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PODCAST

Get Down to College Business

Sarah Holtan, PhD

Welcome to Get Down to College Business. We will identify strategies that could make the difference between keeping university doors open and closing them for good. I"m pulling in business experts and higher ed leaders to debate the merits of strategies that could save the future of higher ed. You will leave feeling empowered with new ideas to reimagine how you approach the business of college to support the cause of the affordable college experience. Visit us at highlevelleadership.com, read our

education management

All Episodes

26:52

Save 30% by Uncovering a Blind Spot with Anamika...

Get Down to College Business ·

2026/01/13

You work hard to keep your college running, but what if you’re losing money every month without realizing it? Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Anamika Wadhawan, Senior VP of Sales at SIB, to shine a light on “spend drift” and invoice anomalies—those sneaky charges and contract errors that slowly eat away at your budget. Fixing your finances isn’t just about slashing resources; it’s about catching the errors and inefficiencies hidden in plain sight.Are you sure your institution isn’t leaving

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33:04

Financial Stress Signals You Can't Ignore with Daniel...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/12/09

Sarah Holtan, PHD sits down with Daniel Greenstein, PhD, Managing Director at Baker Tilly US, for a blunt conversation about the hidden financial risks many colleges are ignoring. Greenstein, a leader in higher education consulting and former Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, reveals why traditional financial metrics don't paint the full picture of an institution's health.Greenstein breaks down nine "risk archetypes"—structural patterns that quietly erode long-term

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33:47

Should You Blow Up Your Budget Model? with David...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/11/25

Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Dr. David Rosowsky PHD, Chief optimism officer, connector, collider, university senior leader, and author, for a masterclass in a subject that makes most academics run for the hills: the university budget model. In this blunt and refreshingly clear conversation, Dr. Rosowsky—sometimes called the "Ted Lasso of higher ed"—cuts through the jargon and political noise to reveal why so many institutions get budget model transitions dangerously wrong.Dr. Rosowsky breaks

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39:57

Game Over? What Colleges Need to Know about...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD is joined by her old friend, veteran NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Casey, for a candid look at the evolving world of sportscasting. Trenni traces her 25-year career path, offering critical insights for today's aspiring journalists, academic leaders, and athletic directors.They discuss the essential skills for success in the modern media landscape. While foundational traits like curiosity and authenticity are timeless, the industry now demands multifaceted

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34:15

How to Make Your College Podcast Cool with Dave Jackson

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/10/28

Sarah Holtan, PhD welcomes the Founder of School of Podcasting, Dave Jackson, for a reality check on campus podcasting. Colleges are rushing to launch podcasts, but does every institution actually need one or know how to make theirs stand out? With higher ed under pressure to connect, retain, and recruit, Dave peels back the curtain on what really makes a college podcast worth listening to and worth producing. If you think just starting a show will solve your engagement woes, you might be burning

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30:24

International Student Decline Hits Our Bottom Line...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/10/14

Did you know a 20% drop in international students could wipe out nearly $2 billion in college tuition in just a year? The financial pain universities are feeling right now isn’t just about bottom lines, it's about fewer programs, job losses on campus and in local communities, and a shrinking workforce for the future. In this episode, Tom Dretler, CEO and co-founder of Shorelight Education, breaks down exactly what this revenue cliff means and why colleges can't afford to keep waiting for old models

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37:15

Streamline Your Small College with Gary Daynes, PhD

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/09/23

Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Gary Daynes, PhD, the Founder and Principal, Back Porch Consulting and Interim President Salem Academy and College, for a blunt conversation about why most small schools are making strategic mistakes, and what they can do about it. This chat is a must for anyone working in higher ed who’s tired of wishful thinking and wants practical advice on how to future-proof their institution.Gary explains why wearing too many hats isn’t just exhausting but often a symptom of

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22:49

Can New Presidents Save Financially-Distressed...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/09/09

Sarah Holtan sits down with Dr. Robert Kelchen, Professor of Higher Education at University of Tennessee - Knoxville, to ask the hard question: can a new college president truly turn around a university’s finances? If you’ve ever wondered why some presidents seem to steady the ship while others are just along for the ride, this is an episode you can’t miss.Most people think hiring a new leader is a silver bullet, but Robert uncovers why financial miracles rarely happen overnight—especially at public

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40:28

Managing Emotional Responses to Financial Aid with...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/08/26

Paying for college stirs up way more than just number crunching—it’s a raw experience laden with stress, overwhelm, and uncertainty. In today’s episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Mark Mitchell, Vice President of Access and Affordability of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), to cut through the facts and talk about the very real feelings families face when tuition bills are due. Mark reveals what’s changed in the financial aid landscape and why the pressure is only getting

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45:26

Caring Relationships Drive Revenue

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/08/12

In this insightful episode, host Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Kevin McClure, PhD, Professor of Higher Education at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. They discuss the critical state of employee well-being in higher education. Dr. McClure unpacks the evolving landscape of university workplaces, addressing the challenges facing faculty and staff post-pandemic, and offers actionable steps for leaders looking to create a truly caring institution.The conversation dives deep into why

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39:00

Increasing Leadership Capacity using AI with Dr....

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/06/24

In this forward-thinking episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Melik Peter Khoury, DBA, to explore how higher education leaders can harness the transformative power of AI—not just as a technological tool, but as a driver for architectural, workflow, and cultural change in universities. Rather than dwelling on AI as a source of academic anxiety or a threat to jobs, Dr. Khoury shares actionable strategies for integrating AI into executive functions, staff productivity, and student

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34:07

Showing Value in Centers of Teaching and Learning...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/06/10

Could a better way to support faculty actually decide which universities survive the coming years? In this episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD, talks with Derek Bruf, the Associate Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia, about how Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) shape a college’s future, even when budgets are tight and change is constant. Derek shares his candid perspective on what makes a CTL truly matter: it’s not just space and tech, but trust-based

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36:25

What Colleges Can Learn from Corporate L&D

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/05/27

Sarah Holtan, PhD speaks with Brandon Moore, Executive Director of Learning & Development at the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance. Higher Ed is struggling with shrinking resources and shifting student needs—but what if colleges could learn a thing or two from how the corporate world approaches workforce training? Brandon shares how his team treats employees as whole people, prioritizes training that actually fits real jobs, and isn’t afraid to fail fast and let go of tired programs.Are you

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27:50

Financial Questions Every College Leader Should Ask

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/05/13

Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Bruce Hoeker, CFO at the Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges (ABACC), to cut through the confusion on college finances. If you think understanding your institution’s business operations is just for the CFO, Bruce wants you to think again—and shows why the financial future of your college depends on broad, strategic awareness at every leadership level.Too often, faculty and department heads are promoted into roles where financial savvy is

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33:54

What's a Smart Pricing Strategy for Tuition?

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/04/29

Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Lucie Lapovsky, PhD, a financial expert in higher education and Principal of Lapovsky Consulting. In today's episode, discover how tuition pricing strategies could hold the key to college sustainability, especially in the face of declining enrollments and a challenging educational landscape. Lucie's insights offer a fresh perspective, challenging the conventional high tuition, high discount model many institutions still follow.Lucie breaks down the importance of

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36:49

The Human Dimensions of Change Management with Nicole...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/04/15

Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Nicole Gahagan, Ed.D., Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Madison Area Technical College, to talk about the intricate world of change management within higher education. In this episode, Dr. Gahagan shakes up the conventional approach to institutional change by focusing intently on human needs. Looking to improve student success and employee experiences? This one's for you.Dr. Gahagan shares how ignoring human needs can backfire during change,

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31:27

Achieving ROI through Collaboration Tactics with...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/03/25

Sarah Holtan, PhD chats with Elliot Felix, who is a Student Success Author, Speaker, and Consultant, about breaking down the silos in higher education to truly support students. Discover practical ways to shift from fragmented efforts to intentional collaboration for better student outcomes.Elliot shares a transformative example from the University of Rochester, where the Innovation Zone became a hub for student-driven projects. By focusing on connectivity across different campus departments, 35,000

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22:38

Exploring the Frustrations of College Search and...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/03/11

Sarah Holtan, PhD interviews Liane Crane, owner of The College Dollar, about the realities of college costs and the steps we can take to demystify them. With first-hand experience guiding her own children through college and assisting countless families, Liane's insights shine a light on the often murky world of college finance.Many parents and students face an uphill battle understanding college affordability. Liane highlights the need for clarity on scholarships, the muddle of financial aid

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36:25

Prioritizing Career Advancement of Students with...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/02/25

Join Sarah Holtan, PhD, as she sits down with Jackie Slaats, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Career Advancement at Lake Forest College. Jackie’s commitment to career readiness has transformed Lake Forest into a leader in integrating career services into college life. This episode is packed with strategies that can redefine how institutions prepare students for their future careers.Lake Forest boasts an impressive employment rate and has been ranked #1 for social mobility. What exactly

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30:09

Course Expenses Deter Student Success with Julia...

Get Down to College Business ·

2025/02/11

Sarah Holtan, PhD explores the hidden impact of course material expenses on student success with Julia Seaman, PhD, Director of Research, Bay View Analytics. Discover startling statistics and explore surprising insights into how these costs shape students’ academic journeys and choices.Course materials often play an invisible yet powerful role in higher education. Dr. Seaman’s research shows that these costs can drastically influence students’ ability to succeed academically, sometimes even

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