EdTech Connect

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Melanie Lindahl, Senior UX Designer at UT Austin and winner of the Red Stapler Award for her groundbreaking conference talks on user experience. With a unique background in fine arts and web development, Melanie breaks down how higher ed institutions can implement powerful UX strategies—even on a shoestring budget.

From d...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Texas A&M University—and the Content Marketer of the Year—to explore how iconic academic brands cut through the noise in a crowded higher ed landscape.

From his days launching billion-dollar pharma brands at Eli Lilly to transforming Purdue into a nationally ...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jenny Leigh Morris, a technology strategist at Doctums who bridges the worlds of Fortune 100 innovation and higher education modernization. With a background in designing AI education programs for giants like Walmart, L’Oreal, and Microsoft, Jenny brings a unique perspective on how institutions can streamline technology a...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Emily Chase Coleman, CEO and co-founder of HAI Analytics, to explore how data is reshaping higher education strategy.

With over two decades of experience blending social psychology and statistics, Emily shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how HAI’s AI-powered platform helps colleges predict enrollment...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon talks to Jarrett Smith, Senior VP of Strategy at Echo Delta and co-author of the groundbreaking Designing for Decisions report. Fresh from his eduWeb conference presentation, Jarrett dives into the eye-opening findings from their survey of over 1,000 prospective students, revealing what students actually want from college websites—and w...

Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jennifer Beyer, VP of Product at Thesis, to explore the evolving landscape of student information systems (SIS) and the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized colleges. With over two decades of experience spanning campus administration and EdTech leadership, Jennifer shares her mission to simplify higher education processes through cloud-based solut...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eric Kim, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Modo Labs, to explore how mobile technology has reshaped higher ed—and where it’s headed next. From Modo’s origins at MIT (inspired by Kabuki stagehands!) to its global impact today, Eric shares how universities can break down silos, leverage AI, and design experiences st...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Katie Condon, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University, to unpack the urgent challenges and innovative strategies shaping higher ed’s future. With over a decade of experience spanning West Virginia University and EMU, Katie offers a candid look at how regional publics can compete amid shrinki...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eytan Wurman, founder of Common Time Pathways, to explore the untapped potential of music in college admissions. A former music teacher turned entrepreneur, Eytan reveals how his platform is bridging the gap between student musicians and $5 billion in overlooked scholarships—more than athletic scholarships combined.

From ...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Chase Williams, CEO and co-founder of Pathify, to explore how modern digital engagement platforms are transforming the fragmented student experience. Born out of Chase’s own frustrations as a student at Monash University, Pathify has grown into a global solution serving nearly 250 institutions by consolidating communicati...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Cabrini Pak—professor, interdisciplinary scholar, and systems thinker—to explore how cutting-edge concepts like stigmergy (a cybernetic coordination mechanism) and AI can transform higher education. With degrees in biology, theology, business, and cultural studies, Dr. Pak bridges gaps between disciplines, offering fr...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ashley Budd, Director of Digital Marketing at Cornell University, to explore the evolving landscape of university marketing and alumni engagement.

With over a decade of experience at Cornell, Ashley shares insights into how digital innovation has transformed alumni outreach, the surprising power of email in fundraising, a...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Sana Remekie, CEO of Conscia and a pioneer in composable digital experiences, to explore how universities can break free from legacy systems and embrace AI-driven agility. From her roots in enterprise search architecture to building Conscia’s "DXGraph" for unified data, Sana reveals why higher ed must adopt omni-channel s...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon chats with Corey Reed, Director of Web Management at TCU, about bridging the gap between marketing and IT in higher ed’s digital landscape.

From his early days designing Flash websites (RIP) to leading TCU’s search optimization and accessibility efforts, Corey shares how his hospitality tech background translates to campus—and why AI-po...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Bao Johri, CIO at Fresno State and 2025 Top Women Leader in Technology, to explore how universities can harness AI as a force for equity and transformation.

From launching Fresno State’s campus-wide AI initiative (with 60+ faculty collaborators) to mentoring the next generation of IT leaders, Bao shares how her resear...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jill Whitaker, Director of Web Services at Southern Utah University, to explore the evolving landscape of higher ed website management.

With 25 years of experience, Jill shares candid insights on balancing short-term fixes with long-term strategy (inspired by her half-marathon coaching!), wrangling 100+ content editors, a...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon chats with Jennie Wong, Global Director of Education at Slalom, about how universities can harness AI and data to drive strategic value. Jennie shares her innovative "car metaphor" framework for AI implementation, reveals surprising GenAI use cases, and explains why federated data models are the future for higher ed.

From overcoming ins...

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Alexander "Sasha" Sidorkin, Chief AI Officer at Sacramento State University, to explore the transformative impact of AI on education. 

From debunking myths about AI replacing...

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Gemma Garcia, Executive Director of Learning Technology at Arizona State University, to explore how ASU is leading the charge in scalable digital learning innovation. 

With over ...