Shows
Small College AmericaSmall College America Jeff Selingo - Podcast Co-Host Future UWelcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.Kent Barnds: Joining us today is Jeff Selingo who has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books. His latest, New York Tines Best Seller Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You, draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 parents to give...
2025-12-1628 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Kristen Soares - President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and UniversitiesKent Barnds: Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.Dean Hoke: Kristen Soares is the fourth president of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), representing more than 85 nonprofit institutions dedicated to the public good. As president, she works with leaders across the state to shape higher education policy and serves as the sector’s chief spokesperson. Under her leadership, AICCU partnered with the California Community Colleges Chan...
2025-11-1830 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Michael Scarlett - Professor of Education Augustana CollegeWelcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Today, we’re joined by Michael H. Scarlett, Professor of Education at Augustana College. Michael supervises student teachers and teaches educational psychology and assessment, social studies methods, and educational technology. Before coming to Augustana, he spent four years on the faculty at Montana State University, Billings. He began his career teaching middle-school social studies—American history, world geography, humanities, and state history—and later...
2025-11-1126 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Teresa Parrot - Principal of TVP CommunicationsWelcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke. Dean: Our guest today is Dr. Teresa Valerio Parrot, APR, the Principal of TVP Communications. She is co-host of the Trusted Voices Podcast and co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, has numerous media bylines, and is a frequent keynote speaker.She is writing a book on higher-education governance for the Harvard Academic Press and co-editing a book on p...
2025-11-0428 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Josh Hibbard - Vice President Whitworth UniversityWelcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Josh Hibbard, a higher education leader, strategist, and storyteller passionate about helping students and families navigate one of life’s biggest decisions: choosing a college. As Vice President for Enrollment Management at Whitworth University, located in Spokane, Washington, Josh oversees admissions, financial aid, and military and veterans outreach, helping students chart a path toward both education and purpo...
2025-10-2830 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Jonathan Nichols - Author of Requiem for a CollegeWelcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Today, we are speaking with Jon Nichols, an author and educator whose work explores the intersection of personal narrative and institutional collapse in American higher education. He is the author of Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States, a deeply reflective and investigative account of the 2017 closure of Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana, where three...
2025-10-2129 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Frank Shushok - President Roanoke CollegeToday, we are speaking with Dr. Frank Shushok Jr., the 12th president of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, since 2022. He collaborates with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and regional partners to position the College as an agile, innovative, and learner-centered institution. Under his leadership, the College launched Imagine Roanoke, a strategic plan that includes creating four transdisciplinary schools and transforming the residential campus into a 21st-century learning laboratory. The plan's signature initiative, Roanoke College–Roanoke Valley (RC-RV), expands access to continuing education and workforce development. The College has launched new programs, begun const...
2025-10-1430 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner - VP Academic Affairs La Roche University“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I’m Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.”Today on Small College America, we’re joined by Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, who serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at La Roche University in Pittsburgh. He is the editor of "The Chief Academic Officer's Handbook: A Provost's Guide to Visionary Leadership," just released by Johns Hopkins University Press. Gregor previously was Provost and...
2025-10-0729 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Dean McCurdy - President Colby Sawyer College“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke. Dean: “Today, we are speaking with Dean McCurdy, president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. Dr. McCurdy has been an innovative leader at small private liberal arts colleges and at large public community colleges. Prior to joining Colby-Sawyer in June, Dean was provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, which enrolls m...
2025-09-3030 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Jeremiah Williams - Professor of Physics Wittenberg UniversityWe welcome Dr. Jeremiah Williams, a Professor of Physics at Wittenberg University since 2007, where he teaches the full spectrum of undergraduate courses and leads an undergraduate-focused research program in plasma physics. He received a BS in Physics and Mathematics from Dickinson College, an MS in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in Physics at Auburn University. His area of research is experimental plasma physics with a focus on dusty plasmas, and the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, and NASA have funded his work. He has also been active in th...
2025-09-2328 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Dr. Gary Daynes - President of Salem Academy and College“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke. Today, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Gary Daynes, Interim President of Salem Academy and College, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With a career devoted to leadership in small colleges, Gary has guided institutions through transformation and written extensively on higher education. Gary holds a PhD in American History from the University of Delaware. He is also the author of a new book, Ho...
2025-09-1629 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America How Small College Presidents Are Leading Through UncertaintyThree presidents share candid strategies for leading small colleges through unprecedented challenges. Dr. Anita Gustafson (Presbyterian College), Dr. Andrea Talentino (Augustana College), and Dr. Tarek Sobh (Lawrence Technological University) discuss practical approaches to enrollment growth, financial sustainability, and strategic innovation.Key Topics:Enrollment strategies: transfer student recruitment and the "Four R's" frameworkManaging federal policy impacts on international students and financial aidAI integration at liberal arts vs. technical institutionsEvolving student support services and the shift to being "student ready"Bold institutional moves: new academic programs and community development partnershipsLeadership principles for uncertain times: transparency, cultural understanding, and...
2025-09-021h 00
Life in Higher EdBeyond the application: the changing face of college admissions - Kent BarndsSend us a textWith 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 CollegeKent brings over 30 years of strategic leadership experience in higher education to today's conversation. As a seasoned higher ed professional who has served in key roles including Vice President for Enrollment, Communication, and Planning and Executive Vice P...
2025-08-1234 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America - Brian Pertl, Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music🎙 Small College AmericaEpisode Title: Radically Responsive Music Schools – A Conversation with Brian PertelGuest: Brian Pertel – Ethnomusicologist, author, and Dean of the Lawrence University Conservatory of MusicHosts: Dean Hoke & Kent BarndsEpisode SummaryIn this engaging conversation, Dean Hoke and Kent Barnds talk with Brian Pertel about his remarkable journey from Lawrence University student to Microsoft executive, and then back to Lawrence as Dean of the Conservatory of Music for 17 years. Brian shares how small colleges can foster innovation, collaboration, and cultural change in ways la...
2025-06-0341 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America - Matt Ward VP for Enrollment Management and Student Success at California Lutheran UniversityIntroduction: Dr. Matt Ward, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at California Lutheran University, a private, coeducational, liberal arts college founded in 1959 and located in Thousand Oaks, California." Cal Lutheran serves approximately 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students.Matt leads a division of more than 180 staff across admission, academic services, financial aid, athletics, analytics, and marketing. A national voice on enrollment strategy, higher ed marketing, diversity, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Ward teaches in Cal Lutheran’s Ed.D. program in Higher Education Leadership. He played a key role in Cal Lutheran’s HSI designation and has co-authored mult...
2025-05-2030 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America - Elizabeth Nino Executive Director of International Enrollment Augustana CollegeToday, we welcome Liz Nino, Executive Director of International Enrollment at Augustana College, a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Rock Island, IL. Augustana enrolls approximately 2,600 students, and international students comprise nearly 20% of the college’s enrollment.Liz is a global leader in international student recruitment! She’s literally put Augustana College on the map for students from across the globe. She’s known worldwide for her commitment to liberal arts and science education and cross-cultural understanding. Liz grew up in the Quad Cities and attended St. Ambrose University, where she earned both her bachelo...
2025-05-0628 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America - Marco Clark President Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IndianaIn this episode, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Marco J. Clark, President of Holy Cross College, a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located on a 70-acre wooded campus in South Bend, Indiana. With over three decades in Catholic education, Dr. Clark has become a visionary leader committed to academic innovation and mission-centered growth. Since becoming president in 2022, he has guided Holy Cross through transformative change—most notably with the launch of its strategic plan With Eyes of Faith, a roadmap shaped by the campus community that emphasizes mission, academic excellence, and student transformation. Under his leadership, Holy Cross has...
2025-04-2935 min
Higher Ed Leaders by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 10 Innovating Enrollment: Augustana's Strategic Approach with Kent Barnds, Exe. VP of for Strategy and Innovation Augustana CollegeIn this episode, Kent, a seasoned higher education leader at Augustana College, shares his journey and insights into navigating the evolving landscape of higher education. He discusses Augustana's strategic initiatives, including a focus on student-ready campuses, immersive learning, and community engagement. He emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial leadership, deep listening, and adapting to market demands while preserving the value of a liberal arts education. Kent also highlights Augustana's successful international student recruitment strategy and the college's commitment to diversity and inclusion.This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
2025-03-2533 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America - Eric LindbergQuick Recap - in this episode with Small College America, Kent Barnds, and Dean Hoke sit down with Eric Lindberg of the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio, to discuss the role and value of small colleges in US higher education. Eric shares his personal experiences and the Foundation's approach to philanthropic giving. They also explored the importance of leadership teams, agility in responding to social and governmental changes, and the complexities of college mergers. Introduction - Our guest is Eric Lindberg Chief Investment Officer and Trustee of the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio...
2025-03-1836 min
Small College AmericaSmall College America Introduction show with Dean Hoke and Kent Barnds"Welcome to Small College America, a 30-minute weekly podcast series dedicated to exploring the strengths, challenges, and future of small colleges across the country. Each week, we’ll bring you insights from leaders, faculty, and students who are shaping the future of small colleges and their role in higher education.Introduction of Co-HostsKent Barnds and Dean Hoke provide background on where each works, what each does, their passion for small colleges, and why this podcast matters.What Listeners Can ExpectWe speak about small co...
2025-02-2525 min
Higher Ed Marketing LabHow to Evolve Your Campus Visit in 2025W. Kent Barnds and Jeff Kallay join the show to discuss important behavioral shifts in how prospective students approach college visits and implications for the year ahead. Along the way they explore why it’s time to treat campus visits as yield events, ways to integrate digital and physical experiences, and the importance of providing more value than students can find on social media.
2025-01-2044 min
The Application with Allison TurcioEp. 59: Why Students Are Visiting Later—and What Enrollment Marketers Can Do About ItIn this episode of The Application, host Allison Turcio sits down with W. Kent Barnds, a veteran enrollment leader with over 30 years of experience, to tackle one of the hottest topics in enrollment marketing today: the shifting dynamics of campus visits. With students increasingly waiting to visit until after they’ve applied, how should colleges rethink their visit strategies? Kent unpacks the trends reshaping campus visit behavior, including the impact of social media and the rise of digital-first interactions. Enrollment marketers and admissions teams will walk away with actionable strategies for creating visits that drive yield and adapting their ap...
2025-01-1430 min
On Campus - with CITI ProgramNavigating FAFSA: History, Reforms, and Future Challenges - On Campus PodcastIn this episode, we dive deep into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), exploring its history and the significant developments over the past two years that have impacted both students and universities. From the origins of FAFSA as a tool to make higher education more accessible, to recent changes aimed at simplifying the process, we cover the key reforms and challenges that have emerged. We’ll also discuss how these changes affect student eligibility, the distribution of aid, and how universities are adapting to these shifts. Join us as we unpack the evolving landscape of FAFSA and it...
2024-09-1741 min
Higher Ed PulsePulse Check: Finding Your Why — Part 2In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Kin is joined by W. Kent Barnds, who has 33 years of experience in higher ed and shares his why and the importance of working at a college campus.Key points/takeaways include:The need for leaders to stay at institutions to fight the good fight.The comfort level of employees with a delayed sense of gratification that often is part and parcel of working in higher ed.The importance of giving space to break out of the mundane, repetitive workThe difference between what can be controlled and what cannot...
2024-08-1530 min
The Weekly VineDown with Emily SmithWhat's Up with FAFSA? With Kent Barnds of Augustana CollegeIn this special bonus VineDown short, join Emily Smith as she sits down with Kent Barnds of Augustana College for an in-depth conversation about the complications surrounding the new FAFSA rollout. Ken shares his perspective on the Department of Education's latest efforts, including a significant $50 million concierge service aimed at aiding families through the FAFSA completion process. Despite these developments, challenges persist, with filing rates hitting alarmingly low numbers, underscoring a crisis in educational access. From the importance of student-focused strategies to the power of individual advocacy, this episode is a must-listen for enrollment and a...
2024-02-1414 min
ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastW. Kent BarndsKent Barnds, Executive Vice President of ExternalRelations: Advancement | Communication | Enrollment | Planning for Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), shares how he started as "an accidental admissions person" and become the person with the longest title in the history of the ALP, and what he has learned along the way by becoming a college parent. Great mysteries will be revealed in this episode, including the origin story of Kent's ubiquitous bow ties, what the "W" in his name stands for, and who can lay claim to being the pizza king of the Quad Cities.Rapid Descent
2023-06-1249 min
DWCo. Show42 – W. Kent BarndsAugustana College Executive Vice President for External Relations W. Kent Barnds talks about what he’s learned from the Grateful Dead about listening, changing, and creating lasting connections with your audience – and how he’s applied it to his career.
2022-02-0124 min
True AdmissionsCatching up with the IACAC during the coronavirus pandemicW. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with Amy Thompson, College & Career Counselor for York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL, and Megan O'Rourk, a Regional Admissions Counselor for Providence College in Providence, RI. Amy is currently President of Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling and Megan is President Elect.
2020-05-1437 minTrue AdmissionsMother-daughter team navigates college admissions during the coronavirus pandemicW. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with Sangeetha Rayapati, a professor of music specializing in vocal pedagogy at Augustana College, and her daughter Annika, who is a High School sophomore.
2020-05-1219 minTrue AdmissionsCollege admissions during the coronavirus pandemicW. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with colleagues Karen Dahlstrom, Executive Director of Admissions, and Courney Wallace, Director of Admissions for the Chicago Region, both of Augustana College.
2020-04-1732 minTrue AdmissionsStarting your college search in a time of a pandemic: A conversation with an independent counselor"Relax and remember you are not alone in this" is some of the advice Bruce Epstein, independent counselor with First Choice College Counseling, offers to juniors as they make their first steps toward choosing a college this spring in this conversation with W. Kent Barnds on this episode of True Admissions. High school juniors and their support network will benefit from listening to this great dialog between two experts in the the college search and selection process.
2020-04-1622 minTrue AdmissionsA student and her father discuss how COVID-19 affected their college searchKent Barnds hosts a conversation with a senior and father to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted her final college choice. Food, classroom visits and interactions with current students are really important for Natalie. Her father is focused on dollars and cents! Listen to this comforting and reassuring conversation with a student trying to decide between her remaining two choices.
2020-04-0930 minTrue AdmissionsMaking a final college choice in a time of a pandemic"Relax, reach out to an admissions officer and remember you are not alone in this" is some of the advice Bruce Epstein, independent counselor with First Choice College Counseling, offers to seniors trying to make a final college choice this spring in this conversation with W. Kent Barnds on this episode of True Admissions. High school seniors and their support network will benefit listening to this great dialog between two experts in the the college search and selection process.
2020-04-0319 minTrue AdmissionsHow should I think about Gen Ed requirements?Kent Barnds talks with Eric Rowell, Assistant Director of Admissions and Diversity Outreach at Augustana College, about the importance of considering general education courses when comparing colleges and universities.
2017-01-0606 minTrue AdmissionsIt's FAFSA time! (Wait, what's a FAFSA?)Kent Barnds talks with Chris Vaughan, Chief Information Officer at Augustana College, about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
2016-09-2809 minTrue AdmissionsHow optional is "Test Optional?"Kent Barnds talks with Krista Rittenhouse from the Augustana College Advancement Department about what a college means when it says about “test optional."
2016-08-0907 minTrue AdmissionsWhat a college means when it talks about “demonstrated interest"Kent Barnds talks with Debbie Blaylock from the Augustana College Office of Communication and Marketing about what a college means when it talks about “demonstrated interest."
2016-08-0507 minTrue AdmissionsTips for parents making college visitsKent Barnds talks with Anna Castro, Manager of Campus Experience at Augustana College and a parent with a student going through the college search process, about what to look for during a college visit.
2016-06-2006 minTrue AdmissionsWhat to do when colleges “recommend” an interviewKent Barnds talks with Mike Pettis, Associate Director of Admissions at Augustana College, about what to do when a college "recommends" an interview.
2016-06-0607 minTrue AdmissionsHow to read a viewbookKent Barnds talks with Keri Rursh, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Augustana College, about how to best translate all the claims and stats in a college's published materials.
2016-04-2805 min