Shows / AI for U
AI for U
AI for U is the go-to podcast for higher ed professionals looking to integrate AI into their daily work. Each episode features interviews with industry leaders, providing insights on implementing and leveraging AI to streamline processes, enhance student experiences, and drive institutional success. Join host Brian Piper every other Thursday for fresh, empowering content that keeps you at the forefront of AI in higher education.
Episodes
- AI for U
Ep. 58: Why Human Empathy Rules the Modern Job Market
In this episode, host Brian Piper talks with Jeremy Schifeling, author of Unbreakable and founder of The Job Insiders, about the evolving role of artificial…
- AI for U
Ep. 57: How to Augment Admissions Strategy with AI Without Losing the Human Touch
Host Brian Piper speaks with Scott Clyde, Chief Growth Officer at enroll ml, about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education admissions…
- AI for U
Ep. 56: How AI Exposes Higher Ed Pricing Deception
Higher education is confronting a massive erosion of public confidence, and the emergence of artificial intelligence is about to accelerate that reckoning…
- AI for U
Ep. 55: How Interactive AI Personas Combat Organizational Gravity
Come find me at the MAICON event on October 15 for a live recording of AI for U —…
- AI for U
Ep. 54: A President's Playbook for Institutional AI Leadership in Higher Ed
Artificial intelligence brings with it a fundamental shift in how educational institutions prepare students for careers that have not yet been invented. In…
- AI for U
Ep. 53: How AI Forces Higher Education Back to Community
As artificial intelligence makes basic knowledge transfer free and instant, higher education institutions must confront a fundamental question: what is the…
- AI for U
Ep. 52: How AI-Powered Student Enrollment Frees Staff to Focus on Genuine Empathy
Higher education is undergoing rapid technological shifts, but Dr. Courtney Lewis believes AI integration should never mean sacrificing human empathy. Host…
- AI for U
Ep. 51: Why Higher Ed Must Adopt AI at Scale Before the Tech Passes Them By
AI is changing how we learn, work, lead, and prepare students for the world ahead. So why isn’t higher ed moving faster in adopting this technology at scale?…
- AI for U
Ep. 50: How 24/7 Student Support AI Drives True Equity in Higher Education
When Massachusetts rolled out free community college, it drove massive equity across the state, but it also created an unprecedented bottleneck at the front…
- AI for U
Ep. 49: More Than Just a Writing Assistant: The Three Layers of Agentic AI
Brian welcomes back Ardis Kadiu, Cofounder and CEO at Andi.ai, to break down the massive shift from simple text generation to true agentic autonomy. Ardis maps…
- AI for U
Ep. 48: The Messy Middle of AI: How the University of Notre Dame Is Navigating Change
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping higher education, but most institutions are still trying to navigate what responsible adoption actually looks like…
- AI for U
Ep. 47: Governance and Accessibility: How to Build Trust Around AI in Higher Ed
Returning guest Joyce Peralta, Manager of Digital Communications at McGill University, joins Brian for a thoughtful conversation about what higher education…
- AI for U
Ep. 46: From Operators to Orchestrators: How AI Is Reshaping Our Strategic Mindsets
Raj Jha has spent his career working across computer science, technology law, entrepreneurship, and AI systems, giving him a unique perspective on how…
- AI for U
Ep. 45: The Death of the Data Dashboard: What’s Next for AI in Higher Ed
There’s a quiet shift happening in how we work with data. For years, the focus has been on collecting more of it, building better dashboards, and reporting on…
- AI for U
Ep. 44: When AI Becomes an Agent: What Work Still Belongs to Human Thinking
AI can already do the easy work, so how do higher ed professionals prove their worth? In this episode, Dan Keating, Clinical Associate Professor of Information…
- AI for U
Ep. 43: Brute Force Reps: Building AI Literacy and Vibe Coding Intuition
In this episode, host Brian Piper talks with Sean Harrington, Director of AI and Legal Tech Studio at ASU Law, about bridging the gap between risk-averse…
- AI for U
Ep. 42: How Designers and Writers Are Using AI
AI can generate content in seconds, but excellent creative work still requires human judgment. In this episode, Brian talks with Dakota Story and Sarah Martin…
- AI for U
Ep. 41: Moving From AI Pilots to Institutional Production
In this episode of AI for U, Brian sits down with Dr. Manjeet Rege, Chair of the Department of Software Engineering and Data Science at the University of St…
- AI for U
Ep. 40: Higher Ed’s AI Earthquake: Preparing Graduates for a Redefined Workforce
In this episode, host Brian Piper speaks with Paul LeBlanc, Visiting Scholar and Special Advisor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Paul explores the…
- AI for U
Ep. 39: Why Critical Judgment is the Ultimate AI Differentiator
Brian welcomes Erin Fields, Marketing Director at Ologie, to discuss the critical transition from using AI for mere efficiency to using it for strategic…
- AI for U
Ep. 38: Nobody Has This Figured Out: How to Learn AI Through Curiosity, Not Perfection
Higher ed is stepping into a new era, and Rebecca Stapley is right in the middle of it. The Director of Marketing and Communications at the Rochester Institute…
- AI for U
Ep. 37: Higher Ed in an Augmented Era: When AI Enhances Human Expertise
In this conversation, Brian talks with Eric Hollenbeck, Communications Manager for Research at Washington State University - Carson College of Business, to…
- AI for U
Ep. 36: AI, Content Marketing, and the New Rules of Search Discoverability
In this episode, Brian sits down with Ross Simmonds, Founder and CEO of Foundation Marketing, for a sharp and unfiltered look at how AI is rewriting the rules…
- AI for U
Ep. 35: AI Is the Medium, Not the Message: How to Stay Authentic in an AI World
How do you stay authentic when AI touches everything you create? In this episode, we talk with Stu Eddins, Chief Digital Strategy Officer at Stamats, about the…
- AI for U
Ep. 34: Guidelines Over Policies: Smarter AI Adoption in Higher Ed
In this episode, Brian talks with Rob McDole, Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, about how AI is transforming the way…
- AI for U
Ep. 33: AI at the Core: What It Really Means to Be an AI-First Higher Ed Institution
What does it really mean to be an AI-first institution? In this episode, Kyle Campbell, Founder and Managing Director of Education Marketer, joins Brian to…
- AI for U
Ep. 32: Rethinking Web Traffic: How Conversational AI is Changing Student Search
Worried about falling website traffic? You’re not the only one. In this episode, Megan Andrews, Digital Strategy Consultant at Squiz, joins us to talk about…
- AI for U
Ep. 31: When AI Agents Become Teammates: The Future of Student Support
In this episode, Brian sits down with Carrie Pitts-Densmore, VP of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnston Community College, to talk about how higher ed can…
- AI for U
Ep. 30: From Fear to Function: How to Embrace AI as a Coworker in Higher Ed
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Lee, Director of Web User Experience and Digital Strategy at Colorado College, to unpack the promises and the pitfalls…
- AI for U
Ep. 29: Building Amplify: Inside Vanderbilt’s Bold Experiment in AI Adoption
How can higher education move beyond theory and actually adopt AI in ways that matter? In this episode, we talk with Allen Karns, Chief AI and Technology…
- AI for U
Ep. 28: Boring AI, Brilliant Results: How AI Can Make Great Systems Even Better
In this episode, we sit down with Michael Deperro, Michael Deperro, Senior Coordinator of Faculty Development & Professionalism at Case Western Reserve…
- AI for U
Ep. 27: A Discoverability Mindset: Adapting to AI-Powered Search
The search landscape for prospective students is changing dramatically, and the shift to AI search optimization is now a critical part of any higher ed…
- AI for U
Ep. 26: Let AI Block the Wind: Why You Need a Wingman, Not an Intern
In this episode, Brian sits down with Nicole Brini, Head Manager of International Reputation at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, to talk about what it…
- AI for U
Ep. 25: Why Change Management Is the Real Challenge in Higher Ed’s AI Transformation
Everyone in higher ed knows that AI transformation is happening fast, and Tom Andriola, Chief Digital Officer at UC-Irvine, is helping lead the charge. Tom…
- AI for U
Ep. 24: Ethical AI Adoption: How to Use the Tech Without Losing Your Soul
In this episode, Spenser Smith of QS Quacquarelli Symonds joins Brian to explore how higher education institutions can adopt AI while staying grounded in…
- AI for U
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Using AI in Crisis Communication: What Higher Ed Leaders Need to Know
In this episode of AI for U, recorded live at the Engage Summit 2025, host Brian chats with Michele Ehrhart, Chief Communications Officer at the University of…
- AI for U
Live at Engage Summit 2025: AI and the Academic Experience: Balancing Automation with Authentic Learning
In this episode of AI for U, recorded live at the Engage Summit 2025, Brian sits down with Dustin Ramsdell—veteran higher ed professional and host of the…
- AI for U
Ep. 23: Work Smarter Together: How AI Can Be Higher Ed’s Strongest Teammate
In this episode, Erin Callihan, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Campaign Communications at NYU, joins Brian to tackle one of higher…
- AI for U
Ep. 22: Start Small, Think Big: A Practical Path to AI in Higher Ed
How can you bring AI into your work without overwhelming your team — or yourself? In this episode, Isaac Williams, Director of Multimedia and Digital Strategy…
- AI for U
Ep. 21: AI Adoption on Campus: Ethics, Efficiency, and Empowerment
AI is here to stay, and now is the time to jump in. That’s the message of Allison Turcio, Assistant VP for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College and Host…
- AI for U
Ep. 20: Thoughtful AI Integration: Where It Fits and Where It Doesn’t
In this episode, Brian sits down with Joyce Peralta, Manager of Digital Communications at McGill University in Montreal, to explore the evolving role of AI in…
- AI for U
Ep. 19: AI-Powered Ambassadors: Scaling Student Engagement with Campus Threads
How can AI enhance student ambassador programs without replacing the human connection? In this episode, Brian sits down with Kathryn Thomas and Mus Ismail from…
- AI for U
Ep. 18: AI for Student Engagement: A Higher Ed Success Story
Brian sits down with Michelle Tarby, Senior Director of Digital Engagement at Le Moyne College, to talk about how AI is transforming student engagement and…
- AI for U
Ep. 17: AI-Powered Email: Smarter Strategies for Higher Ed Marketing
Host Brian Piper sits down with Dayana Kibilds, VP of Strategy at Ologie, to explore AI’s growing role in email marketing campaigns. Dayana shares why AI was a…
- AI for U
Ep. 16: Imagining the Future of Higher Education with Andrew Maynard
Brian Piper sits down with Andrew Maynard, a leading expert on AI and its implications for higher education. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI, the…
- AI for U
Ep. 15: AI as Your Content Co-Creator with Tracy Playle
Host Brian chats with Tracy Playle, founder of Pickle Jar and the Content Ed community, about the role of AI in content strategy for higher education. Tracy…
- AI for U
Ep. 14: Leading with AI: A Conversation with Dave Hunt
Host Brian Piper sits down with Dave Hunt, Executive Creative Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Old Dominion University (ODU), to explore how AI…
- AI for U
Ep. 13: Putting Students First with Devin Purgason
Brian Piper sits down with Devin Purgason from Forsyth Tech to explore how the community college is strategically integrating AI to enhance student engagement…
- AI for U
Ep. 12: From Chatbots to Agents with Ardis Kadiu
Brian Piper sits down with Ardis Kadiu, founder and CEO of Element451, to explore the transformative role of AI in higher education. From personalized student…
- AI for U
Ep. 11: Integrating AI with Kellie Campbell
Join us as Kellie Campbell, CIO of Vermont State Colleges System, shares insights on building AI readiness across multiple institutions. Learn about creating…
- AI for U
Ep. 10: Streamlining Development with Mike Miles
Join us as Mike Miles, Director of Web Development at MIT Sloan, shares insights on integrating AI into development workflows, fostering team collaboration…
- AI for U
Balancing Bytes and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed
In this Enrollify webinar, Balancing Bites and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed, Mallory Willsea and an expert panel dive deep into how artificial…
- AI for U
Live at AMA: Mastering SEO in an AI-Driven World
In this episode of AI for U, live from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, host Brian dives into the evolving landscape of search engine…
- AI for U
Ep. 9: Researching the Landscape with Dr. Claire Brady
Got a story to tell? An innovative idea to share? Fill out our guest nomination form, and let's chat! Dr. Claire Brady shares insights from her groundbreaking…
- AI for U
Live at AMA: AI in Action at CU Boulder
In this insightful episode of AI for U, Brian dives into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is reshaping creative communications at CU Boulder. Maria…
- AI for U
Live at AMA: AI Isn’t Perfect — But Neither Are We
This episode of AI for U captures a lively discussion from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education with Scott Cline, an independent consultant…
- AI for U
Ep. 8: Automating Processes with Alexandria Duffney
Join us as Allie Duffney shares how Elon University is implementing AI to streamline admissions processes, create test environments, and enhance student…
- AI for U
Live at AMA: AI Tools Higher Ed Marketers Should Be Using Right Now
In this episode of AI For You, recorded live at the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, host Brian dives into a thought-provoking conversation…
- AI for U
Live at AMA: How Small Colleges Can Boost Marketing with AI
In this episode of AI for You, host Brian interviews Laura Rudolph, founder and CEO of Square One Consulting, live from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of…
- AI for U
Ep. 7: Leading the way with Tina Miller
Tina Miller shows us how Arizona State University is leading the charge on AI integration and adoption. ASU has created a model that we can all use to help…