Novin welcomes Dr. Wesley Fugate to the Higher Education Leader Podcast, where Dr. Fugate shares his untraditional path to becoming president of Wilson College and discusses the college's significant growth and transformation, including its transition to co-education and surpassing pre-pandemic enrollment numbers. He emphasizes AI's impact on the future workforce, urging students to...

JP Novin welcomes David A. Armstrong, President of St. Thomas University, to discuss the university's remarkable turnaround since 2018, including tripling enrollment, quadrupling on-campus housing, and strengthening its financial position. President Armstrong highlights St. Thomas University's focus on experiential learning and “robot-proofing” students through technological, data, and hum...

JP Novin opens the podcast by introducing Lisa Vollendorf, President of Empire State University, who discusses the university's mission as the innovation arm of the SUNY system, its significant growth, and its role in providing online education. Lisa Vollendorf emphasizes Empire State University's proactive approach to AI readiness, including integrating AI literacy into the curriculum and...

Dr. JP Novin introduces Dr. Rachelle Keck, President of Grand View University, to discuss AI's impact on higher education and the future workforce, highlighting Dr. Keck's journey from attorney to university president. Dr. Keck details Grand View University's historical adaptation and current efforts to integrate AI across all disciplines, fostering curiosity and collaborative intellig...

Dr. JP Novin speaks with Dr. Amy Bragg Carey, the 14th president of Friends University, about the university’s growth and engagement with AI education. Dr. Carey highlights Friends University’s increasing enrollment and efforts to partner with local businesses, noting that AI is rapidly changing many fields and requires equipping students with an understanding of AI tools. They also discuss the on...

JP Novin speaks with Nora Demleitner, who served as President of St. John’s College, about the logical progression from a liberal arts education to law, emphasizing the importance of foundational knowledge and critical analysis. Demleitner is writing a book on criminal justice and AI ethics, raising concerns about AI’s impact on entry-level jobs and highlighting the need for higher education to ad...

Dr. JP Novin speaks with Dr. James Lentini, President of Molloy University, about leadership in education, AI, and the future workforce. Dr. Lentini highlights Molloy’s history, current enrollment growth, and the university’s proactive integration of AI into both administrative and academic functions, including new certificates and courses. Together, Dr. Lentini and Dr. Novin emphasize the importa...