Shows / The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
Episodes
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Bonus: How VR is Transforming Digital Education
Virtual reality is creating new opportunities for higher education to deliver immersive, hands-on learning experiences—even for students learning entirely…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #353: How Higher Ed Can Lead Through AI Transformation
AI is changing how higher education prepares students for work and life—but the mission itself hasn’t changed. Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Bonus: Reflecting on the 2026 URMIA Annual Conference
After 13 years of involvement with URMIA, Sandy Mitchell is wrapping up eight years of service across the association’s board and presidential leadership…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Bonus: Modernizing Higher Ed From the Inside Out
AI transformation in higher education depends on something less flashy: modern infrastructure, accessible data, and processes that actually work. Murtaza…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #352: Breaking Down Barriers to Study Abroad
Study abroad is a high-impact experience, but too many students who want to participate never make it through the process. Brooke Roberts of Via TRM discusses…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #351: AI as a Coach, Not an Answer Machine
AI is forcing higher education to rethink what learning actually means—and how technology should support it. Dr. Marco Krcatovich of Cengage discusses the…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
BONUS: Instructional Resilience in the Age of AI
Higher education can’t predict every disruption—but it can prepare to respond without compromising the student learning experience. Kim Arnold, Director of the…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Bonus: Breaking the Reactive Cycle in Higher Ed
Higher education is navigating an era of rapid change and disruption, but institutions can’t respond to everything at once. Nicole Muscanell, Senior Researcher…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #350: Lessons From a Compound Career Path
What can acting, professional poker, and a nonlinear career teach us about the future of higher education? Christina Lindley, Founder & CEO of VPRG Consulting…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at EDUCAUSE 2026: Inside the EdTech Top 40 with Ryan Lufkin
In this bonus episode recorded as part of our virtual EDUCAUSE 2026 coverage, Dustin speaks with Ryan Lufkin from Instructure, about the inaugural EdTech Top…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #349: Building a University Strategic Plan That Can Adapt
Strategic planning in higher ed can easily become a long, complicated process that produces a rigid document that no one ends up really using. In this episode…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #348: How to Navigate Higher Ed’s Polycrises with Proactive Risk Management
Higher education is currently navigating a “polycrisis” of enrollment pressures, financial uncertainty, digital transformation, AI, infrastructure challenges…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Fixing Higher Ed’s Broken Business Model
What happens when higher education loses sight of its purpose—and what would it take to rebuild public trust? Teege Mettille, author of College Is Broken and…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #347: Harnessing Summer Programs to Strengthen Recruitment and Mission
In this week’s episode, Dustin speaks with Frank Steslow, CEO of SSP International, about how immersive summer STEM programs create meaningful opportunities…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #346: Why Campus Design Still Matters in the Digital Age
For this week’s episode, we’re pleased to speak with Martin Kimmel, President & Co-Founder of Kimmel Architecture, about how thoughtful campus design can…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #345: Building a Mission-Driven Culture of Innovation
We’re proud to welcome Dr. Brooke Elliott, Dean of the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois to the show this week. She shares her perspective…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #344: Why Higher Education Needs an Operating System Upgrade
Ian Gibson, Dean of San Diego State University’s Global Campus, joins the podcast this week to discuss why higher education needs an "operating system upgrade"…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #343: How La Salle University Became the "Comeback College"
In this week’s episode, Dustin speaks with Dr. Daniel Allen, President of La Salle University, about the institution's remarkable turnaround and the leadership…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #342: Education Without Borders in an Age of Uncertainty
In this week’s episode, Dustin speaks with Omar Chihane, Global General Manager of TOEFL at ETS, about the evolving landscape of international student mobility…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #341: The Evolution of Parent and Family Engagement in Higher Ed
We welcome Leslie Gale from CampusESP to the show this week to talk about the evolving role of parents and families in the higher education journey. Drawing on…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
The AI MBA That's Challenging Higher Education
We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Nick Ladany to the show, President of San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) and previous Enrollify Hall of Famer. He shares what it…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at eduWeb 2026 with Laura Beth Telep
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, we speak with Laura Beth of CLYDE about how AI is reshaping higher education marketing…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at eduWeb 2026 with Toni Marie Perilli
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, Dustin chats with Toni Marie Perilli from Fordham University about why retention marketing…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #340: Creating Transparent Learning Experiences with AI
For this week's episode, Dustin speaks with Jenny Maxwell of Superhuman about the evolving relationship between AI and academic integrity in higher education…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at eduWeb 2026 with Audrey Ward
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, Audrey Ward from Ologie joins the show to discuss how higher education marketers can…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at eduWeb 2026 with Nathan Monk
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, Nathan Monk from Prospectus Plus jumps on to talk about why the traditional college…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at eduWeb 2026 with Dan Desrochers
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, Dustin speaks with Dan Desrochers of Amherst College about what it means to serve as an…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #339: Creating Trustworthy AI-Powered Learning Environments
This week, Dustin chats with Dr. Dave Duke, Chief Product Officer at McGraw Hill, about how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and academic integrity in…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #338: Rethinking Learning Ecosystems for an AI-Driven World
This week we’re pleased to speak with Dr. Cristi Ford, Chief Learning Officer at D2L, about the evolving role of learning management systems in an AI-driven…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #337: Building an AI-Ready Campus Infrastructure
This week, we spoke with Joe Abraham of Intellicampus about the growing challenge of system fragmentation in higher education and why institutions must rethink…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #336: Building Smarter Transfer Pathways for Today’s College Students
e welcome Drew Lurker to the podcast this week from CollegeSource. We discuss the evolving landscape of transfer credit evaluation, articulation agreements…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at Engage Summit 2026 with Alex Russo
We’re pleased to share this bonus episode with Alex Russo recorded on site at the recent Engage Summit in Charlotte. He details the digital transformation…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at Engage Summit 2026 with Drs. Ashlyn Wilson & KJ Askew
We’re pleased to share this bonus episode with Drs. Ashlyn Wilson and KJ Askew recorded on site at the recent Engage Summit in Charlotte. Many thanks to…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live at Engage Summit 2026 with Sara Custer
We’re pleased to share this bonus episode with Sara Custer recorded on site at the recent Engage Summit in Charlotte. She shares her journey to becoming the…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #335: The Case for Global Learning in a Changing World
This week we spoke with Jason Czyz, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE), about the evolving landscape of global education and…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #334: Why EdTech Growth Requires a New Playbook
In this episode, we talk with Sean Gannon of GTMppl about how go-to-market strategy in edtech is evolving in response to AI, changing buyer behavior, and…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #333: How AI Is Reshaping Course Design and Assessment
This week we speak with Auryan Ratliff of Arizona State University about how AI—especially agentic AI—is transforming course design, assessment, and the…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #332: Preparing Healthcare Students for an AI-Driven Workforce
We’re pleased this week to chat with Michael Betz of Covista about tackling the growing healthcare workforce shortage through scalable education and AI-driven…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #331: Can Liberal Arts Lead in the Age of AI?
In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr. Rachel Bowser of Agnes Scott College about redefining AI fluency as a core component of a liberal arts education…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #330: Closing the Life Skills Gap in Higher Education
We welcome Montana Houston, founder of rYOUminate, to the show this week to chat about addressing the “hidden curriculum” of higher education—life skills like…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Raghu Krishnaiah
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we chatted with Raghu Krishnaiah from the University of Phoenix about how AI is being…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #329: How University of the People Stays Workforce Aligned
We’re pleased to welcome back Shai Reshef, founder of University of the People, to the show to talk more about his institution’s unique tuition-free, globally…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Kate Valenti
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we sat down with Kate Valenti, CEO of Unicon, about how higher education institutions…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Kaitlin Dumont and Peter Stokes
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we sat down with Kaitlin and Peter from Huron about their recent Rise 40 report, which…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Melissa Morgan
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we spoke with Melissa Morgan, Co-Founder of Coraltalk, about rethinking student…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with David Harris
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we sat down with David Harris about new initiatives from the event organizers aimed at…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #328: Turning Operations into a Competitive Advantage
This week, Dustin chats with Andy MacIsaac of Laserfiche about how automation, content management, and smarter workflows are reshaping the student experience…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Geordie Hyland
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we spoke with Geordie Hyland from the American College of Education about building a…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Dave McCool
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we sat down with David McCool of Muzzy Lane about how AI is reshaping teaching…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Joe Thibault
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we chatted with Joseph Thibault of Cursive Technology about the evolving challenge of…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from ASU+GSV with Sara Leoni
In this bonus episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV summit in San Diego, we spoke with Sara Leoni* of Ziplines Education about how higher education institutions…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #327: Building the Infrastructure Behind Transformative Global Experiences
In this episode, Dustin speaks with Brock Price of Terra Dotta about the evolving landscape of global education and the growing complexity behind study abroad…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Dan White
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Dan White from NJIT about the evolution of online…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Marc Austin and Reamer Bushardt
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Marc Austin and Reamer Bushardt to explore how…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Phil Hill and Charlie Rose
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Phil Hill and Charlie Rose about the rapidly shifting…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #326: Understanding Today’s Graduate Student Decision Journey
In this week’s episode, Dustin speaks with Marshall McClung of Spark451 about insights from the latest Graduate Intenders Survey, exploring how prospective…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Denise Aberle-Cannata
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Denise Aberle-Cannata, Provost at the College of…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Nathan Grawe
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Nathan Grawe from Carleton College about the realities…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Live from DisruptED with Michael Koskinen
In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Michael Koskinen from St. John’s University about the…
- The Higher Ed Geek Podcast
Episode #325: Live from DisruptED with Dan Antonson and Jeff Certain
In this kickoff episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Dan Antonson and Jeff Certain from the Collegis team…