Send us Fan Mail Devorah Lieberman, PhD Devorah Lieberman, PhD, is an internationally recognized higher education leader, scholar, and advisor, known for advancing institutional transformation, inclusive excellence, and global engagement. She served for twelve years as President of the University of La Verne, becoming the first woman president in the institution’s 135-year history, and led significant growth in enrollment, finances, and global partnerships—quadrupling the endowment and near...
Aug 27
36 min
Send us Fan Mail Higher education is navigating a polycrisis, a confluence of demographic shifts, economic instability, political hostility, and technological disruption that has pushed American colleges and universities into a period of managed decline. Bryan Alexander joins us to explore what that means for the future of higher ed. While agency is unevenly distributed, we all have choices to make, and together, we can shape what comes next. Bryan Alexander, PhD Bryan Alexander is an interna...
May 27
57 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore why the ability to craft and share meaningful stories is essential to effective leadership, sense‑making, and trust‑building in complex organizations. Joining the conversation are Trish Beck and Denise Nelson Nash, co‑authors of Trinity of Leadership: Learners, Thinkers, Tinkerers, and thought leaders whose work examines how leaders use narrative to clarify purpose, navigate change, and inspire action. Together, they discuss storytelling as a strat...
Mar 23
28 min
Send us Fan Mail More than half of U.S. college students now attend institutions in states where new laws and policies restrict what can be taught and how campuses can operate, according to a new PEN America report. In this conversation, Jonathan Friedman and Amy Reid explore how these constraints are reshaping student learning, faculty work, and the vital research that transforms curiosity into innovations that drive economic growth, create high-paying jobs, strengthen national security, imp...
Jan 16
48 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with R. Todd Benson from COACHE (Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education) to explore what makes faculty mentoring truly effective. Todd shares insights from COACHE's extensive research on faculty job satisfaction and workplace climate across hundreds of institutions. We discuss the data-driven elements that contribute to successful mentoring relationships, common pitfalls departments face, and practical strategies for creating a cult...
Oct 9, 2025
46 min
Send us Fan Mail From navigating routine compliance challenges to managing full-blown institutional crises, discover how administrators cultivate strategic partnerships with their legal advisor that prove invaluable when the stakes are highest. Guilherne Costa shares candid insights on building trust during quiet periods, establishing clear communication protocols, and why the best crisis responses start long before trouble hits campus. Whether you're facing student protests, Title IX investi...
Sep 12, 2025
44 min
Send us Fan Mail With recent shifts in federal and state policies, legal rulings, and evolving demographics, how are institutions adapting their approaches to student recruitment and selection? This question is on the minds of educators, administrators, and families across the nation. W. Kent Barnds, executive vice president for strategy and innovation, Augustana College Kent brings over 30 years of strategic leadership experience in higher education to today's conversation. As a season...
Aug 12, 2025
34 min
Send us Fan Mail When chaos strikes, how do leaders step up, steady the ship, and guide their organizations toward resilience and renewal? This is on the minds of leaders across higher ed and beyond. Dr. Ralph Gigliotti, whose work focuses on helping leaders transform moments of crisis into opportunities for growth and reinvention, shares his insights and recommendations for navigating challenging times. Ralph Gigliotti As Assistant Vice President for Organizational Leadership in University A...
May 4, 2025
33 min
Send us Fan Mail Things have become more complicated for higher education in 2025, with executive orders, grant terminations, funding reductions, and investigations. This isn't the first time higher education has faced a crisis; what's different this time, or is it? Teresa Valerio Parrot provides perspective and advice on navigating tumultuous times. Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal, TVP Communications Teresa is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communicat...
Mar 25, 2025
34 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we delve into the attacks on DEI with Dr. Daryl G. Smith, author of Diversity's Promise for Higher Education. Dr. Smith discusses the complex dynamics of institutional capacity building and offers insights into mission advancement during these turbulent times. Dr. Daryl G. Smith, PhD Dr. Smith is a Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emerita of Education and Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined CGU as a faculty member after ser...
Feb 25, 2025
43 min
Load more