What if international student success wasn’t treated as a standalone service—but as an integrated part of academic advising, career development, and community-building?

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, we sit down with two campus leaders who did exactly that—transforming international student support from a transactional process into a holistic, measurable, and deeply human success model.

You’ll hear how Syracuse University created a first-of-its-kind role dedicated solely to international student success, embedded directly within academic advising. You’ll learn why traditional silos fail international students, how career development must begin in the very first semester, and why peer mentoring is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost retention strategies available.

This conversation goes beyond theory. Our guests share:

• How they rebuilt international support from scratch using five strategic pillars

• Why integrating academic and career advising dramatically improves retention

• How AI tools are now scaling resume development and mock interviews

• What international students really worry about before arriving on campus

• How communication platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat changed engagement

• Why not all 4.0 students make the best mentors—and what really does

• How advising can function as teaching, with real learning outcomes

• What low-budget campuses can implement immediately

• And how data—not anecdotes—must guide retention strategy

For institutional leaders navigating enrollment pressures, global recruitment, staff burnout, and student disengagement, this episode offers a replicable roadmap grounded in results—not buzzwords.

Whether you lead Student Affairs, International Programs, Academic Advising, HR, Institutional Research, or Enrollment Strategy, this episode provides a practical blueprint for building belonging at scale.

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, our hosts sit down with Gabriel Reif, PhD, vice president of research and evaluation for Viewfinder®Campus Climate Surveys, and a leading expert in institutional research, to explore the essential—but often overlooked—role of campus climate surveys in higher education.

The conversation dives deep into how strategic survey design and implementation can illuminate campus climate, support equity efforts, and inform major institutional decisions. Dr. Reif emphasizes the importance of intentionality in survey research, offering insight into how well-executed data collection can catalyze real change. From overcoming survey fatigue to increasing response rates, the episode offers practical strategies for improving data quality and building a culture of continuous feedback.

Key Takeaways:

• Data-driven decision-making is vital to effective leadership.

• Survey data must be acted upon to improve outcomes and resource allocation.

• Less is more: streamline and prioritize impactful surveys.

• Many colleges miss student retention signals due to a lack of data.

• Declining response rates require new approaches to campus engagement.

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, Katy Abrams and Misty Evans discuss the Foster Success Program at Utah Valley University with Wendy Simmerman. The program aims to support foster youth in their transition to higher education by providing a comprehensive network of resources and trauma-informed training for faculty and staff.

Wendy shares her personal experiences as a foster parent and the challenges faced by foster youth, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment that addresses their unique needs. The conversation highlights the significance of trauma-informed pedagogy and the role of mentorship in fostering success for these vulnerable students.

This conversation explores the significance of trauma-informed pedagogy in education, emphasizing the need for faculty to understand and support students' individual experiences. The discussion highlights innovative approaches to student engagement, such as the Know Your Students app at UC Davis, which fosters connections between students and faculty. The importance of empowering students to share their stories and the creation of supportive environments for faculty are also discussed. Finally, future initiatives aimed at enhancing student success, particularly for those from foster care and other marginalized backgrounds, are outlined.

Takeaways:

• Foster youth face unique challenges in higher education.
• Building a support network is crucial for the success of foster students.
• Trauma impacts learning and brain development.
• Training faculty and staff is essential for effective support.
• The program aims to connect students with resources across campus.

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, hosts Katy Abrams and Misty Evans engage with Domenico Grasso, Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, discussing the importance of storytelling in promoting inclusive excellence within higher education. Grasso shares his journey in academia, the integration of storytelling into university programs, and the establishment of the Office of Holistic Excellence.

The conversation highlights the transformative power of storytelling in building empathy and community among students and faculty. In this conversation, Katy Abrams and Misty engage with Domenico Grasso on the importance of personalizing inclusion, belonging, and access, emphasizing the significance of community building and its direct impact on student success. The conversation also touches on the importance of measuring belonging and mental health and practical steps institutions can take to foster inclusive excellence.

Key Takeaways:

• Personal narratives help students reflect on their identities.

• Empathy is developed through shared experiences.

• Curiosity about others enhances community engagement.

• Storytelling can bridge the gap between disciplines.

• Communication skills are essential in STEM fields.

Transcript, blog post, and more show notes on the website.

After the murder of George Floyd, the faculty at Penn State Dickinson Law knew they couldn’t stay silent—they had to act. Out of empathy, action, and collaboration, the Anti-Racist Development Institute (ADI) was born.

In this powerful episode, Dean Danielle Conway and the ADI team join Beyond the Quadcast to share how a backyard conversation turned into a national model for anti-racist legal education. With over 180 contributors and a nine-volume book series in the works, they’re not just talking about change—they’re building it.

Hear how empathy, systems design, and critical pedagogy are reshaping the law—and society.

Don’t miss the reading list, transcript, and links to upcoming convenings in the blog post.

In this episode, we sit down with Ome Ogbru, PharmD, CEO and founder of AINGENS, to discuss how AI is revolutionizing research, writing, and scientific content creation. Dr. Ogbru shares how his company’s flagship tool, MacG (Medical Affairs Content Generator), is streamlining the way professionals, academics, and students access and organize scientific knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

How AI can enhance research, citation management, and content creation

The origin story of MACG and how it’s transforming academia

AI’s role in bridging knowledge gaps for students and researchers

Future innovations in AI-powered education and life sciences

Resources & Links:

🔗 Try MacG with a free trial: Aingens.com/MACG

🔗 Connect with Ome Ogbru on LinkedIn

🔗 Learn more about Insight Into Diversity

Stay connected:

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🎙 Hosts: Katy Abrams & Misty Evans

🎧 Producers: Dan Hecke, Katy Abrams, Misty Evans

📍 A Potomac Publishing Podcast

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, hosts Katy Abrams and Misty Evans sit down with Scott Raecker, Executive Director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center & Co-Executive Director of the Olson Institute for Public Democracy at Drake University, to discuss the transformative power of character development, ethical leadership, and civility in higher education. Scott shares insights on the Character Counts framework, the importance of modeling ethical behavior, and how institutions can foster a culture of responsible global citizenship.

From reducing disciplinary issues in K-12 education to promoting constructive dialogue and leadership skills in higher education, this conversation explores actionable strategies that can be implemented across campuses to shape engaged and ethical student leaders.

Key Takeaways:

The Character Counts Framework & the Six Pillars of CharacterCreating a culture of civility and ethical leadership in universities

The role of faculty and administration in modeling character and respect

The CHAMP Framework for effective communication and conflict resolution

How Praise and Polish can be used to provide constructive feedback

Real-world applications: character education in workplaces, government, and communities

Practical steps institutions can take to integrate character development into their mission

Resources:

🔗 Character Counts Framework & Resourcescharactercounts.org

🔗 Kindness 101 Initiative (CBS News & Steve Hartman)cbsnews.com/feature/kindness-101-steve-hartman/

🔗 Drake University’s Ray Center & Olson Institute for Public Democracyraycenter.drake.edu/

🔗 The Big Sort by Bill Bishop – A must-read on societal polarization

Join the Conversation! Have thoughts on today’s episode? Let’s keep the discussion going! Join our Beyond the Quad newsletter & forum to connect with higher ed experts and share your insights.

Follow & Subscribe Never miss an episode! Follow Beyond the Quadcast on:🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

🎙 Hosts: Katy Abrams & Misty Evans

🎧 Producers: Dan Hecke, Katy Abrams, Misty Evans

📍 A Potomac Publishing Podcast

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, we sit down with Andriel Dees, Vice President for Executive Search at Greenwood Asher & Associates and the newest columnist for Insight Into Diversity with her upcoming feature, Ask a Recruiter. With decades of experience as a Chief Diversity Officer and a background in employment law, Andriel brings a unique perspective on how human resources professionals can align hiring strategies with institutional goals, foster an inclusive workplace, and adapt to the evolving challenges of higher education.

From diversity-driven hiring practices to the importance of institutional storytelling, Andriel discusses why HR is more than just hiring and firing—it's about shaping the very culture and success of a university.

Key Takeaways:

Andriel’s career journey from Chief Diversity Officer to executive recruiter

The evolution of HR roles and their impact on shaping university culture

How human resources leaders can drive inclusive hiring and improve retention

The growing importance of stay interviews over exit interviews

Strategies to reduce burnout and create a thriving work environment

The role of storytelling in institutional onboarding and culture-building

How AI and technology are shaping the future of HR in higher education

📢 Stay connected!

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