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PODCAST

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

Dustin Ramsdell

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

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All Episodes

00:32:26

Episode #304: Optimizing Tech Stacks to Elevate the...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/11/05

What happens when your institution has too many systems—and none of them talk to each other? In this episode, Dustin chats with Justin Beck, CEO of Gravyty, about how colleges and universities can stop tech creep from derailing the student experience. Drawing from his background at Apple, Blackboard, Salesforce, Instructure, and now Gravyty, Justin shares hard-earned insights on how schools can create a more connected, intuitive digital journey for students, staff, and alumni. From the power of

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00:20:52

Live at EDUCAUSE: Rethinking Readiness for Students...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/11/04

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin spoke with Ryan Lufkin, VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, about the current crossroads in higher ed, technology, and workforce readiness. The conversation touches on findings from the latest State of Learning and Readiness report, the real (and perceived) gaps in student skill preparedness, and why now is the time for institutions to embrace AI—not fear it. Ryan also offers a behind-the-scenes look at Canvas Career and

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00:18:53

Live at EDUCAUSE: The Secret to Scalable, Accessible...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/11/03

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin chats with Gaurav Bradoo from Logitech about how colleges and universities can embrace hardware innovation to enhance teaching and learning—without overcomplicating things. From lecture capture and audio solutions to flexible classroom design and accessibility, Gaurav shares Logitech’s approach to creating simple, scalable, and human-centered tech environments that meet students where they are—whether that’s in the classroom,

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00:16:54

Live at EDUCAUSE: Exploring the EDUCAUSE 2026 Top 10...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/31

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin sits down with Crista Copp and Mark McCormack from EDUCAUSE to unpack their just-released 2026 Top 10 List. From AI and digital literacy to resilience and community building, the conversation explores the critical shifts happening in higher ed technology. The theme? Intentionality and connection—both between people and across systems. This is the episode for campus leaders navigating change and looking for clarity amid

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00:21:40

Live at EDUCAUSE: Why Student-Centered Tech is the...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/30

In this bonus episode recorded live at EDUCAUSE in Nashville, Dustin has an energizing conversation with Jeff Dinski and Mike Wulff from Ellucian. They discuss the evolving role of technology in higher education—from designing intuitive student-first systems to closing the gap between academic credentials and real-world workforce needs. They unpack what it really takes to build agile, data-driven institutions, and highlight Ellucian’s latest innovations that aim to transform student outcomes.Guest

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00:22:01

Episode #303: Creating Learning That Sticks with...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/29

Stephen Laster, CEO of Panopto and a 25-year veteran in the edtech space, joins Dustin to talk about how smart technology—and especially AI—can elevate educators rather than overshadow them. From his early days pioneering blended MBA programs to leading at institutions like Harvard Business School and McGraw-Hill, Stephen shares how technology should be applied to serve pedagogy, not the other way around.In this episode, you'll hear why seamless digital ecosystems matter, how institutions can build

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00:16:01

Live from EdTech Week: Building Better Pathways for...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/27

In this bonus episode recorded live from EdTech Week 2025, Dustin chats with Matt Stinson, CRO at Starbridge. They discuss Matt’s journey to joining the team, and how their unique platform is enabling more efficient and effective partnerships to be forged between edtech companies and public institutions using AI.Guest Name: Matt Stinson - Chief Revenue Officer at StarbridgeGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Matt Stinson is currently building Starbridge, the GTM Intelligence Platform for businesses

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00:17:14

Live from EdTech Week: Why Creating More Immersive...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/24

In this bonus episode recorded live from EdTech Week 2025, Dustin chats with K. Rocco Shields, CEO of Genius Academy. They discuss the important work her and her team are doing partnering with institutions to create high quality, immersive learning content for a variety of disciplines. Rocco also shares a bit about her personal story that drives her work and underpins why it is so important.Guest Name: K. Rocco Shields - CEO at Genius AcademyGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: K. Rocco Shields, a

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00:30:17

Episode #302: How to Teach Creative Confidence in...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/22

What if innovation didn’t require a stroke of genius—just a willingness to be a little “-ish”? In this episode, Dustin chats with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden, co-authors of Innovation-ish, a new book that challenges the myths surrounding creativity and innovation. Drawing from years of teaching at Stanford and Harvard, Tessa and Rich share how higher ed pros can reframe innovation as accessible, iterative, and emotionally safe. This isn’t a startup pitch session—it’s a call to reclaim creativity

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00:28:51

Episode #301: Why Visibility Doesn’t Equal Trust in...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/15

We’re pleased to have Faton Sopa from Manaferra back on the show this week (listen to his previous episode!) to discuss the recent research his team produced that unpacks new details about student search behaviors. Faton shares why traditional SEO tactics are no longer cutting it—and what institutions must do instead to gain visibility, build trust, and drive enrollment. Spoiler: it's time to ditch the one-channel strategy and embrace an omnichannel mindset rooted in real student data.Guest Name:

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00:26:36

Episode #300: Driving a New Path Forward for Higher...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/08

In this milestone 300th episode, Sophie Nguyen, Senior Policy Manager at New America, joins Dustin to unpack the newest findings from the new 2025 Varying Degrees report — a data-rich look at how Americans view the role, value, and future of higher education. From surprising bipartisan agreement to the communication failures of institutions, this episode reveals what colleges need to know and do to rebuild public trust and deliver on their promise.This episode includes a sponsored question in

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00:05:39

Celebrating 300 Episodes of The Higher Ed Geek Podcast!

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/06

We’re popping into your feed with a very special bonus episode to commemorate 300 weekly episodes of the podcast. Dustin shares some brief notes of gratitude and reflections on the journey, as well as thoughts on the future of the show. Thank you to all our listeners, guests, and of course many thanks to the wonderful teams at Enrollify and Element451 for their support of the show.- - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast

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00:26:28

Episode #299: Reimagining Tutoring as a Student...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/10/01

Samyr Qureshi, Co-Founder and CEO of Knack, returns to the podcast to unpack how his team is reshaping peer tutoring into a powerful engine for student success and workforce readiness. With a tech-enabled, Uber-style platform, Knack empowers high-achieving students to tutor peers while building soft skills and resumes. Samyr and Dustin explore the evolution of tutoring in higher ed, the role of AI in academic support, and how innovative partnerships are driving equitable outcomes across the student

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00:30:01

Episode #298: How Accreditors Can Be Catalysts for...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/09/24

Dr. Maria Toyoda, newly appointed president of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), joins Dustin for a refreshingly candid conversation about the current and future state of accreditation in higher ed. She shares how accreditors can be powerful partners for institutional change, why student success—not compliance—is the true north, and what’s actually happening behind all the policy noise. From clarifying federal guidance to preparing for AI disruption, this episode offers a

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00:26:55

Episode #297: Reinventing a 175-Year-Old Institution...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/09/17

What do you do when your institution no longer needs acres of land and buildings? You sell it and build a more agile, student-centered future. In this episode, Dustin chats with Dr. Beth Martin, President of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), about the bold and forward-thinking decision to sell their historic campus and double down on serving adult learners. Beth shares what it takes to lead through transformation, why selling land can be a catalyst—not a collapse—and how other institutions

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00:34:45

Episode #296: How AI Can Optimize Marketing Attribution

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/09/10

In this episode, Dustin sits down with Mike Stratta, CEO of Arcaléa, to unpack how AI is reshaping marketing strategies across industries—and what that means for higher ed. From his frustrations with top-line-only marketing to developing a data-powered product called Galileo, Mike shares how higher ed institutions can finally move beyond assumptions and start measuring what really works. They also reflect on key takeaways from the eduWeb Summit, where curiosity, collaboration, and AI-driven

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00:35:59

Episode #295: How to Redesign and Optimize Course...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/09/03

What does it actually look like to teach with AI — and teach about it — in higher ed today? In this episode, Dustin chats with Dr. Evan Kropp, Executive Director of Distance Education at the University of Florida, about how AI is transforming course design, assessment strategies, and the student experience. Dr. Kropp offers practical examples and powerful insights on how institutions can embrace AI ethically, equitably, and intentionally.Guest Name: Dr. Evan Kropp, Executive Director of Distance

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00:33:01

Episode #294: Reimagining Student Assignments with AI...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/08/27

What if AI could make student writing more honest—not less? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Eric Wang, VP of AI at Turnitin, to talk about the launch of Turnitin Clarity: a new AI-powered document editor that helps students build critical thinking skills and helps educators better understand the process behind students’ assignment submissions. Eric unpacks the “why” behind Clarity, what makes it different from your typical chatbot, and how AI can actually strengthen student-teacher trust

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00:36:00

Episode #293: How Institutions Can Turn Parents into...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Amy Swank, Executive Director of Parent and Family Programs at the University of Oregon, joins Dustin to unpack the transformative potential of family engagement in higher ed. Drawing on two decades of experience and her work with CampusESP and AHEPPP, Amy shares how institutions can strategically cultivate meaningful, lifelong relationships with parents and families—not just for student support, but to boost philanthropy, increase retention, and foster belonging.Guest Name: Amy Swank - Executive

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00:21:01

Episode #292: Redefining Tech Support for the Modern...

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast ·

2025/08/13

Tech support isn’t sexy—but it might be the most important thing your institution isn’t thinking enough about. In this episode, Dustin welcomes Christopher Schmidt, Global Director for Client Support at Transact, to unpack why support systems are breaking under pressure and what higher ed needs to do about it. With deep experience in both the military and campus technology, Chris shares a grounded, urgent perspective on how institutions can scale smarter, retain institutional knowledge, and build

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