The Signal

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Sharon Harrison, CMO at Gravyty, to explore the dramatic evolution of AI in higher education. Sharon, who played a key role in unifying the leading platforms Ivy.ai and Ocelot under the Gravyty brand, traces the journey from the early days of simple "chat boxes" to today's sophisticated conversational AI agents. They discuss how th...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Gerry White, an award-winning educator and Dean of Academic Technology at ECPI University whose career defies easy categorization. Gerry’s journey spans from English literature and music to AI development and robotics, and he brings this interdisciplinary passion to every project. They discuss his AI-powered tutoring platform, MyTu...

France Hoang, a former White House Counsel, Army Special Forces veteran, and now the co-founder and CEO of Boodlebox, brings a unique perspective forged by a lifetime of service and leadership, now focused on one of education's most urgent questions: How do we get the human-AI relationship right? They dive into why the traditional educational model—information, struggle, assessment—is fundamentall...

This week on EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Erin Callihan, AVP of Strategic Marketing at NYU and a powerhouse who blends law, design, and deep tech strategy. They dive into the ever-expanding AI toolbox that's reshaping how higher ed professionals work. Erin shares her latest favorite tools—from Google Gemini's surprising slide design capabilities and Napkin AI for instant data vi...

Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Christy Heid, a Nursing Simulation Specialist at UbiSim. They tackle a critical issue revealed by UbiSim’s recent report: 65% of hospital leaders feel new nursing graduates aren't fully prepared for day-one patient care. Christy explains how this "readiness gap" is being closed through immersive VR simulation and AI-powered tools. She delves into how UbiSim’s nurse-b...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with digital marketing pioneer Jim Sterne, a professional explainer who has been at the forefront of every major tech shift since the 1980s. Jim reframes Generative AI not as just another tool, but as a fundamental metamorphosis—a shift from computational power to intellectual prowess. They explore how this changes the very nature of ou...

Jeff Dillon and Mariah Tang dive deep into the philosophy that content marketing is more about people than platforms. Mariah explains the critical mindset shift marketers need to make—from creating generic "AI slop" to crafting content that uniquely answers people's questions. They explore the concept of "Search Everywhere Optimization" (SEO), the importance of niching down, and how to effectively...

From her roots as a struggling student and president of the Cal State Student Association to her current role as a Higher Education Consultant at Canva, Mia Healy shares her unique journey and passion for making education more approachable and equitable. They dive into how her student leadership experience shaped her approach to EdTech, the importance of meeting students and institutions where the...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Faton Sopa, the co-founder and CEO of Manaferra, to unravel how the prospective student journey has been completely transformed. Faton shares groundbreaking insights from his agency's latest research, revealing that prospective students no longer get their information from single sources, but are instead "cross-checking" informatio...

How can universities create a seamless, safe, and connected experience that meets the soaring expectations of today's students? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Rasheed Behrooznia, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Transact+ CBORD, who leads a $250 million business serving over 1,500 institutions. Drawing from his unique background in defense systems...

Why is coordinating family dinner surprisingly similar to managing complex university processes? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ricardo Rengifo, President and CEO of DBS Software and Services, a pioneer in digitizing campus operations. Ricardo pulls back the curtain on the "document chaos" that plagues so many institutions—the siloed systems, fillable PDFs, and...

What does training for one of the world's hardest Ironman races have in common with leading AI transformation in business education? Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Matt Seitz, Director of the AI Hub for Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A veteran of Google, Abbott, and McDonald's, Matt brings 30 years of tech leadership to his mission of preparing students for an AI-driven world. H...

How can universities overcome their unique challenges to create amazing digital experiences in an AI-driven world? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Nick Cawthon, a seasoned UX strategist with over two decades of experience working with giants like Adobe and Visa, and a professor at the California College of the Arts. Nick pulls from his rich background in the firs...

What does it take to create digital learning that is truly for everyone ? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dipesh Jain, Vice President of Revenue at Magic EdTech, a company with a 35-year mission to make learning accessible and transformative. Dipesh shares his unique journey from physical therapist to tech leader and how that background shapes his empathetic, par...

Student interest in studying abroad is at an all-time high, but so are the challenges of cost, safety, and accessibility. In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with David Nelson, Director of Study Abroad at Terra Dotta and a veteran international education leader. David breaks down the findings from Terra Dotta's latest survey, revealing why 76% of students want to study ab...

How can universities break free from outdated systems and siloed data to create a seamless, modern experience for students and staff? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Joshua Meredith, JD, a Client Relationship Executive at Deloitte Consulting with over 12 years of experience inside higher ed. Joshua brings a unique perspective from his roles at Georgetown and Yesh...

Join host Jeff Dillon for a conversation with Jenny Li Fowler, the Director of Social Media Strategy at MIT. In this episode, Jenny pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to manage the social presence for one of the world's most innovative universities. She discusses her journey from TV journalism to leading MIT's digital strategy, growing their following to over 6 million. Jenny gets rea...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Melanie Lindahl, Senior UX Designer at UT Austin and winner of the Red Stapler Award for her groundbreaking conference talks on user experience. With a unique background in fine arts and web development, Melanie breaks down how higher ed institutions can implement powerful UX strategies—even on a shoestring budget. From debunking...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Texas A&M University—and the Content Marketer of the Year—to explore how iconic academic brands cut through the noise in a crowded higher ed landscape. From his days launching billion-dollar pharma brands at Eli Lilly to transforming Purdue into a nationally recognize...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jenny Leigh Morris, a technology strategist at Doctums who bridges the worlds of Fortune 100 innovation and higher education modernization. With a background in designing AI education programs for giants like Walmart, L’Oreal, and Microsoft, Jenny brings a unique perspective on how institutions can streamline technology adoption,...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Emily Chase Coleman, CEO and co-founder of HAI Analytics, to explore how data is reshaping higher education strategy. With over two decades of experience blending social psychology and statistics, Emily shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how HAI’s AI-powered platform helps colleges predict enrollment, optimiz...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon talks to Jarrett Smith, Senior VP of Strategy at Echo Delta and co-author of the groundbreaking Designing for Decisions report. Fresh from his eduWeb conference presentation, Jarrett dives into the eye-opening findings from their survey of over 1,000 prospective students, revealing what students actually want from college websites—and where inst...

Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jennifer Beyer, VP of Product at Thesis, to explore the evolving landscape of student information systems (SIS) and the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized colleges. With over two decades of experience spanning campus administration and EdTech leadership, Jennifer shares her mission to simplify higher education processes through cloud-based solutions. From...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eric Kim, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Modo Labs, to explore how mobile technology has reshaped higher ed—and where it’s headed next. From Modo’s origins at MIT (inspired by Kabuki stagehands!) to its global impact today, Eric shares how universities can break down silos, leverage AI, and design experiences students ac...

In this episode of EdTech Connect , host Jeff Dillon sits down with Katie Condon, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University, to unpack the urgent challenges and innovative strategies shaping higher ed’s future. With over a decade of experience spanning West Virginia University and EMU, Katie offers a candid look at how regional publics can compete amid shrinking demogr...