Innovate and Educate

Listen as Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., Dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies and Associate Professor of Marketing in the Stillman School of Business, discusses the growing role of microcredentials in lifelong learning and workforce development. She explores how universities can create meaningful, community-centered learning experiences that help students and professionalsbuild practical skills, professional networks, and career readiness in a rapidly changing world.  We will also hear from Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM, Associate Dean for Assessment and Engagement and Professor in the Department of Management within the Stillman School of Business, who shares how gamification and badging can support student engagement and professional skill development. He also discusses the importance of creating experiences that help students apply what they’velearned and communicate the value of those experiences to future employers.  Stay tuned for the next season of Innovate and Educate, coming in Fall 2026!    Key topics + time stamps   Series and Episode Introduction [00:00-01:00 ]   Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., who serves as the Associate Provost of Partnerships & Global Initiatives, the Dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, as well as an Associate Professor, Stillman School, Department of Marketing [01:01-10:53 ]  Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM, Associate Dean for Assessment and External Engagement, Stillman School of Business [10:55-20:26 ]   Episode Wrap-up [20:30-21:55 ]      Resources   Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.: Contact Information  Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM: Contact Information     Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website   Email address: [email protected]  

In Season 2, Episode 6 of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we explore how institutions can create impactful First-Year experiences that support student success from the very beginning of their college journey. This episode focuses on the importance of designing intentional, high-impact programs that foster belonging, persistence, and holistic student development during this critical transition period.  Join us as Karen Van Norman, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Omayra Arocho, Assistant Vice President of Student Services and Dean of the Center for Academic Success, and Joshua Dornbos, Associate Dean of the Center for Academic Success, share their perspectives on supporting First-Year students. You’ll hear how campus leaders collaborate across departments, the strategies they use to build proactive support systems, and examples of programs and partnerships that help students navigate the transition to college and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.  Key topics + time stamps    Series and Episode Introduction [00:00-01:25]    Karen Van Norman, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students [01:26-7:40]   Contact information: [email protected]   Division of Student Services: https://www.shu.edu/student-services/   CAPS: https://www.shu.edu/counseling-psychological-services/  THRIVE: https://www.shu.edu/student-services/students-dare-to-care.html  The Well: https://www.shu.edu/student-services/the-well.html  Omayra Arocho, Assistant Vice President of Student Services and Dean of the Center for Academic Success and Joshua Dornbos, Associate Dean of the Center for Academic Success [07:45-22:50]   Contact information: [email protected] and [email protected]   Center for Academic Success: https://www.shu.edu/center-for-academic-success/   Transformational Student Experiences: https://www.shu.edu/strategic-plan/priority-1.html  Episode Wrap-up [22:51-23:54]   Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website    Email address: [email protected]