EdTech Connect

Tawnya Means, Founding Partner and Principal at Inspire Higher Ed, talks about how institutions can navigate the rapid shifts in technology without losing the human heart of education.

With over two decades of experience guiding colleges through digital transformation—from the early LMS days to today’s AI revolution—Tawnya brings a rare, grounded perspective on what it takes to innovate ...

Charity Stutzman, Senior Director of Higher Education Strategy at Vector Solutions, unpacks the groundbreaking findings from the latest Campus Prevention Network National Insights Report.

With over 15 years in student affairs—including as Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Texas at Arlington—Charity brings a frontline perspective to a dramatic cultural shift: students are in...

Ben Tasker, an expert in AI, workforce readiness  and skills-based learning, shares his unique journey from higher education to industry, exploring how AI is reshaping learning and work during what he calls the "AI between times"—a transitional era of rapid change and "uh-oh moments."

They dive into why AI amplifies human capability rather than replacing it, how institutions can ethicall...

Jeff Dillon sits down with Michelle Craig, Director of Marketing and Commercial Operations at AppsAnywhere, to explore the seismic shifts happening in higher education as Generation Alpha prepares to enter college.

With two decades of experience at companies like Blackboard, QS Unisolution, and Job Teaser, Michelle shares insights from her groundbreaking research into Gen Alpha—students ...

Jen Jenkins, Director of Digital Experience at Western Governors University, brings a unique background that spans theater arts, healthcare content strategy, and higher ed—all centered on understanding user needs. She shares how her work at University of Utah Health shaped her approach to empathy-driven content, and how she now applies those lessons to WGU’s student-obsessed, competency-...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Sharon Harrison, CMO at Gravyty, to explore the dramatic evolution of AI in higher education. Sharon, who played a key role in unifying the leading platforms Ivy.ai and Ocelot under the Gravyty brand, traces the journey from the early days of simple "chat boxes" to today's sophisticated conversational AI agents.

They disc...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Gerry White, an award-winning educator and Dean of Academic Technology at ECPI University whose career defies easy categorization. Gerry’s journey spans from English literature and music to AI development and robotics, and he brings this interdisciplinary passion to every project.

They discuss his AI-powered tutoring plat...

France Hoang, a former White House Counsel, Army Special Forces veteran, and now the co-founder and CEO of Boodlebox, brings a unique perspective forged by a lifetime of service and leadership, now focused on one of education's most urgent questions: How do we get the human-AI relationship right?

They dive into why the traditional educational model—information, struggle, assessment—is fu...

This week on EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Erin Callihan, AVP of Strategic Marketing at NYU and a powerhouse who blends law, design, and deep tech strategy. They dive into the ever-expanding AI toolbox that's reshaping how higher ed professionals work.

Erin shares her latest favorite tools—from Google Gemini's surprising slide design capabilities and Napkin AI for insta...

Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Christy Heid, a Nursing Simulation Specialist at UbiSim. They tackle a critical issue revealed by UbiSim’s recent report: 65% of hospital leaders feel new nursing graduates aren't fully prepared for day-one patient care.

Christy explains how this "readiness gap" is being closed through immersive VR simulation and AI-powered tools. She delves into how UbiSim...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with digital marketing pioneer Jim Sterne, a professional explainer who has been at the forefront of every major tech shift since the 1980s. Jim reframes Generative AI not as just another tool, but as a fundamental metamorphosis—a shift from computational power to intellectual prowess.

They explore how this changes the very na...

Jeff Dillon and Mariah Tang dive deep into the philosophy that content marketing is more about people than platforms. Mariah explains the critical mindset shift marketers need to make—from creating generic "AI slop" to crafting content that uniquely answers people's questions.

They explore the concept of "Search Everywhere Optimization" (SEO), the importance of niching down, and how to e...

From her roots as a struggling student and president of the Cal State Student Association to her current role as a Higher Education Consultant at Canva, Mia Healy shares her unique journey and passion for making education more approachable and equitable.

They dive into how her student leadership experience shaped her approach to EdTech, the importance of meeting students and institutions...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Faton Sopa, the co-founder and CEO of Manaferra, to unravel how the prospective student journey has been completely transformed.

Faton shares groundbreaking insights from his agency's latest research, revealing that prospective students no longer get their information from single sources, but are instead "cross-checking" ...

How can universities create a seamless, safe, and connected experience that meets the soaring expectations of today's students? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Rasheed Behrooznia, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Transact+ CBORD, who leads a $250 million business serving over 1,500 institutions.

Drawing from his unique background in defen...

Why is coordinating family dinner surprisingly similar to managing complex university processes? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ricardo Rengifo, President and CEO of DBS Software and Services, a pioneer in digitizing campus operations.

Ricardo pulls back the curtain on the "document chaos" that plagues so many institutions—the siloed systems, fillable ...

What does training for one of the world's hardest Ironman races have in common with leading AI transformation in business education?

Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Matt Seitz, Director of the AI Hub for Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A veteran of Google, Abbott, and McDonald's, Matt brings 30 years of tech leadership to his mission of preparing students for an AI-drive...

How can universities overcome their unique challenges to create amazing digital experiences in an AI-driven world?

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Nick Cawthon, a seasoned UX strategist with over two decades of experience working with giants like Adobe and Visa, and a professor at the California College of the Arts. Nick pulls from his rich background i...

What does it take to create digital learning that is truly for everyone? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dipesh Jain, Vice President of Revenue at Magic EdTech, a company with a 35-year mission to make learning accessible and transformative.

Dipesh shares his unique journey from physical therapist to tech leader and how that background shapes his empath...