The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of Complete College America (CCA), a national advocacy organization dedicated to helping more students access, persist, and graduate from college on time. Yolanda shares CCA’s systems-level approach to student success, the importance of transfer-friendly policies, and how institutions must shift from being college-ready to s...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Diego Arambula, Vice President of Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation. Diego discusses how higher education must evolve to remain a powerful engine for economic opportunity — especially for students who are furthest from it. He unpacks the need to rethink degree structures, the role of digital transformation, and how institutions can better p...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin speaks with Halley Hoot from Summer Discovery. Halley shares how her team partners with top universities to offer transformative summer learning experiences for students as young as first grade through high school. She discusses how these programs not only expose students to college-level academics but also help them develop critical life skills and career clarity. Tune i...

What does it look like when faculty lead the charge in building AI-powered learning tools—without losing their human-centered roots? In this live episode from the AI Show at the ASU+GSV Summit, Dustin speaks with UCLA professor Dr. Zrinka Stahuljak and PhD candidate Elizabeth Landers about their work developing a first-of-its-kind AI-assisted, human-guided textbook for a large general education class.

But this isn’t about replacing ...

In this special live episode recorded live at the AI Show at ASU+GSV, Dustin and guest Tara Gilboa unpack how her work at Zal.AI is helping higher ed institutions build real-time, skills-based pathways between education and employment.

Tara breaks down what it actually takes to align curriculum with workforce needs, how AI is the secret ingredient to faster, smarter decision-making, and why we need to ditch static PDFs for dynamic, ...

In this special live episode recorded live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV, Dustin sits down with Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan—AI strategist at San Francisco Bay University—for a thought-provoking and practical look at how AI is reshaping the university experience. From tutoring and enrollment to mental health support and empathy-driven VR, Shalini shares how she’s embedding AI into every corner of the campus ecosystem.

This conversation c...

Julia Dixon, Forbes 30 Under 30 and founder of ESAI, joins Dustin live from the AI Show at ASU+GSV to unpack how her AI-powered platform is helping students craft authentic, compelling college essays—without crossing ethical lines.

Drawing from her years as an admissions advisor, Julia explains why storytelling is the ultimate soft skill in today’s AI-driven world—and how the right tools can empower students to own their narrative, ...

In this episode, Scott Marshall, President & CEO of Semester at Sea, joins the show to discuss the transformative power of study abroad. Scott shares his personal journey from faculty member to leading one of the most unique global education programs, including navigating the challenges of the pandemic. He also dives into the importance of experiential learning, the role of study abroad in student success, and why higher ed leaders...

In this episode, Dustin sits down with Drs. LeeAnn Lindsey and Chad Geston of the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy for a powerful conversation on how AI is reshaping the entire P-20 landscape—from K-12 to higher ed to workforce development.

You’ll hear why Arizona has taken a leadership role in AI education, how schools can prepare for what's coming, and why higher ed can’t afford to move at “the speed of mud” anymore...

In this energizing live episode, Dustin chats with Brian LeDuc—consultant, design strategist, and founder of Learning, Designed—about what it really takes to make higher ed more human-centered in an AI-drenched era. From the UC San Diego Design Lab to his own EDUxDesign Fellowship, Brian shares tangible ways schools can move beyond best practices and toward meaningful, student-first innovation.

Spoiler: It’s not about jumping on eve...

In this special live episode from the AI Show at the ASU+GSV Summit, Dustin sits down with Alejandra Acosta—Chief of Staff at JK K-12 and a longtime higher ed veteran—to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education. But here’s the twist: it’s not just about tech. It’s about grounding innovation in human connection, staying true to institutional values, and using AI to spark the kind of transformation higher ed actuall...

In this special episode recorded on site at SXSW EDU, Dustin chats with Annie Chechitelli, Chief Product Officer at Turnitin. Annie shares the exciting launch of Turnitin Clarity, a new tool designed to support both educators and students in navigating AI’s role in academic writing. From AI detection to responsible AI use in the classroom, this conversation unpacks the evolving challenges and opportunities in maintaining academic i...

In this live episode from Transact 360, we talk with Don Smith, General Manager of Integrated Payments at Transact, about the rapid evolution of student payments. Don shares insights on how unified payment systems improve the student experience, the growing demand for financial flexibility, and how institutions can remove friction from the payment process. We also explore AI, embedded finance, and the future of digital wallets on c...

In this episode, Brady Colby, a market research expert at Validated Insights, joins the podcast to break down their latest report on the Online Program Management (OPM) market. Brady shares key insights on how institutions are moving away from revenue-share OPM models in favor of fee-for-service partnerships, why colleges now have more control over their online programs, and what this means for the future of digital education. If y...

In this special live episode from Transact 360, we sit down with Taran Lent, SVP of Product Development and Technology at Transact. Taran shares insights on how cloud migration is transforming campus operations, why user experience is more critical than ever, and the role of biometrics and AI in the future of higher ed tech. He also reflects on lessons learned as an entrepreneur and how institutions can adapt to rapid technological...

What if you could get the benefits of an OPM (Online Program Management) model without fully outsourcing control? That’s exactly what Augusta University Online did with its DIY+ approach in partnership with Collegis Education. In this episode, Cristina Raecke, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Enrollment at Augusta University Online, and Dan Antonson, AVP of Analytics and Technology Solutions at Collegis Education...

In this bonus episode recorded at Transact 360, we’re hearing from a variety of individuals who attended the conference about what they were seeing, hearing, and excited about from this year’s event.

Here is everyone showcased:

• James Loveland, Southern Utah University
• Erica Rigler, Assa Abloy
• Daniel Piotrowski, The Johns Hopkins University
• Abby Harris, Jenzabar
• Jason Colucci, Cleveland State University
• Noah Sellers, GrubHub Campus
• Nath...

Higher ed is at a crossroads, and Christine Looser is here to challenge institutions to rethink everything—from curriculum design to digital transformation. As a cognitive neuroscientist and Senior Director at Minerva Project, Christine helps universities craft student learning experiences that are relevant, effective, and experiential. In this episode, she and Dustin dive into the intersection of neuroscience and education, the po...

Dr. Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, joins Dustin for a candid conversation about the urgent need for higher ed to take a proactive role in shaping the future workforce. From talent shortages to AI’s impact on job readiness, Bridget shares why hope isn’t a strategy—and what institutions must do to stay ahead. She challenges universities to work together, rethink traditional learning models, and create real-...