Shows
ASCEND PodcastS2 - E54 - Expert Session - Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson (University of South Carolina)Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson from the University of South Carolina to talk about a retention strategy on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.* The mention or listing of a specific commercial product or service in this episode does not imply endorsement by the editors, nor discrimination against similar brands, products, or services not mentioned.2025-01-2311 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E52 - Expert Session - Dr. Sharon Rea and Dr. Mike Freel (Bellevue University)In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Sharon Rea and Dr. Mike Freel from Bellevue University to talk about retention strategies on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2025-01-1610 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E50 - Expert Session - Leslie Tod (University of South Florida)In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Leslie Tod from the University of South Florida to talk about retention strategies on her campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2025-01-0913 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E48 - Expert Session - Dr. Ann Van Der Karr (Rutgers University - Newark)In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Anne Van Der Karr from Rutgers University - Newark to talk about retention strategies on her campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2025-01-0208 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E46 - Expert Session - Rusty Pettus (University of Alabama)In this episode, Eric Kirby sits down with Rusty Pettus from the University of Alabama to talk about retention strategies on his campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-12-2612 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E44 - Expert Session - Stephanie Merritt and Susan Goldsmith (Tulsa Community College)In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Stephanie Merritt and Susan Goldsmith from Tulsa Community College to talk about retention strategies on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-12-1912 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E42 - Expert Session - Monika Rohde & Mohammed Moizuddin (New York Institute of Technology)Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Monika Rohde and Mohammed Moizuddin from New York Institute of Technology to talk about retention strategies on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-12-1213 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E40 - Expert Session - Dr. Danae Romrell (BYU-Idaho)Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Danae Romrell from Brigham Young University-Idaho to talk about retention strategies on her campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-12-0510 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E38 - Expert Session - Sarah Jurden and Kim Brooks (Bowling Green State University)Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Sarah Jurden and Kim Brooks from Bowling Green State University to talk about retention strategies on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-11-2811 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E36 - Expert Session - Dr. Shelley Dempsey and Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson (University of South Carolina)Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Shelley Dempsey and Lara Lomika Anderson from University of South Carolina to talk about retention strategies on their campus. This episode was recorded at the National Symposium on Student Retention in early November 2024.2024-11-2113 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E34 - Expert Session - Dr. Joe CuseoDr. Joe Cuseo joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Joe Cuseo is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Marymount California University. He was a 14-time recipient of the “faculty member of the year award” on his home campus—a student-driven award based on effective teaching and academic advising, a recipient of the “Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award” from the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and a recipient of the “Diamond Honoree Award” from the American C...2024-11-1459 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E32 - Persistence Scorecards (Data)In volume one of ASCEND to Higher Retention Rates, we discussed the value and power of having all new students complete a pre-arrival questionnaire (Tippets & Kirby, 2022). This allows us to capture lots of important insights about a student’s background, motivations, and commitment to higher education. Using the data from this survey, and combining it with other data collected from the application process, our peer mentors create “scorecards” for each student to help us prioritize our outreach and support.Many institutions have purchased sophisticated data analytic software that ingests data to predict the likelihood of a student persis...2024-11-0309 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E28 - The Perch (Support)Even though they are second-year students and in theory know their way around campus, sophomores and transfer students often still find themselves getting the runaround, being bounced from office to office and center to center until they find what they need. To stop this runaround, we created a one-stop shop on campus to better serve our second-year students. Similar to The Nest (a one-stop shop for first-year students) that we described in our first book (Tippets & Kirby, 2022), we created The Perch to serve as a one-stop shop for our second-year students.2024-10-1108 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E27 - Expert Session - Dr. Bryce Bunting (Brigham Young University)Dr. Bryce Bunting from Brigham Young University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Bryce D. Bunting is an associate clinical professor, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Director of the Office of First-Year Experience at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He began his work in education as a public school teacher and coach. He then earned graduate degrees in instructional design and educational psychology.He has worked in a variety of roles in student af...2024-10-0352 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E18 - Expert Session - Aaron Basko (University of Lynchburg)Aaron Basko from the University of Lynchburg joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Aaron Basko is currently the Vice President of Enrollment and University Outreach at the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA. He has more than 25 years of experience serving as an enrollment growth specialist and student success strategist. He is the author of seven books, including Find Your Purpose, Manage Your Career and How to Impress U.S. Universities, and has written for The Chronicle...2024-08-0832 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E15 - Expert Session - Dr. Glenn Davis (Bowling Green State University)Dr. Glenn Davis from Bowling Green State University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Glenn Davis is Vice President for Student Engagement and Success at Bowling Green State University. In this role, Glenn collaborates with staff and faculty from across the university to ensure that all students graduate with the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence they need to be successful on their chosen path. With Jillian Kinzie, Glenn co-edited Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education...2024-07-2553 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E12 - Expert Session - Nii Abrahams (Butler University)Nii Abrahams from Butler University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Since Fall 2022, Nii Abrahams has served as the inaugural Director of the First Year Experience at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he partners across the 4 campus divisions to ensure all areas work cohesively to create a culture of well-being with intentional systems that cultivate belonging and connectedness for all first-year students on campus. He is extremely passionate about helping college students and young professionals discover, develop...2024-07-1151 minASCEND PodcastS2 - E9 - Expert Session - Dr. Gill Hunter (Eastern Kentucky University)Dr. Gill Hunter from Eastern Kentucky University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Gill Hunter is Assistant Vice President of Retention and Graduation at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Located just east of the Bluegrass of central Kentucky and in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, EKU is a regional university serving almost 15,000 students, nearly half of them the first in their families to attend college. Dr. Hunter is an English faculty member with 18 years...2024-06-2747 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E104 - Wrap up episode for Season 1In this episode, ASCEND Podcast co-hosts Eric Kirby and Jared Tippets wrap up Season 1 and talk about themes and takeaways from the first season.2024-02-0418 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E101 - Creating a culture of accountability (Culture)In this episode, Dr. Jared Tippets and Dr. Eric Kirby talk about the importance of creating a culture of accountability.2024-01-1411 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E100 - Happy Holidays!Happy holidays from Jared and Eric. Thanks for your support of the ASCEND Podcast. We're going to take a break for a few weeks and then we'll be back with another episode on January 14.2023-12-2402 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E98 - Expert Session: Dr. Steven Girardot (Georgia Tech)Dr. Steven Girardot from Georgia Institute of Technology joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Steven P. Girardot is the vice provost for undergraduate education at Georgia Tech and has over twenty years of higher education experience and is a proud Tech alumnus, having earned both a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Chemistry from Georgia Tech. He completed his doctorate in Chemistry at Emory University and a Master of Public Health (MPH...2023-12-1438 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E96 - Expert Session: Dr. Jim Spain (University of Missouri-Columbia)Dr. Jim Spain from the University of Missouri-Columbia joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Jim Spain earned a BS in Animal Sciences from North Carolina State University and completed his Master of Science and Doctorate in Dairy Science with an emphasis in dairy cattle nutrition at Virginia Tech. He joined the University of Missouri as an Extension Dairy Specialist in 1990. He has given 300+ invited talks on dairy cattle nutrition/management (MO, 35 states, 12 countries). He has been P...2023-12-0750 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E94 - Expert Session: Dr. Mark Milliron, Dr. Angela Baldasare, Sarah Ball (National University)For this expert session co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sat down with leaders from National University to capture their knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!In this episode you'll hear from Dr. Mark Milliron (President & CEO), Dr. Angela Baldasare (Deputy Chief of Staff and VP for Strategic Institutional Research & Planning), and Sarah Ball (AVP, Learner Experience).2023-11-3058 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E90 - Expert Session: Dr. Ed Cabellon (Curry College)Dr. Ed Cabellon from Curry College joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!With over 26 years in Higher Education, Dr. Ed Cabellon (pronounced "kah-bell-en") currently serves as Vice President of Enrollment Management at Curry College in Milton, MA. Known for his creative and collaborative leadership, Ed specializes in data-driven recruitment, retention, and graduation strategies. An authority on digital technology in higher education, Ed has conducted pivotal research, published extensively, and taught courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels...2023-11-1641 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E88 - Expert Session: Dr. Kal Srinivas (Syracuse University)Dr. Kal Srinivas from Syracuse University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!As part of Syracuse University’s larger commitment to creating an inclusive student body, Dr. Kal Srinivas works with all schools, colleges and divisions to further the ideals of supporting all students with the underpinning concept being that all students receive the individualized services and support necessary for their success through graduation. As the director of student retention and success she assists campus sta...2023-11-0939 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E84 - Expert Session: Dr. Michelle Ashcraft (Indiana Commission for Higher Education)Dr. Michelle Ashcraft from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Michelle Ashcraft is the inaugural Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief Program Officer at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Michelle leads the K-12 Outreach, Career and Technical Education, Postsecondary Transitions and Success, and State Financial Aid teams to increase Indiana’s college-going rate, college completion rate, and in-state retention rate of college graduates. The teams align policies, programs and partnerships to...2023-10-2654 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E82 - Expert Session: Dr. KayDee Perry (The University of Olivet)Dr. KayDee Perry from The University of Olivet joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. KayDee Perry currently serves as the Associate Provost for Student Development at The University of Olivet. Olivet is a small, private, primarily residential institution located in south central Michigan, serving one of the most diverse student populations in the State of Michigan. Over her 11 years at Olivet, KayDee has served in a variety of roles including Chair of the Health and Human...2023-10-1926 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E80 - Expert Session: The Southern Utah University (SUU) Student Success TeamIn this episode, Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with the Southern Utah University Student Success Team to talk about the ASCEND model.Featured in this episode are:Kelly Lid Stephens - Executive Director of Completion and Student SuccessAshleigh Zimmerman - Executive Director of Belonging and EngagementHeather Garcia - Director of Student Involvement & LeadershipBrandon Street - Director of Career & Professional DevelopmentKatie Murray - Parent and Family Services CoordinatorAnu Tufuga - College Transition Specialist at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, HIRyan Bailey - Director of First-Year Experience and Student Retention, now at Utah Valley University2023-10-1243 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E78 - Expert Session - Dr. Bridget Burns (University Innovation Alliance (UIA))Dr. Bridget Burns joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Named one of the “Most Innovative People in Higher Education” by Washington Monthly magazine, Dr. Bridget Burns is the founding CEO of the award winning University Innovation Alliance (UIA), an national multi-campus national laboratory for student success innovation working to increase the number and diversity of college graduates across the country. Dr. Burns is a frequent keynote speaker, and her work has been highlighted in national outlets like The...2023-10-0543 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E76 - Expert Session - Dr. James Winfield (Southern New Hampshire University)Dr. James Winfield joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. James K. Winfield serves as the associate dean for first-year experience, general education, and retention strategies at Southern New Hampshire University’s Global Campus. Winfield is a proud first-gen graduate with extensive experience in first-year programs, specifically facilitating first-year seminars, teaching, designing curriculum, and leading faculty development. His dissertation and research interests are focused on the career self-efficacy and academic major decisions of low-income, first-generation college students in a...2023-09-2843 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E74 - Expert Session - Dr. Christine Salvesen (University of Arizona)Dr. Christine Salvesen joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Christine Salvesen serves as the Chief Retention Officer and Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Retention Innovation at the University of Arizona. She leads several retention leadership groups, coordinates many campus-wide persistence and retention initiatives, and oversees a unit that supports the success of all undergraduates at the University of Arizona through strengths-based programming, evidence-based practices, and robust assessment. Dr. Salvesen has worked at the University of Arizona f...2023-09-2141 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E72 - Expert Session - Dr. Amber Williams (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)Dr. Amber Williams joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Amber Williams is the Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she provides oversight to various departments, encompassing Academic Advising, Career Development, First-Year Programs, and Undergraduate Research, among others. Under her astute leadership, UT has observed notable improvements in retention rates, persistence, graduation outcomes, and subsequent career trajectories. Leveraging her extensive experience in the field of higher education, Williams has implemented innovative, data-informed...2023-09-1436 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E70 - Expert Session - Dr. Amelia Parnell (NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education)Dr. Amelia Parnell joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Amelia Parnell is vice president for research and policy at NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where she leads many of the Association’s scholarly and advocacy-focused activities. Amelia writes and speaks frequently about topics related to student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes, and institutions’ use of data and analytics. Amelia’s policy and practitioner experiences include prior roles in association management, legislative policy analysis, internal audit, a...2023-09-0741 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E68 - Expert Session - Dr. Beth Lingren Clark (University of Minnesota–Twin Cities)Dr. Beth Lingren-Clark joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Beth Lingren Clark is the Associate Vice Provost for Retention and Transition Programs in the Office for Undergraduate Education at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She is responsible for leading the U’s retention strategy including many retention outreach efforts, co-leading APLUS governance and influencing its priorities and functions both locally and for system campuses, as well as co-leading international fee grant process to support international student success. She al...2023-08-3141 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E66 - Expert Session - Dr. Drew Koch (John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education)Dr. Drew Koch joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Andrew (Drew) Koch is a husband and father of 6, hiker (when both body and time permit), aging lacrosse player, educator, son of immigrants, and Chief Executive Officer at the Gardner Institute. His 30+ year career in higher education has been dedicated to expanding access and success in both public and private colleges and universities. He has been a PI or co-PI on more than four dozen grants focused on...2023-08-2448 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E64 - Expert Session - Dr. Terrell Strayhorn (Virginia Union University)Dr. Terrell Strayhorn joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Terrell Strayhorn is Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he also serves as Director of the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Principal Investigator of grant-funded The Belonging Lab. Since 2016, he owns and serves as president of a successful consulting firm that works with hundreds of corporations, colleges, schools, and leaders each year.2023-08-171h 14ASCEND PodcastS1 - E63 - Focus on 5 (Nudges)Many students are figuratively drowning from the weight of their personal lives or scholastic endeavors. They feel lost. They feel alone. They feel hopeless. They are frustrated, confused, and lacking confidence. Many are just crying to be noticed and for someone to simply recognize that they are alive, that they have a purpose, and that someone sees them for who they are. Most faculty and staff are not licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, or any other doctor specializing in these issues. But one thing we have found is that so often there is nothing more powerful than someone who cares. We...2023-08-1307 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E62 - Expert Session - Dr. Monica Brockmeyer (Wayne State University)Dr. Monica Brockmeyer, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Urban Studies and Associate Professor, Department Computer Science at Wayne State University, joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Monica Brockmeyer, Ph.D., an experienced and pioneering higher education leader and Founder of Change By Degrees consulting. Until the end of 2022, she was senior associate provost for student success at Wayne State University in Detroit, where she led the university to impressive gains in graduation rates. Under her leadership, the university in...2023-08-1033 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E61 - Academic Affairs and Student Affairs partnership (Culture)A healthy campus culture will have a strong partnership between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. This is something that most campuses struggle with as sometimes there is a natural tension between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. While Student Affairs professionals sometimes push too hard and too fast with initiatives, it is important for them to remember that Student Affairs exists to support the academic mission of the institution, not the other way around. The most effective institutions we have seen in creating a shared campus culture between these two divisions comes when Student Affairs includes their Academic Affairs colleagues...2023-08-0611 minASCEND PodcastS1 - E60 - Expert Session - Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart (Amarillo College)Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President for Amarillo College, joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention and student success efforts!Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President for Amarillo College since 2014. Amarillo College was named the 2023 Aspen Prize Co-Winner for Community College Excellence.Russell’s leadership is focused on improving student success through systemic and cultural change centered on one word: LOVE. Under Russell’s leadership, Amarillo College developed the systemic Culture of Caring targeting removal of poverty barriers that was featured in The Atlantic (June 2018) and i...2023-08-0340 min