Being The Change

Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M) joins host Andy Perrine (’86) in the studio to recap Season 4 of the podcast and to preview the Spring/Summer issue of Madison magazine.

Hear about how a JMU professor — who also is a successful alumnus — gave his College of Business students an assignment to listen to a Being The Change podcast episode on leadership. Their reactions will surprise you and may even give you new hope for the future.  

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 did not all agree on the nation’s new direction. But they deliberated and compromised until they hammered together a document that has successfully guided us for 239 years.

The second in a series honoring our founding principles during the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, JMU history professor Dr. Rebecca Brannon describes James Madison’s critical role in shaping the religious freedoms we enjoy today.

The U.S. Department of Education has granted JMU over $5 million to help K-12 teachers and 40 other universities deploy programs aimed at teaching students civil-dialogue skills that are the foundation of a healthy democracy. 

Generative Artificial Intelligence is changing the nature of education. Hear how, instead of running away or turning into AI cops, JMU is embracing the technology and infusing it in our curricula. 

JMU’s seventh president reflects on his inauguration, the university’s rich history, and the exciting future he is leading us into with the introduction of The Madison Promise.

Enjoy a discussion on the essence of leadership with JMU's own 3-star Army general and our awesome ROTC battalion's commanding officer.

Hear how the Ole School Alumni Scholarship Group, which provides mentorship and career support to students, teamed up with JMU’s Summer Abroad Program in Ghana to offer a transformative international experience.

Discover what's behind JMU's incredible distinction as one of only nine universities nationally to receive both the Leadership for Public Purpose and Community Engagement classifications from the Carnegie Commission.  

Catch up on all the exciting progress being made in JMU's four-phased strategic planning process, which is aimed directly at elevating our already stellar student experience, academic octane and national prominence.

With its historic first-place finish at the 2025 NASA Student Launch Challenge — beating teams from MIT, Virginia Tech and other top engineering schools — JMU Engineering has arrived on the national stage. Hear how the program’s unique approach to engineering education produces graduates who lead in the field. 

On the occasion of Study Abroad Week at JMU, hear how the Center for Global Engagement and University Recreation have teamed up to give students the opportunity to learn how to cook recipes from around the world.

The local art scene is burgeoning like never before, and it's bringing campus and community closer together through shared purpose. Hear what's going on and who's behind making it go. 

Because good mental health greatly enables learning, JMU is constantly offering new programs to help students, faculty and staff find pathways to peace. In this episode, we spotlight one such program, the Serenity Center, which was founded by Dr. Mark Gabriele (’95), a neuroscientist.

Come along on a fabulous journey of discovery with JMU anthropologist Dr. Dennis Blanton and two of his former archaeology field-school students, Kyle Mitchell (’24) and Grace Gordon (’22), as they describe a significant find involving one of North America's earliest explorers.

As the Dukes prepare to take on Oregon in the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff, Athletic Director Matt Roan reflects on JMU’s culture of winning, which includes becoming the first program from Virginia to make the CFP. 

Head of Financial Aid Brad Barnett also teaches courses on financial literacy. Hear from him and one of his students, senior Jameson Glynn, on why this aspect of wellness is so important and how students can get there.

JMU recently received a coveted distinction for being a driver of economic prosperity and innovation, joining just 94 other research universities nationally. Hear Drs. Anthony Tongen and Keith Holland (’00) describe what this milestone portends for JMU’s future. 

Just in time for Thanksgiving, hear how viral TikTokker Rosie Grant (’12) traveled the globe collecting recipes etched into gravestones, became an internet sensation, and authored To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes.

As JMU continues to evolve as a research institution, not all of the research is in a laboratory. Dr. Jennie Rosier shares her research about how relationships work and how her students engage with the inquiry in ways that can change them.

Hear how JMU's largest research grant ever is funding comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to understanding and supporting the holistic development of children by the Center for Advancement Research in Education.

Dr. Alan Levinovitz, a professor of religion at JMU who has appeared in media ranging from The Atlantic to The Joe Rogan Experience, discusses a new study he co-authored on the healing power of diagnosis.

Whether you’re local to Harrisonburg or visiting for university events such as Homecoming, discover what makes our phenomenal culinary scene tick with two of the ’Burg’s top foodies.

JMU Board of Visitors member and National Honorary Chair of VA250 Carly Fiorina describes why the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America's founding is important to all Americans, all Virginians, and, in particular, all members of the community named for James Madison.

Hear how JMU's one-of-a-kind Ethical Reasoning in Action program exposes every student to a framework aimed at elevating their decision-making in all aspects of their lives.

To celebrate Constitution Day, Dr. Peter Levine of Tufts University, one of the foremost authorities on civics and how to teach it, gave a guest lecture at JMU. While on campus, he stopped by the podcast studio for a discussion about the current state of our civic life. 

Co-chairs of the strategic planning process and the director of Planning, Analytics & Institutional Research discuss how the process is moving forward and how JMU community members can get involved.

Increasing numbers of students, faculty and staff are riding the bus to campus rather than driving their cars. Not only is this a big win for the environment, but it's also a huge stress reliever and a positive lifestyle choice.

Join us for part two of our conversation with JMU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M) and Kathryn Hunt ('25), Student Affairs Presidential Engagement Fellow, about helping students find their place at JMU and get the most out of their Madison Experience.

As a new school year begins, JMU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M) and Kathryn Hunt (’25), Student Affairs Presidential Engagement Fellow, offer some tips to help students get the most out of their Madison Experience.

In a time of great change in higher education, Jim Schmidt, JMU's seventh president, lays out his vision for the future.

Host Andy Perrine (’86) briefly reflects on the first two seasons of Being The Change as we pause publishing for the summer, returning in late August for Season 3.

Iraq war veteran and inspirational speaker Justin Constantine (’92) died in 2022, but his spirit lives on. Hear how first-year JMU student Samantha Cornell is benefiting from Justin’s legacy because of Dhalia Constantine’s generosity, and how Navy nurse Racheal Fletcher (’05) cared for Justin stateside before discovering they both were JMU alumni. 

In the second episode in a series about JMU’s continued evolution as a research institution, Dr. Patrice Ludwig (’96, ’01M), biologist and interim assistant vice president of Research and Innovation, provides context on how research pervades the undergraduate experience at JMU, while students Corrinne Cullina (’25) and Tony Gelona (’25) describe their life-changing research experiences starting early in their careers at Madison.

From a teachers’ school for women, to a regional master’s-level university, to a national research institution, JMU certainly has evolved during its 117-year history. Dr. Anthony Tongen, vice president of Research, Economic Development and Innovation, and Dr. Rudy Molina, vice provost for Student Academic Success, discuss how this evolution continues to progress and what’s in JMU’s future. 

Successful investors and entrepreneurs Don Rainey (’82), Rusty Shepard (’86) and Rick Kushel (’87) describe why the College of Business’ business plan competition is such a formative experience for JMU students and why their endowed scholarship fund, which distributes $53,000 annually in competition prizes, charges the competition with real-world high stakes.

Dr. Kara Dillard, executive director of the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, discusses the recent conversation on campus between Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (’93) and Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (’93), and how these two JMU alumni from opposite sides of the political spectrum collaborate despite their differences. 

Chaz Haywood ('97), clerk of the Rockingham County Circuit Court, and Megan Pullen ('18, '23M), the court's deputy clerk for historic archives, discuss how unearthing courthouse records dating back to the 1700s brings to life local history and demonstrates how much our lives have improved since the early days of the republic. 

Sierra Stanczyk ('09), Meghan Schenker-Fulcher and Carole Anderson ('86) discuss the phenomenal rise of Women for Madison, a group that has taken the JMU campus community by storm by celebrating successful women and supporting the university.   Click here to register for Women for Madison's Women Who Amaze Summit, May 2-4, 2025.

Wears Woody apparel brand founder Mike Norwood ('89) discusses how he is chasing his entrepreneurial dreams while helping to fund research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. 

Undergraduate applications to JMU have increased by more than 80% over the last five years, smashing records. Vice President for Enrollment Management Melinda Wood discusses the factors contributing to this incredible increase in JMU's national and international popularity, and how the university plans to navigate increased competition as college-aged populations decline. 

Eric ('91) and Lara ('92) Major describe how their support for JMU brings them great joy. And, as the university gears up for Giving Day on Feb. 27, Nick Langridge (’00, ’07M, ’14Ph.D.), vice president for University Advancement, explains how generosity is actually good for us emotionally and biologically. 

JMU alumni Jeff Gorman ('12) and Jake Cochran ('12), who comprise the critically-acclaimed band Illiterate Light, discuss their origins at JMU, their unique live act, and powering guitar amplifiers with bicycles. The Washington Post calls their sound "massive," and they currently are touring nationally.

Mary Sullivan, who coordinates the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) initiative for JMU and the region, describes how the program connects Virginia businesses with Virginia students looking for work-based learning opportunities. Ryzing Technologies’ Ross Ruffing describes how the program helped to double the opportunities at his company in Staunton, Virginia.

There's a shortage of health care workers, especially nurses, in Virginia and beyond. Dr. Melody Eaton, director of the JMU School of Nursing, explains why this has occurred and how the school is working to solve the crisis with unique curricular solutions and by expanding capacity. 

Librarian Liz Thompson and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt discuss how Open Education Resources in the JMU Libraries are helping students find alternatives to paying the high price of some textbooks and course materials. 

Ranked Virginia’s “Best School for Getting a Job” several years running, JMU is committed to preparing its graduates for the workforce. Myles Surrett and Libby Westley with the University Career Center discuss how our alumni are making their way in the “real world” more successfully than their peers from other institutions.

Traci Zimmerman, interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters, and Shannon Wilson, the college's director of Professional Development and Engagement, answer the question of whether a degree in the liberal arts is worth the investment, and what JMU is doing to make certain career outcomes for students in these majors are optimal.

The Carrier Library renovation currently underway is a stunning project that will ultimately grace campus with a facility befitting JMU's rise. Join Dean of Libraries Bethany Nowviskie and members of her team to hear more about this exciting addition to campus.