Shows
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 14 Building Trust and Driving Change with Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College (NM)In this episode of Higher Ed Leaders, Thom D. Chesney, President of Southwestern College, offers an in-depth look at his 40-year journey through higher education and the leadership lessons he has learned along the way. Now in his third presidency, Thom reflects on his path from faculty roles to executive leadership, the influence of his humanities background, and the value of servant leadership and curiosity in building a strong campus culture. He explains how Southwestern College's mission to transform consciousness through education shapes every part of its graduate programs, including art therapy, counseling, and visionary leadership.Thom...2025-04-2935 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 13 Faith, Innovation, and the Future of Higher Education with Michael Hammond, President of Gordon CollegeIn this episode, President Michael Hammond of Gordon College shares his unconventional path into higher education leadership. His journey was not the result of a set career plan, but rather a desire to combine intellectual inquiry with meaningful community engagement.He reflects on Gordon’s founding mission to provide education to marginalized individuals and to integrate Christian service with rigorous academic and professional preparation. As he discusses the current challenges facing Christian higher education, including the demographic cliff and evolving job markets, President Hammond emphasizes the importance of innovation, adaptability, and a clear Christian identity. He also hi...2025-04-2225 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 12 The Joyful Administrator with Karlyn Crowley, Provost of Ohio Wesleyan UniversityIn this episode, we delve into the transformative journey of Karlyn Crowley, Provost of Ohio Wesleyan University, exploring her profound impact on higher education. From her early experiences that solidified her belief in the liberal arts to her innovative leadership during the challenging times of the pandemic and beyond, Karlyn shares insights into fostering inclusive environments, navigating difficult conversations, and leading with empathy. We discuss her pivotal role in establishing the Cassandra Voss Center, her strategies for program prioritization, and her philosophy of "administrative joy," revealing how she effectively drives change while maintaining a deep commitment to student and...2025-04-1529 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 11 Beyond the Status Quo with Jeffrey Senese, President of Caldwell UniversityThis podcast episode features an in-depth conversation with Jeff, a seasoned leader in higher education, currently serving as the president of Caldwell University. Jeff shares his unique and extensive career journey, moving from a faculty role to various administrative positions across diverse institutions, including large public universities, liberal arts colleges, and professional-focused schools. He details his approach to leadership, emphasizing transformation, strategic growth, and responsiveness to market demands. The discussion highlights Caldwell University's strategic priorities, including expanding professional programs in healthcare and technology, enhancing online learning, and increasing international student enrollment. Jeff also discusses the importance of building community...2025-04-0836 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored 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
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 9 HBCU Innovation: Shaping the Future from Monique Guillory, President of Dillard UniversityThis episode features an interview with Monique Guillory, President of Dillard University, Louisiana's oldest HBCU. She discusses the challenges facing higher education, including the demographic cliff and the need to prove the value of a college degree. President Guillory outlines Dillard's strategy to address these challenges, focusing on a holistic liberal arts education, emphasizing fundamental skills like reading, writing, and critical thinking, and fostering an entrepreneurial campus. She highlights the Innovation Collective, a new residence hall designed to teach students about responsible social media use and content creation. The conversation also explores the importance of entrepreneurial leadership and adapting...2025-03-1814 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 8 Healing Through Brand: Transforming Higher Education from Jenny Petty, VP of Marketing & Communications at the University of MontanaIn this episode, Jenny shares her journey in higher education marketing, from her early days in the private sector to her current role as CMO at the University of Montana. She discusses the challenges of rebranding institutions, including navigating cultural tensions and internal skepticism, as exemplified by the "World Needs More Cowboys" campaign at the University of Wyoming. Jenny emphasizes the importance of community-driven branding, healing through brand, and cultivating a "flywheel" model that fosters long-term relationships with all audiences. She also provides valuable insights into entrepreneurial leadership in higher education, focusing on speed of implementation, ownership, and continuous...2025-03-1129 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 7 Geneva's Leap: Rebranding, Tuition Promise, and the Future of Liberal Arts from Willem de Ruijter, VP of Enrollment & Marketing at Geneva CollegeIn this episode, Willem, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Geneva College, shares his journey in higher education and the innovative strategies driving Geneva's success. He discusses the college's recent rebranding efforts, the implementation of the tuition promise initiative, and the unique value proposition of a Christian liberal arts education. Willem emphasizes the importance of understanding an institution's identity, communicating its value clearly, and fostering a collaborative environment for entrepreneurial leadership. He highlights how Geneva has balanced tradition with innovation to navigate the evolving higher education landscape.This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education 2025-03-0425 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 6 The Future of Higher Ed: Insights from Debra Liebowitz, Provost at Quinnipiac UniversityThis podcast features Debra, Provost of Quinnipiac University, discussing her journey into higher education leadership and her perspective on navigating the current challenges and opportunities in the field. She highlights Quinnipiac's entrepreneurial spirit, rooted in its founding, and how this has enabled the university to make bold moves, like expanding during the pandemic, building strategic partnerships, and launching a lifelong learning initiative. Debra emphasizes the evolving role of the provost in helping institutions develop and "live their strategy," the importance of collaboration across schools, and her leadership style, which balances intuition with reflection, engagement and prioritizes active listening. She...2025-02-1825 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 5 Innovative Leadership & AI: An Interview with Frank Hribar, Vice President, Enrollment & Student Affairs at Adrian CollegeFrank, a higher education leader at Adrian College, shares insights from his career and the college’s remarkable enrollment growth. Starting in supply chain management, he shifted to higher education to work more closely with students. Over the past 15 years at Adrian College, he has played a key role in doubling enrollment under President Docking’s leadership. This success stems from strategic initiatives like expanding athletics, launching 28-32 new academic programs in three years, and embracing innovation through partnerships like RISE to deliver new academic models.Frank highlights a “cylinder-like” approach to enrollment, focusing on converting interest into act...2025-02-1828 min
The Application with Allison TurcioEp. 61: Differentiate or Decline: How to Stand Out in Today’s Enrollment MarketAllison is joined by Suzan Brinker, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Viv Higher Education and author of Pass Fail: The Urgent Need for Strategic Leadership in Higher Education. Suzan shares practical strategies and frameworks to help higher ed institutions create authentic differentiation in an increasingly competitive enrollment landscape. This conversation tackles why differentiation is no longer optional, how to get started with a strategy, and what metrics can prove it’s working.Key “How Tos” You’ll Hear in This Episode:Leverage Brand Anthropology: Discover how to tell stories rooted in your institution’s history while aligning t...2025-02-1131 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 4 Thriving Amid the FAFSA Chaos: An Interview with Nathan Ament, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission at Knox CollegeNathan, VP of Enrollment at Knox College in Illinois, shares his unique journey from high school band director to higher education administrator. He explains how Knox achieved a remarkable 60% enrollment increase despite nationwide challenges, crediting key strategies like partnering with EAB, streamlining operational processes, building a regional recruitment team, and introducing the innovative "Knox Box" admit package. This personalized approach, sent to both domestic and international students, helped triple international enrollment.Nathan highlights the importance of focusing on yield, analyzing data, and understanding the perspectives of students and families. He also stresses the value of financial modeling...2025-02-1031 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 3 Future-Ready Higher Ed: An Interview with Lisa Keegan, Vice President, Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success at Bucknell UniversityIn this episode, Lisa Keegan, VP of Enrollment at Bucknell University, shares her unconventional path in higher education—from starting in admissions at Elon University to briefly pursuing law before returning to the field. She discusses the challenges and opportunities facing institutions today, emphasizing mission-driven leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Lisa highlights Bucknell’s focus on access and student success, including the creation of a Center for Access and Success to support first-generation and underrepresented students. She also explores the evolving role of liberal arts education in the AI era, advocating for critical thinking and student-driven learning.This podc...2025-02-0432 min
Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher EducationSEASON 2, Ep. 2 Challenging the Status Quo: An Interview with Paul McGinnis, Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment at Bethel UniversityPaul McGinnis, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Bethel University, brings a fresh perspective to higher education with his background in business rather than academia. In this conversation, he shares his unique journey into the sector and his thoughtful approach to navigating its complexities. Paul highlights the importance of listening to diverse perspectives and challenging traditional assumptions to foster meaningful change. A key focus of the discussion is Bethel’s bold decision to significantly reduce its tuition sticker price—a move aimed at aligning costs with value and improving accessibility for students. He also underscores the critical role of e...2025-01-2732 min