Higher Ed Without Borders

We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast, Distance Learning Roundtable where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Dr. Robert A. Alsop, president of Waldorf University Topic: Waldorf University’s Master of Education in Social-Emotional LearningAbout this episode: Waldorf has become a pioneer in online education for educators, offering four individual Master of Education programs for teachers and administrators who want to grow personally and professionally. The programs are fully online and have no set course times, so our students achieve their degrees on schedule.In recent years, Waldorf University partnered with world-renowned educator and founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, Erin Gruwell, to develop a Masters in Education degree in Social Emotional Learning. The school provides all the original Freedom Writers students from Erin’s classroom with a full scholarship to the M. Ed program. It continues to support those educators who go through the Freedom Writers Foundation Institute with Waldorf University credit and a discount on tuition for those who wish to apply those credits towards their M. Ed in Social Emotional Learning.

Join Pat Cassella,  President of the USDLA, and Dean Hoke Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group with guest ​Amrit Ahluwalia the Editor in Chief of The EvoLLLution. This episode's podcast Topic is Bucking Enrollment Trends to Grow in a Challenging Environment.  Distance Learning Roundtable is produced by Hope GIbbs founder of The Inkandescent® Radio Network.

Meet our guest: Jennifer Williams, Executive Director, Take Action Global and Transformational Leader in Education.Today’s Topic: Get Ready for Change – Instructional Design Practices Through Meaningful Uses of Technology. Recognized as a transformational leader in education, Dr. Jennifer Williams has dedicated herself for nearly 25 years to the field of education through her roles as an education activist, professor, school administrator, literacy specialist, and classroom teacher. She speaks, writes, and consults on practices that develop global perspectives and social good through creative uses of technology. Her research interests include innovations in teaching and learning, equity and diversity in education, and social action. Jennifer is inspired daily by teachers and students who are catalysts for improving the world! Learn more at jenwilliamsedu.com.

Higher Ed Without Borders invites you to our monthly podcast series "Distance Learning Roundtable" where Dean Hoke of Edu Alliance and Pat Cassella of the United States Distance Learning Association speak with Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio - authors the best selling book Commencement the Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education. Today's topic is The New Era of Education

Today’s Topic: How K-12 educators dealt with the pandemic and what the future of learning looks like for America’s superintendentsAbout our Guest: ​After an extensive, nationwide search, the Falls Church City School Board selected Dr. Peter Noonan as the ninth Superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools in May 2017.Dr. Noonan began his career as a special education teacher in New Mexico, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1993. Most recently, Dr. Noonan served as Superintendent for Fairfax City Public Schools after serving for 11 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools division. At Fairfax County, he was assistant principal at Langley High School, principal at Lanier Middle School and Centreville High School, and assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools. Finally, Dr. Noonan was the assistant superintendent for the Instructional Services Department, overseeing academic programs for the system’s 180,000 students.Dr. Noonan has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico. He also completed studies to obtain the education specialist designation in educational administration. He completed his doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).Dean and Pat ask Peter:  Dean: Tell our viewers and listeners about the Falls Church Public City Schools. Can you give us a profile of the district and its student population? Pat: In our conversations with school districts across the country, the COVID pandemic was not something public and private K-12 schools were prepared for, especially in providing education in a virtual world. Can you tell us about your district experience and how you took on this monumental challenge ranging from students to teachers to parents? Dean: Did you have champions within your schools who could help others in this different type of teaching? Pat: Tell our audience about your district’s current use of educational technology post-pandemic, and you told us before the show about a unique use of distance learning for some of your students. Dean: Peter, you came from the teaching ranks before moving into administration and then being a superintendent. You started your career as a special ed teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and were named Teacher of the Year in 1993. Teaching in Special Ed requires a much more individualistic approach for the students. How did being a special ed teacher help you be a Superintendent and a leader? Pat: Peter, we would like to know your thoughts about the future of distance learning in the K-12 world both from an educational technology perspective and, more importantly, as a teaching tool

Dr. Janelle Vanasse is the President of Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. Dr. Vanasse has been a leader in education for more than 30 years, specifically at schools and institutions that prioritize Alaska Native education. Immediately prior to joining APU, Vanasse served as superintendent in Sitka. She also held a range of leadership roles in the Bethel area, including principal.  Throughout her career, Dr. Vanasse has elevated the educational experience for Alaska Native students. She believes that scholarship and leadership are enhanced when influenced by our authentic selves. Dr. Vanasse holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Gonzaga University. Her most recent academic work includes research about the power of cultural self-identity in college persistence.  Questions Let’s start off by talking about Alaska Pacific University. Can you do a brief profile of APU? Tell me about your students and degree programs. What are some of the programs you are most noted for? With the school located in a state with a population of less than 750,000, you can’t just depend on students coming from a 100-mile radius like schools located in states with millions of people. What attracts students to come to Alaska Pacific?     About 25% of your students are Alaska native students. In your opinion, how do high school native students and families perceive higher education and the reasons they opt into or out of attending higher education When we talked with you as we prepared for the show, you spoke to us about the university is working toward becoming a tribal college. Can you tell us what is a tribal college and what are the advantages? Like many other Alaskans I’ve known, they seem to be adventurers.  The Bemidji Pioneer, your hometown paper in Minnesota, interviewed you, and you talked about your career as an educator, which led you eventually to Bethel, Alaska.  You first went to Fairbanks for a year, and then you said to the paper: “When that didn’t feel like an adventure enough, I moved out to Bethel, Alaska, which is a rural, off-the-road community”. You seemed to have found what you were looking for. Tell us what did you find and how did that experience attracted you to become President of APU?    The school was established in the late 1950s, just prior to Alaska being the 49th state to enter the union. During these past 60-plus years, I imagine APU has established a number of partnerships that have benefited the school and the outside community. Can you tell us about a few of those partnerships? A final question we ask all the Presidents in this series. Why are small colleges and universities like yours important?  Close We would like to thank our special guest Dr. Janelle Vanasse President of Alaska Pacific University. That concludes this special episode of Higher Ed Without Borders, Small College America.  If you would like to comment on today’s show and suggest a future guest, please go to www.higherededwithoutborders.com Comments section. On behalf of our guest Dr. Vanasse, Dean Hoke, Edu Alliance, and myself, thank you, and make sure to subscribe via your favorite podcast app. 

Joining us today is President Ryan Smith, President of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. He joined the institution as President in October 2019.  Ryan spent the first 23 years of his career working as a Vice President and partner with Smith financial advisors. In 2007 he was elected to the Gallipolis City School board, and in 2012 he won election to be State Representative for the 93rd District of Ohio.  He served as Finance Chairman and in 2018, Ryan was elected to serve as the 103rd Speaker of the Ohio House until stepping down from his post in October 2019. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B. S. degree in Finance. His wife, Vicki, graduated from Rio Grande, and they are the proud parents of four children.Questions include: Tell our audience about the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College.  These are two separate institutions that have one President. Can you give our audience a brief history of your institution's profile of the students and programs offered?  The University of Rio Grande is a private university and Rio Grande Community College is a public community college. They have separate boards and funding structures. Can you discuss with our audience about this unusual model and its advantages?   For a small institution located in a rural region, Rio Grande has quite an intercollegiate athletic program. Tell us about the program and the students who participate.  You do not come from a traditional path to become a university president. However, you have been a public servant first at the local school board and then the state legislature, where you served not only as a legislature but as Speaker of the House. Are they similar in any way, and what lessons in leadership you learned in public office are applicable in your current position?    The school has been in the community since 1876. Can you tell us about the school’s involvement with the outside community meaning businesses and people in the region?  A number of articles and people over the past years have questioned the viability and sustainability of smaller colleges and universities. Tell us why in your opinion, the value of small schools such as yours to higher education  If you would like to comment on today’s show and suggest a future guest, please go to www.higherededwithoutborders.com Comments section.

Joining us today is Dr. Stefanie Niles, President of Cottey College, with an enrollment of 311 students, She is a national leader in her field, and she has been a successful, strategic, and innovative leader at multiple outstanding liberal arts institutions. Dr. Niles came to Cottey from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she served as the Vice President for Enrollment and Communications.  In 2018-19, Dr. Niles served as the president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In 2017, Dr. Niles was the recipient of a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award and participated in a cross-cultural exchange examining the higher education systems in France and Belgium. Dr. Niles holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science degree in education from Indiana University, and a doctor of education degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.  Questions asked included Let’s start off by speaking about Cottey College. Can you give our audience a brief history of the origins of your institution, your students, and your programs?  In 1927, the founder of the school, Virginia Alice Cottey, bequeathed the college to an organization titled the P.E.O. Sisterhood, making it the only nonsectarian college owned and supported by women. Tell us about the P.E.O. and this rather unique relationship in today’s world.   There are less than 100 private four-year liberal arts colleges with less than 500 students in the United States and I image even fewer that are all women. Some people argue that small colleges are not sustainable and should close. What, in your opinion, is the reason why schools like Cottey are important to society?  In preparing for our conversation today, we learned that besides having international students from over 20 countries, your students at an early stage in their college career get to travel to another country with classmates and faculty for no tuition fee, and the airfare and hotel is covered. That’s quite a commitment. Why does Cottey believe this is so important to the student?  Dr. Niles, this is a series of questions I’ve asked many of our guests. First, what attracted you to a career in higher education? Second, did you have mentors, and how did they help you; finally, what lessons did you learn from them about being a leader of an organization? We like to thank our special guest Dr. Stefanie Niles President of Cottey College. That concludes this special episode of Higher Ed Without Borders, Small College America.  If you would like to comment on today’s show and suggest a future guest, please go to www.higherededwithoutborders.com Comments section.

Joining us today is Dr. Barry Ryan, President of Woodbury University, with an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students,  A first-generation college student, Dr. Ryan fell in love with higher education.  He has served in virtually every education context, from large state universities to private non-profit and for-profit institutions of all sizes.   He has lengthy service as a faculty member and as a department chair, founder of a center for teaching and learning, dean, vice president, provost, and president.   Dr. Ryan is also an attorney. His legal service has included practice, law school teaching, and consulting. He is admitted to the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Courts of California and Virginia. He worked in the chambers of former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.  Dr. Ryan earned his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a JD from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.Div. from Fuller Seminary, his BA in History from Westmont College, and a post-graduate Diploma in Global Business from the Saïd School of Business, Oxford University.   QuestionsDean – Barry, Let’s start off by talking about Woodbury University. I believe it’s one of the oldest higher education institutions in Southern California. Can you do a brief profile of Woodbury your students and programs? What are some of the programs you are most noted for Tom -  A new study shows 50% of students attending colleges that close their doors do not continue their education. What role can/should small colleges & accreditors play in keeping more of these students continuing their education? Dean -  Small colleges are very different compared to larger institutions and state systems.  Can you discuss some the challenges and advantages you seeFollow-up - Being a university trustee as well as being a President, How do you view the role of the Board of Trustees and its involvement with the institution? Tom - How best can Presidents from smaller colleges and universities introduce and implement online classes/program degree programs and certificates? Dean -  Barry, most of your professional life has been in the field of higher education. What attracted you to a university career?  Did you have mentors along the way, and what lessons did you learn from them about being a university leader? Tom – As you know, enrollment of the traditional student has been declining across the United States, and more schools are closing or merging. How do you vision the future of smaller colleges and universities?   

Dr. Chris Howard, is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Arizona State University.  Previously, Howard served as the eighth president of Robert Morris University in suburban Pittsburgh,  and before serving at RMU, Howard was President of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. He also served with the University of Oklahoma and held positions in industry and the military.  Howard served in the US Air Force first as a helicopter pilot, then as an intelligence officer, with an elite Joint Special Operations Command. He served in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star.  He is a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy where Howard won the Campbell Trophy, the nation’s highest academic award for a senior college football player. He is a Rhodes Scholar and after graduation from the Air Force Academy earned a doctorate in politics from the University of Oxford. He also has an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School where he is currently is a trustee on the Harvard University Board of Overseers. He also serves on a number of boards and institutes and a Sigma Pi Phi, the oldest African-American fraternity in the United States.  His wife, Barbara Noble Howard, serves as an Arizona State University Fellow for nonprofit leadership. She also serves on several philanthropic boards and hails from South Africa. They have two adult sons.  Welcome Chris. We are delighted to have you with us.  Questions during interview  Your journey as a leader is a fascinating and outstanding one at so many levels – and it is quite different from the traditional route taken by many university leaders.  Which of these experiences stand out, in your own view, as the most important in shaping your leadership approach and success in your career?  Arizona State has a significant online student population. In preparing for the show, I went to the ASU online website, and on the front page, you have the phrase “Same mission, same faculty, Same degree, same university” Many universities take a different approach in their online programs. Tell us why ASU has gone down this path and what do you see as its advantages. You have traveled widely around the world, and were recently in the Middle East at a conference that included two of our podcast guests this season.  And you have excellent familiarity with the UK, Afghanistan, South Africa, and the like.  Tell me about ASU’s approach to international partnerships and how your experience will shape its direction in the near future.   You have served in leadership positions in a variety of academic institutions, including the President of Robert Morris University, which has about 5,000 students, and Hampden-Sydney College, which has about 1,000 students. You are now in a senior position at Arizona State, which is a very different institution. Tell me about your leadership and management style and how it has changed, if at all.  It seems that you have been breaking glass ceilings and barriers all along your career.  How would you balance being a role model for young professionals from African American or other minority groups in higher education and being an exceptional higher education leader for all?  I saw one of your quotes many years ago, “You get beyond race in a hurry,” as you led a predominantly white-all-male college as a president.   You have been an elite athlete, then a soldier, and now a university leader. Tell me about a few of your mentors and what led you to the field of university work.  

We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast Distance Learning Roundtable and meet our guest: Lee Gambol, Distance Learning Coordinator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Today’s Topic: How Lee is embracing the idea of “Backslash Forward” by celebrating the past and embracing the future of distance learning

USDLA executive director Pat Cassella and Edu Alliance Group Managing Partner Dean Hoke invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our 30 minute podcast Meet our guest: Dr. Jennie Sanders, Vice President of Faculty Experience and Academic Services at Western Governors University based in Salt Lake City, Utah Today’s Topic: How Western Governors University was ahead of the Pandemic Curve and how it continues that trend

Higher Ed Without Borders is adding a new series titled Distance learning Roundtable. It is monthly series co-produced by The United States Distance Learning Association and Edu Alliance. The series will present leaders in the field of distance learning so our listeners can learn about the future of online education. The podcast series is hosted by Pat Cassella, executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and Dean Hoke, managing partner Edu Alliance North America.

Show NotesDr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). She has been a member of the higher education community for over 30 years. Her professional career has included tenured and administrative positions in universities throughout various regions of the United States.  Prior to joining CHEA as President, Dr. Jackson-Hammond served as President of Central State University in Ohio. She is a sought-after thought leader on accreditation, multicultural diversity, and inclusion. Her academic discipline is Education and Higher Education Administration. She is an ardent advocate for quality assurances and transparency in higher education and is committed to the advancement of college success, equity, and integrity in postsecondary education.   She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Louisiana in Monroe, and her Doctorate in Education from Grambling State University. The interview includes the following questions: Let's begin by discussing the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and its role in the United States. Are you a part of the Department of Education, a regulator of accreditors, or something else? Can you give our listeners an overview? CHEA is also engaged in the promotion of quality higher education internationally. Many of our listeners are senior-level higher ed leaders outside the United States.  Which type of international universities/countries should consider approaching one of the six regional accrediting agencies for their institutional accreditation? How do you see the role of accreditors and their relationship with individual universities? How is it changing  for US regionals,  international, or individual program accreditors  Most countries and higher education systems around the world are accredited by government agencies or ministries.  But CHEA accreditation is a form of non-governmental self-regulation that includes both self and peer assessment.  How would you compare and contrast these two types of accreditation systems?  Do you believe that CHEA type of self-regulated accreditation process could also work well in many other countries?   You come from being a successful higher ed administrator and a university President to now the leader of a non-profit association that serves as an advocacy group.  The people you now work with are leaders of accrediting bodies, federal departments, elected officials, and international leaders. Has your leadership style stayed the same, or has it changed since joining CHEA? In your career, you have broken some century-old glass ceilings.  Yet, you said in 2018, “We must remember that quality leadership is the same regardless of race and gender. I would advise aspiring female leaders not to use gender as a crutch because we don’t need it. We are capable, we don’t judge ourselves against another gender or our counterparts, and we do what is necessary to be successful for our universities.”  What practical advice do you normally give aspiring leaders from historically disadvantaged groups sections of society?  Comments and Suggestions:Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects.  If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan. 

Joining us today is Dr. Peter Wells. Peter is Chief of the Section for Higher Education at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, where he is Secretary to the UNESCO Conventions on the Recognition of HE qualifications for academic mobility, overall coordination of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs program, and most recently the UNESCO 3rd World Conference on Higher Education. The interview includes the following questions: Many of our listeners may not be aware of UNESCO and its work in the Higher Education sector. Tell us about UNESCO’s involvement in higher education. You have seen higher education in many countries – both as an educator and now as Chief of Higher Education for UNESCO.  Globally, what are some high-priority issues facing tertiary education?  For example   Increased access  quality improvement employability & skill development  STEM / Industry 4.0-related programs Ultranationalism (against the international student movement) What led you to a career in higher education and now with UNESCO? What were some of the influences and who were some of your mentors? As much of the developing world is focusing on STEM, Industry 4.0, vocational skill development, micro-credentials, and the like, is there an increasing risk for arts and humanities areas to take a backseat in these nations?  How do you see the development of higher education for fine arts / visual arts / performing arts and the like?   After the Pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in various forms of open and online learning by higher education institutions.  UNESCO has been quite active in promoting online education for several years before the onset of the pandemic.  How do you see the challenges and opportunities for online learning in higher education – particularly in the developing world?   Can a specific university/college collaborate with UNESCO?  How does a university become more engaged with UNESCO?  Comments and Suggestions:Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects.  If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan. 

Dr. Samantha Alvis the Senior Advisor for Higher Education in the Center for Education in USAID/Washington. In this role, she provides technical support to field offices to design activities that engage higher education institutions or post-secondary student populations and works to advance higher education programming across sectors within the Agency. The interview includes the following questions: Many developing economies also have large young population.  There is thus a need to equip these youth with Industry 4.0 skills needed for gainful employment.  At the same time, many of these regions are also limited in the capacity of their brick-and-mortal higher learning institutions.  How can these regions develop their youth thru effective deployment of online/ blended learning and micro-credentials? How does USAID see the role of higher education in different regions and cultures throughout the world?  Tell us about the current focus of USAID. i.e. Higher Education Solutions Network, Feed the Future Health and the role of post-secondary education.   Talk to us about the power, potential and possibilities of collaboration in higher education between US and international institutions in addressing the multi-faceted challenges faced by many nations?  What do these institutions gain? Your degrees are in the field of agriculture but unlike many ag majors I know, you've been attracted to travel and studying outside the US. Your professional career has always involved an international element. What attracted you to international work?  International development is often seen to be dealing with one problem after another.  However, I am sure you have seen bright spots and success stories through higher education initiatives.  Can you share with us two or three such exemplars – whether these are about the transformation of an individual or an institution?  How does a university determine projects to collaborate with USAID?  How do post-secondary institutions both in the US and in other countries work with USAID?  What is your advice to forge effective partnerships or collaborations between institutions across the oceans?  Comments and Suggestions:Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects.  If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan. 

Dr. Matthew J. Wilson oversees the Japan campus of Temple University and its 4,000 undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree students in Tokyo and Osaka. Wilson has served as President of the University of Akron and Missouri Western State University in addition to serving in various other senior academic posts. Wilson has taught law in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China, and Vietnam. He has spoken about international opportunities and education at several hundred universities around the world. The interview includes the following questions: As you work across different cultures and regions in the world, what do you see as the values of higher education that transcend borders – and what are some areas that you see the need for adaptation and customization in different environments? Many US institutions have established branch campuses throughout the world. Some have been successful, and many have not.  In particular, Japan has been a challenging place for a branch campus to succeed. Yet Temple, Japan by any metric is a great success story. Why has Temple been a success? You have led three different universities as a President.  It is often said that this is really a very lonely job.  Many of the listeners are this podcast are either aspirants for such leadership roles or current incumbents of presidential positions.  Could you please share with them some lessons that you learned / best practices you have seen in other presidents? It is somewhat rare for a US educator to go overseas for an extended period of time. This is the second time you worked Temple in Japan. What attracted you to returning to Japan and what have you found as the challenges?  As a university educator and successful administrator did you have mentors and guides along the way and what lessons did you learn from them about being a university leader? It’s been 40 years since Temple University Japan opened its campus.  Tell our audience about your alumni.  Do they stay in Japan, and what type of careers have they entered? Do they stay in touch with the university and assist the next generation?    Comments and Suggestions:Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects.  If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan. 

Dr. Tarek Sobh, is President of Lawrence Technological University in Southfield Michigan, with an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students. Dr. Sobh, a licensed professional engineer, assumed the position of President on January 1st, 2022.  In 2020 he joined Lawrence Tech as vice president of academic affairs and provost at LTU.  Previously, he was the interim provost, the university executive vice president, research and economic development, and founding dean of the College of Engineering, Business, and Education at the University of Bridgeport (Connecticut). He received a Bachelor of Science in engineering with honors in computer science and automatic control from Alexandria University, Egypt, and a Master of Science and a Ph.D. degree in computer and information science from the University of Pennsylvania. He began his academic career as a research assistant professor of computer science at the University of Utah.The interview includes the following questions: We are seeing an increasing number of foreign-born scholars leading U.S. Universities.  What are some unique advantages that they bring to their universities and unique challenges that they may face at times?  We have spoken with several university leaders each has expressed their own institution's advantages and challenges. As a private US university, What would you say are Lawrence Technical University's advantages, and what are the challenges?   The higher you go in higher education, the lonelier it gets.  As a first-time president who took the position less than a year ago, what are some keys to your success as a leader in higher education? You come from a university career track. Did you have mentors along the way and what lessons did you learn from them about being a university leader? As a U.S. university leader, you have traveled widely around the world.  Over the past decade, what are some significant changes, reforms, and transformations that you see in higher education in different regions of the world? Comments and Suggestions:Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety ofmission-critical projects. Production support was provided by White Rabbit Printing and Design. If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr.Senthil Nathan. 

Professor Tony Chan is President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia founded in 2009, It is the first mixed-gender university campus in the whole of Saudi Arabia and has an enrollment of over 1,600 all graduate and Ph.D. students. It is ranked as one of the top 3 universities in the Arab World.He assumed his role as the third president of KAUST in September 2018 after nearly a decade as president of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He led a strategic planning process to lead KAUST into its second decade, including growing the faculty and students by up to 50%. He has expanded KAUST's research emphasis from energy, water, food and environment to include digital and health, launching new initiatives in Artificial Intelligence, Smart Health, Cyber Security and Circular Carbon.  He is increasing investment and capacity in innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer. By positioning the University to leverage Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 strategic plan, he is strengthening its engagement with the nation. Finally, he is leading efforts to enhance the global and national visibility of KAUST.Before joining HKUST, President Chan was Assistant Director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the US National Science Foundation from 2006 to 2009.  He taught Computer Science at Yale University before joining UCLA as Professor of Mathematics in 1986 and was Chair of the Department of Mathematics in 1997 and later Dean of Physical Sciences.  He was a co-founder and Director of the US NSF funded National Math Institute IPAM.He received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Engineering from Caltech and his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University, followed by a Research Fellowship at Caltech. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde.  He is a member of US National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of IEEE, AAAS and SIAM.  He was awarded the 2020 SIAM Prize for Distinguished Service to the Profession.   The interview includes the following questions:   A number of our listeners are higher education leaders throughout the world and some aspire to be a university president.  Many say being a university president is a rather lonely job.  For the listeners who have this aspiration, could you share with them some of the leadership lessons you have learned in your personal journey?   Please tell our listeners about the origin of KAUST and its students, faculty, and strengths. We would like to explore the place and importance of higher education in the Middle East.  Egypt-born Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail said this: "The Middle East is rich in human and natural resources, but many of its countries need a cultural and scientific transformation."   How do you see a fundamental transformation of youth in the region back to the discipline of curiosity, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are needed to excel in STEM areas? What are some of your major influences and contributors to the success of your career? As you work across different cultures and regions in the world, what do you see as the values of higher education that transcend borders – and what are some areas that you see the need for adaptation and customization in different environments  Comments and Suggestions: Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects. Production support was provided by White Rabbit Printing and Design.   If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan. 

Dr. Gil Latz, Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs, The Ohio State University. This includes serving as President, of Ohio State University Global Gateway Network overseeing offices in Shanghai, Mumbai, and Sao Paulo. Dr. Latz holds a BA from Occidental College, majoring in Religious Studies and English Literature. He earned his Master's and Ph.D. in geography from the University of Chicago. He was a graduate research student at the University of Tokyo and from 2001-02, a Fulbright scholar at the University of Florence. The interview includes the following questions: ·      Tell us about your typical week at OSU.  How did you choose to pursue this career and how did your education and background help you succeed in this career?·      OSU ranks in the top 20 in terms of the number of international students in the university. Can you talk about your international student body? What are the biggest challenges international students face when they come to an institution such as Ohio State?·      In recent years, OSU has made some deliberate choices to establish offices in India, Brazil, etc.  Why did you select these locations and please explain the purpose of these operations. ·      We see that OSU has established many agreements around the world.  What are some of your most effective partnerships? ·      I understand The Ohio State University has a strong belief in the concept of internationalization.  The university has ‘International Strategic Plan which you co-chair. Can you discuss the plan and OSU’s goals?·      What are some innovative ways that OSU promotes study abroad programs for your domestic students?  Do you have some specific examples or stories of how this experience benefitted some of the American students?·      You have published widely on internationalization, diversity, community engagement, and global learning for all – and how these areas intersect – as well as the internationalization of higher education in the United States and Asia.  What advice can you give your colleagues worldwide on the importance of global learning and why it's important to their institution?Comments and Suggestions: Higher Ed Without Borders would love to hear your ideas for future topics and guests. Connect with Dr. Senthil Nathan or Dean Hoke on LinkedIn. You can also visit the Edu Alliance website. To hear the entire series please subscribe to Higher Ed Without Borders on your preferred podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify, or Google. The podcast is sponsored by Edu Alliance, an education consulting firm located in Bloomington Indiana, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.   We assist higher education institutions worldwide on a variety of mission-critical projects.  If your organization wants to know more about how Edu Alliance can best serve you, please contact either Dean Hoke or Dr. Senthil Nathan.