The HigherEd Podcast

Nancy shares how she went from receptionist to admissions leader, why scripts are not the enemy of authentic conversations, and why schools need to look closely at their people, product, and process. She also discusses speed-to-lead, texting cadences, application fees, financial aid handoffs, AI in admissions, and the barriers schools often create for themselves.

From workforce alignment to ethical AI, this episode explores how colleges and universities can adapt to a new era of learning. Dr. Tonya Aman Kwatia brings deep experience and a practical view of where higher ed is headed.

Shane Sparks breaks down the growing divide in higher education between schools that understand lead generation and schools still relying on outdated enrollment models. A strong conversation on AI, OPM pressure, and the enrollment cliff.

In this conversation, Dr. Jerry Wallace breaks down why stronger partnerships between schools, colleges, and employers are critical if we want students prepared for the jobs of the future.

Shantay Ann Bolton, president of Columbia College Chicago, joins the Higher Ed Podcast to talk about creative education, leadership, AI, partnerships, and why higher education must rethink how it proves value in today’s world.

Jen Lyles joins the Higher Ed Podcast to explain why so many schools are still using outdated marketing and admissions tactics for a generation that thinks and communicates differently. This episode covers Gen Z behavior, anxiety, TikTok, admissions, and where schools need to change.

Dr. Dale Nesbary has spent decades serving students, leading institutions, and helping colleges navigate change. In this episode, he joins Kamar for a thoughtful conversation on higher ed leadership, AI, strategic planning, and what it means to build a legacy that lasts.

Are colleges still preparing students for the real world? This panel digs into the role of the humanities, the challenge of workforce readiness, the future of accreditation, and why student success may need to be defined in more flexible and meaningful ways.

University President Dr. Lillian Schumacher explains how she sustained enrollment growth during the “enrollment cliff” era, and breaks down the balance every institution has to manage: scholarship strategy, discount rate, and net tuition. If you’re trying to grow without blowing up revenue, this conversation is for you.

AI can speed up writing and research, but it can’t replace real mentorship. Dr. Kreassig explains why the relationship between faculty and students still matters most.

Lisa Avery shares how community colleges support local economies, reduce social costs, and open doors for first-generation students, and why the public underestimates their impact.

Episode 2 of Everything Higher Ed brings together a provost, a higher-ed CEO, and a Penn State leader to unpack what AI is changing right now, inside classrooms, across student services, and throughout accreditation. Topics include: AI fluency as a workforce baseline, why students may trust public tools more than campus systems, and how schools can respond without losing academic rigor. Plus: a provocative take on whether AI could disrupt Title IV and accreditation over the next decade.

VP Paul Eggers explains how enrollment teams use data to scale, stay competitive, and lead through constant change, without losing the human side of the work.

Dr. Janelle Sokolowich shares a powerful perspective on education, mentorship, and building pathways that changes the futures of families. A conversation about purpose, policy, and what it takes to create access that lasts generations.

Higher ed is changing fast: AI, online learning, shifting demographics, and the enrollment cliff. Dr. Jesse Mason breaks down what system leadership looks like at scale and how leaders can stay mission-focused while adapting how they deliver education.

In the first episode of Everything Higher Ed, Kamar DeJarnette sits down with leaders from UMass Global, Rio Salado College, Linn-Benton Community College, and NYU to unpack what the enrollment cliff really means, and what institutions are changing right now. Everything from adult learners, stackable credentials, breaking credit/non-credit silos, and how higher ed can tell its value story more clearly, this is Everything Higher Ed!

Dr. John Porter shares how 33 years at IBM shaped his approach to leading Lindenwood, and why multi-institution systems may be the next big model in higher education. We unpack the enrollment cliff, vocational vs. traditional pathways, building an acquisition strategy, and what it takes to grow without losing mission. Plus: his take on AI in higher ed (and how he actually uses it day to day).

The old assumption, “college automatically equals success,” is gone. Dr. Tony Bourne explains the parent mindset shift, the ROI pressure, and how institutions can respond with clearer pathways, better advising, and real student-success infrastructure.

Dr. Jason Altmire, CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), breaks down why skilled trades and career programs are surging, how policy shapes higher education, and what “value” and ROI really mean for students and taxpayers. We also talk AI: how it’s changing campuses and why it may increase demand for electricians, HVAC, welding, and more.

AI is everywhere in higher ed, and it’s not going away. Dr. Andy Binanti explains why institutions shouldn’t fear AI, how to teach students to use it the right way, and what role it may play in supporting persistence and success in today’s learning environment.

Dr. Jennifer Teague (Dean, School of Business & Professional Studies at UMass Global) joins Kamar to talk about what leadership looks like when AI is moving fast. They unpack mission-first decision-making, digital literacy, bias awareness, and how universities can adapt without chasing every “new shiny thing.”

What does it really take for a community college to grow in the middle of an enrollment cliff, shrinking populations, and a post-pandemic student body that needs more support than ever?In this episode of the Higher Ed Podcast, host Kamar DeJarnett sits down with Dr. Roger Davis, President of the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), to talk about:How a “triple HBCU” journey and a single Toni Morrison novel lit his passion for higher educationWhy he believes higher ed is still structurally static—and what must changeHow CCBC went from one of its lowest enrollments to one of the fastest-growing community colleges in PennsylvaniaThe bold strategies they used to “jump and fly” off the enrollment cliffDigital textbooks, culture change, unions, and getting faculty to moveCCBC’s aviation and air traffic control programs that place grads into high-demand, high-income careersGuided Pathways and the campus mantra: “Start strong, stay strong, finish stronger.”What the next 2–3 years of higher ed could look like with AI, just-in-time learning, and mobile-first design

Higher Ed might be heading toward fewer institutions—but stronger ones. Kamar DeJarnette and Dr. Emmanuel Lalonde break down why. From the enrollment cliff and demographic shifts to AI adoption, new revenue strategies, and serving a mix of traditional, transfer, dual-enrollment, and adult learners, Dr. Lalonde lays out what it will take to thrive in the next 2–3 years. If you’re thinking about the future of your institution—or your own educational path—this episode offers a candid look at where higher ed is going and what has to change to meet students where they are.

Founding Dean Dr. Bonny Kehm of Columbia Southern University’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences joins The Higher Ed Podcast to unpack how online, post-licensure nursing programs, AI-driven virtual patients, and transparent pricing can expand opportunity without compromising quality. The future of higher ed boils down to the 3 A’s: Affordability, Applicability, Accessibility.

How do we help students right now academically, professionally, and personally? Dr. Charlene Glenn shares a practical mindset series she built for adult learners, why soft skills still drive outcomes, and what the next era of higher ed should look like: shorter, job-tied, and more agile.

Degrees aren’t disappearing but how students earn value is changing. Jeremy Bean from Penn State explains why experience-rich pathways, certificates, and tighter workforce alignment are rising, how AI is accelerating the shift, and what leaders should stop funding to make room for what’s next.

Crisis-tested lessons from Hurricane Andrew and the ValuJet crash to the social media era. Dr. Whiteley explains how leadership, communication, and student engagement evolved across decades.

In this episode of The Higher Ed Podcast, Kamaar DeJarnette sits down with Dr. K. L. Allen of WGU to talk ROI that actually matters, and how tighter employer–university partnerships can shape the next 2–3 years of higher education. From a rural North Carolina origin story to leading WGU across the Northeast, Dr. Allen shares practical leadership lessons, why outcomes must trump inputs, and how to make college “cool” (and affordable) again.

Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith breaks down what the “enrollment cliff” really is and how institutions can respond—nontraditional learners, workforce pathways, and revenue beyond tuition. What is strategic enrollment management and what should you fix first to keep promises to students?

Is higher ed finally proving its value—or still stuck in old habits? In this episode, Charter College’s Josh Swayne joins host Kamaar DeJarnett to talk about the post-COVID reset: why trades are surging, how schools should show outcomes and ROI, and where AI fits (without losing the human touch).

Dr Irma and Kamaar discuss how to make education available to everyone, including providing a blueprint for students to realistically succeed.

Dr. Ames and Kamaar discuss the importance of creating a marketing personalities and the impact AI is going to have on the future of students

Discussing technical education with president Clay Christensen. Christensen shares the greatest challenge technical education faces and the changing perceptions of the public towards alternative paths from college.

Brandon and Kamaar discuss how to connect with students, convince them of the value of higher education, and deliver better outcomes for students.