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Welcome to Life in Higher Ed. We are senior higher education administrators and combined we have over 50 years of experience. We are here to talk about what goes on behind the scenes on college and university campuses. We surface the interesting, the confounding, and the seemingly absurd, and we do so with honesty and a sprinkling of humor. We want to help you not only survive but thrive and to know that you are not alone in your journey. If you are an administrator in higher ed or considering becoming an administrator, this podcast is for you!
24 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode, Katie Herschede talks about demystifying governance. " Higher education is best when we all know each other. When we all work together. When we all are engaged in the governance process. When we all engaged in the life and the rhythms of the campus." Katie Herschede, EdD Katie is the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff at Widener University. She previously served in senior roles at Northern Kentucky University. Connect with...
Send us a text In this episode, Sangeeta Lamba talks about inclusive leadership. "Equity minded means that you have to be mindful that each person's experience is very different. So you so if you can be intentional and equity-minded and be committed to almost every step, every decision you make, I think that's probably the way that the dial will move." Sangeeta (Gita) Lamba, MD, MS-HPEd Sangeeta Lamba is the Vice President for Faculty Development and Diversity within University Equity and I...
Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Fleming talks about the first 90 days in a new role. Dr. Fleming offers the following thought about taking on a new role, "encouraging your audience to trust everything that they've done. Whether it's epidemiology or law or whatever, bring that to bear and see and be open to applying your lens in these new spaces." Dr. Eleanor Fleming (she/her/hers) Ph.D., DDS, MPH, FICD, Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health. Dr. Fleming ...
Send us a text In this episode, Christine Goldthwaite talks about when coaching is needed. Dr. Goldthwaite shares that "a coaching engagement is hopefully designed to help the person enhance their self-awareness; become more reflective. That's the foundation of leadership development." Christine Goldthwaite, PhD Christine is the associate director of the Rutgers Center for Organizational Leadership. In this role she coordinates the Center’s organizational development portfolio in the areas o...
Send us a text In this first episode, Denise and Herminio explore the importance of having a friend in the workplace and how friends can make a difference in your professional and personal life. Denise Nelson Nash, MFA, EdD Denise is vice president, secretary of the Board of Trustees, convener of the IDEA Initiative, Scripps College. Denise joined Scripps College in 2013 as vice president and secretary of the board of trustees. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, she...
Send us a text In this episode, Kai Swanson talks about evolutionary biology and the sabre-toothed tigers of office politics. "You cannot control the weather but there are things you can and if you focus on the things you can you can address or attenuate the negative impacts of those things." Kai Swanson Kai Swanson is special assistant to Augustana College’s president, a position he’s held since 2005, though he's been on the staff of the college since his graduation in 1986. He grew up in R...
Send us a text In this episode, Aristide Collins talks about the value of and relationship between mentors and mentees. "Mentorship is foundational. It's something that we all should hopefully seek. And I think it would really make all of us better, stronger professionals and leaders." Aristide Collins, BA, MPA, EdD Aristide J. Collins Jr., vice president, chief of staff, and secretary of the university at The George Washington University, will be leaving his role in July 2023 to become the...
Send us a text In this episode, NYU Steinhardt EDLI alumni, Drs. Trish Beck and Michael Miller, talk about professional renewal and reinvention, "It begins with your connection to purpose. Your connection to your personal and professional purpose. And oftentimes there is significant overlap." Trish Beck, EdD, MS, RN, NE-BC, FACHE Dr. Trish Beck is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Education Leadership and Policy Studies in the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology at NYU a...
Send us a text In this episode, Binti Harvey talks about developing and using a strategic mindset, "I've seen people grow in this way of thinking when they have clarity about what the objective is and what the desired outcome is." Binti Harvey, B.A., M.S. Binti Harvey is a seasoned relationship builder, strategist, and change manager with a significant record of accomplishment in empowering leaders, teams, and institutions to successfully advance reputational and financial goals. Ms. Harve...
Send us a text In this episode, Brian Steeves, executive director of the board of regents and corporate secretary of the University of Minnesota, talks about leadership transitions, "We need to remember that every single person is a master of change. It's a constant in our lives all the time." Brian Steeves, B.A., MPA Brian Steeves serves as executive director of the board of regents and corporate secretary of the University of Minnesota. In this role, he leads annual board planning, guides...
Send us a text In the episode, Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, provost at the University of the Pacific, talks about making the transition from faculty member to chief academic officer, " People are coachable and can develop their skills if they are interested in doing it." Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, Ph.D, B.A. Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert serves as Provost at the University of the Pacific, a position she began in July 2023. Before joining Pacific as Provost, Gretchen served for six years as associate...
Send us a text In the episode, Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO of the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, talks about access to education and workforce development, "one of the challenges we have is to push the limits of what it means to deliver access for all." Aisha Franklin, PhD In 2021, Aisha Francis, PhD, became the first female President in the 113-year history of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, now known as Franklin Cummings Tech. Dr. Francis...
Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Bernie Savarese, vice president for Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Success at the University of Tennessee System, talks about the shared responsibility of student engagement for positive outcomes. "Student success it is about more than just metrics, it is about life, families, dreams and communities". Bernie Savarese, EdD, MBA Dr. Bernie Savarese, vice president for Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Success, joined the University of Tenne...
Send us a text In this episode, Professor Kim Drake and Bernie Hernandez discuss the Inside-Out Justice Initiative and the transformative impact of educational exchange programs. As a faculty member involved in the program, Professor Drake highlights the collaborative nature of the initiative, emphasizing, "It is about collaboration; a kind of equity across the demographics of those who participate in the Inside-Out Program." She further observes, "The inside students push themselves so hard ...
Send us a text In this episode, James Spellos, president of Meeting U, talks about generative AI and addresses the concern many educators have voiced, "So it's never going to replace the acumen of an educator, never. But what it's going to do is supplement the ability to maybe do a first pass on information, use the tool." James Spellos For over 20 years, Jim has led Meeting U with a mission to make technology more accessible and impactful. His innovative approach to AI and education h...
Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Nadege Dady, dean of Student Affairs and assistant professor for the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NYC campus, talks about remaining flexible in moments of transition and positively engaged and "always work from a place of integrity." Nadege Dady, EdD Dr. Nadege Dady is Dean of Students Affairs and Assistant Professor for the TouroCOM Harlem, NYC Campus. As the appointed Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Dady provides oversight of the admissi...
Send us a text In this episode, Nana Kofi Nti and Mashama Thompson, co-founders of 510 Media, discuss the challenges facing colleges and universities in the attention economy. They note that institutions of higher education must work to distinguish themselves from the ubiquity of crowdsourced online learning. Kofi Nti and Thompson challenge us to reflect critically on whether higher education is truly developing quality minds. They suggest that education is not a finite destination, but rathe...
Send us a text In this episode Stacey Gordon, founder and principal consultant of Rework Work and author of Unbias: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work, Stacey commented, “The awareness piece is so big. When I first started DEI work, about a decade ago, I really thought it was all about action, and I was that person, like, you need to take action. (“...”) But the more I do this work, the more I am scaling back and just keep coming back to the awareness piece, because I can't make you ta...
Send us a text In this episode, we delve into the attacks on DEI with Dr. Daryl G. Smith, author of Diversity's Promise for Higher Education. Dr. Smith discusses the complex dynamics of institutional capacity building and offers insights into mission advancement during these turbulent times. Dr. Daryl G. Smith, PhD Dr. Smith is a Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emerita of Education and Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined CGU as a faculty member after servi...
Send us a text Things have become more complicated for higher education in 2025, with executive orders, grant terminations, funding reductions, and investigations. This isn't the first time higher education has faced a crisis; what's different this time, or is it? Teresa Valerio Parrot provides perspective and advice on navigating tumultuous times. Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal, TVP Communications Teresa is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communicatio...
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