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PODCAST

Engaged By Design

Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Vernon Smith

Exploring innovation trends in learning, design, leadership, and change management in higher education. Experienced, successful leaders who have been there, done that, and own the t-shirt share perspectives and lessons learned from more than two decades of online learning and student success. Other Podcast Providers: Amazon: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Engaged-By-Design/B0DB9GZV7F?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp iHeartRadio:

education how to

All Episodes

23:40

The ABC's of Murmuration - Getting to "US" with Kathy...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/04/07

What can leaders learn from the natural world?In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith continue their conversation with Dr. Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham, co-authors of The ABCs of Murmuration: Collective Wisdom of Nature. Building on the concept of Flock Logic, the conversation explores how leaders and organizations can adapt, move together, and learn from the rhythms of nature. Kathy and Robin introduce the idea of “walking in a new way” —

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38:53

The Human Side of Innovation: Humans and Environment...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/03/31

In this episode, Michael and Vernon continue their conversation with Dr. Ira Lovitch as they explore the final two elements of his Five M’s framework for innovation.While technology and processes matter, Ira argues that lasting innovation ultimately comes down to people and the environments in which they work and learn. The conversation highlights how leadership, culture, and care for students shape meaningful progress in higher education. Show Notes In this episode we discuss: The Human

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36:17

Innovation in Higher Education- Measurement, Methods,...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/03/24

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael and Vernon welcome Dr. Ira Lovitch, an experienced business faculty member and longtime educator in online higher education. Ira introduces his Five M’s framework for innovation, a model that helps leaders understand how change happens inside organizations. In this first part of the conversation, the discussion focuses on the first three elements of the model: Measurement Methods Machines Together, they explore how institutions

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26:51

Andrea Dunn: OER, AI, and the Human Side of Change in...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/03/17

Episode DescriptionIn Part 2 of this conversation on the Engaged By Design Podcast, Dr. Michael Cottam continues his discussion with Andrea Dunn, focusing on the evolving landscape of Open Educational Resources, generative AI, and change leadership in higher education. Andrea reflects on how institutions are responding to rising costs, emerging technologies, and shifting learner expectations—and why successful change requires more than new tools. From AI-supported workflows to small but

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32:24

Andrea Dunn: Leading Change Through Course Materials...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/03/10

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Dr. Michael Cottam is joined by Andrea Dunn, a strategic technology and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large-scale initiatives in higher education. Andrea shares behind-the-scenes insights from her work leading enterprise course materials and Open Educational Resource (OER) initiatives at scale—impacting tens of thousands of learners. Together, we explore what it really takes to implement

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32:31

Dr. Christina Dryden: Leading Change from the Middle...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/03/03

Episode DescriptionWhat does it really take to lead change from the middle of an institution? In Part 2 of this conversation, Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Christina Dryden explore leadership, trust-building, and the realities of managing change across complex higher education organizations. The discussion then turns to AI—how instructional design, assessment, and faculty roles are evolving, and why keeping humans in the loop matters more than ever. This episode offers practical wisdom for

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38:29

Dr. Christina Dryden: Helping Students Choose College...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/02/24

Episode DescriptionHow do students really choose a college—and what do families often overlook? In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Christina Dryden explore how students make college decisions, what criteria matter most to them, and why the true value of higher education goes far beyond rankings and prestige. Drawing from Christina’s experience as a Vice Provost, assessment leader, and parent, this episode examines college choice through a human lens—focusing on

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44:09

Dr. Kate Smith: Workforce Futures, AI, and the Next...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/02/17

Episode Description In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Kate Smith, we turn our focus to the future of learning, workforce development, and artificial intelligence in higher education. Kate shares how Rio Salado College is partnering with national employers, emerging industries, and workforce organizations to create flexible, skills-based pathways for learners across the country. We explore partnerships with Guild Education, Walgreens, and a 3D concrete-printing company reshaping

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29:24

Dr. Kate Smith: Culture, Leadership & Innovation at...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/02/10

Episode DescriptionIn Part 1 of our conversation, we sit down with Dr. Kate Smith, President of Rio Salado College, to explore how culture, empathy, and innovation shape sustainable leadership in higher education. Kate shares her personal leadership journey—from completing an Ironman to stepping into the presidency at a pivotal moment—and reflects on what it takes to intentionally steward culture over time. We discuss Rio Salado’s long-standing commitment to innovation, the Four Practices

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42:28

Dr. Tom Lombardo: Wisdom, Agency, and Co-Creating the...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/02/03

Episode Description: In the final episode of this series, Dr. Tom Lombardo challenges us to see the future as a shared act of creation. Wisdom, agency, and responsibility—at both individual and collective levels—are essential to shaping what comes next. Key Topics: - The future as participatory, not predetermined - Wisdom as future-directed action - Individual and collective agency - Nurturing the future through conscious choiceFind Dr. Lombardo's work on his website

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34:07

Dr. Tom Lombardo: Science Fiction, Myth, and the Present

Engaged By Design ·

2026/01/27

Episode Description: In part two, Dr. Tom Lombardo explores science fiction as more than entertainment—it is the evolutionary mythology of the future. This conversation examines how stories shape our imagination, reflect cultural values, and expand our understanding of what humanity could become. Key Topics: - Science fiction as modern mythology - Stories as tools for ethical and future thinking - Cultural reflection through science fiction - Utopian and dystopian visions Find Dr

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66:17

Dr. Tom Lombardo: The Past, Character, and...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/01/20

Episode Description: In part one of this three-part series, Dr. Tom Lombardo reflects on the experiences that shaped his lifelong curiosity about time, history, and the future. From childhood fascinations with dinosaurs and the Civil War to formative lessons learned through weightlifting, mentorship, and education, Tom explores how character, discipline, and imagination form the foundation for wisdom. Key Topics: - Learning from the past to understand the present - Mentorship and finding

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27:52

Flock Logic & Leaderful Teams | Step Up, Step Back,...

Engaged By Design ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, we welcome back Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham, co-authors of The ABCs of Murmuration.Together, we explore Flock Logic—a powerful nature-inspired framework drawn from the mesmerizing behavior of starlings—and how it applies to leadership, teamwork, and learning organizations. You’ll discover: Why high-functioning groups don’t need a single leader to move together The three natural principles behind murmuration: alignment, separation, and

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45:43

Happy Now? Becoming Happy Now with Dr. Sylvia Nemmers...

Engaged By Design ·

2025/12/30

Podcast: Engaged By Design Episode: Part 3 — Becoming Happy Now Guest: Dr. Sylvia Nemmers — scientist, educator, department chair, survivor, and author of Happy Now.Episode Summary In this powerful final chapter of her story, Dr. Sylvia Nemmers discusses what it means to truly know yourself, especially after life has shaken the identity you’ve relied on. She describes the quiet courage of rebuilding life after an abusive marriage, the freedom and grounding she found living alone by the

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27:02

Happy Now? Faith, Culture, and Courage with Dr....

Engaged By Design ·

2025/12/23

Podcast: Engaged By Design Episode: Part 2 — Faith, Culture & Courage Abroad Guest: Dr. Sylvia Nemmers — scientist, educator, world traveler, multilingual mother, and author of Happy Now.Episode Summary In this second installment of our three-part conversation, Dr. Sylvia Nemmers takes us around the globe—Pakistan, Jordan, Greece, and beyond—to explore what happens when identity, faith, disability, and culture intersect. She shares how falling in love with a Pakistani student reshaped

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48:14

Happy Now? Authenticity & Resilience with Dr. Sylvia...

Engaged By Design ·

2025/12/16

Podcast: Engaged By Design Episode: Part 1 — Authenticity & Resilience Guest: Dr. Sylvia Nemmers — scientist, educator, and author of Happy Now: Shattering the Myth of Happily Ever AfterEpisode Summary From childhood blindness to becoming a scientist and department chair, Sylvia traces how authenticity, curiosity, and courageous mentors shaped her leadership. She shares her early life in an institution for the blind, the hard pivot to a mainstream Catholic school, and the creative lab

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39:52

AI and Copyright: A conversation with Rachel Sweeney

Engaged By Design ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael and Vernon sit down with Rachel Sweeney, Scholarly Communications Librarian at Bucknell University, for a deep and candid conversation about how generative AI is reshaping scholarship, copyright, authorship, and trust in academic knowledge.Drawing on her background in documentary filmmaking, copyright, and publishing, Rachel explains why the scholarly record is so difficult to define—and why generative AI poses such a profound

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27:15

Live From the OLC Conference: Innovation, AI...

Engaged By Design ·

2025/12/02

Episode SummaryIn this special conference edition of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael and Vernon bring listeners directly into the heart of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) conference exhibit hall. This episode blends thoughtful narration with real, unedited booth-floor audio conversations between the Engaged By Design team. You’ll hear Michael and Vernon reflect on conference attendance, the uncertainty of today’s VUCA higher education climate, and the overwhelming presence of

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41:41

The Power of ME in Murmuration: Awareness, Beliefs,...

Engaged By Design ·

2025/11/25

Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham return to explore the “ME” in their ABCs of Murmuration framework—where awareness, beliefs, and connection lay the foundation for leaderful collaboration.In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Dr. Vernon Smith and Dr. Michael Cottam welcome back Dr. Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham, authors of The ABCs of Murmuration. They unpack the “ME” in their leadership framework—showing how awareness, beliefs, and connection create the foundation for authentic

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29:02

Storytelling and Leadership – Lessons from The...

Engaged By Design ·

2025/11/18

In Part Two of their conversation with Dr. Guieswende Rouamba, Michael and Vernon explore how storytelling brings project management to life.Guieswende introduces us to Bob and George — two characters who illustrate resilience, resistance, and the power of leading without a title. Together, they discuss how story helps us make meaning, navigate change, and see ourselves in the leadership journey. A must-listen for instructional designers, educators, and anyone who leads from the

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