Engaged By Design

In part two of our conversation with President Bruce Kusch of Ensign College, we explore Ensign College’s groundbreaking move to three-year bachelor’s degrees and what that means for the future of higher education.

President Kusch discusses accreditation challenges, workforce alignment, vocational education, AI disruption, and why colleges must rethink how they prepare students for meaningful careers. We also discuss leadership longevity, institutional alignment, and how mission clarity enables innovation.

This episode is especially relevant for higher education leaders navigating rapid technological and workforce change.

Key Topics

• The development of three-year bachelor’s degrees
• Accreditation and innovation challenges
• Workforce alignment and career readiness
• AI and the future of employment
• Vocational education and skilled trades
• Scaling online education globally
• Leadership, timing, and institutional change
• The difference between being a student and being a learner

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

In part one of our conversation with President Bruce Kusch of Ensign College, we explore the remarkable transformation of the institution formerly known as LDS Business College into a global, applied-learning institution serving students in more than 100 countries.

President Kusch shares the story behind the Ensign College mission statement, the institution’s close partnership with BYU-Pathway Worldwide, and the leadership principles that guided rapid innovation and growth. We also discuss practitioner faculty, workforce alignment, student employability, and the importance of building “capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ.”

This episode offers valuable insights for higher education leaders, instructional designers, and anyone interested in mission-driven institutional change.

Key Topics

• Student-run learning environments and Studio E
• Applied learning and workforce preparation
• The evolution from LDS Business College to Ensign College
• The influence of prophetic vision and institutional mission
• Building strong partnerships with industry
• Practitioner faculty and real-world curriculum
• Hiring for mission fit and organizational alignment
• Lessons learned from institutional transformation

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

From gatekeeping to door-opening—and how to truly engage learners.

In part two, Kelvin Thompson shifts the conversation from strategy to practice—exploring what it really takes to engage learners in today’s complex educational landscape. From rethinking faculty roles as “door openers” to scaling impact across institutions, Kelvin highlights the power of human connection as the foundation of effective teaching.

We also unpack lessons from 200+ podcast episodes, the lasting effects of pandemic learning, and why humanizing education is both a moral imperative and a competitive advantage.

Key Takeaways:

• Why faculty should move from gatekeepers to facilitators of access
• The importance of students feeling “seen” in the learning experience
• How to scale teaching and learning support beyond the “usual suspects”
• Why technology works best as an amplifier of human connection

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

In part one of our conversation with Kelvin Thompson, we explore the deeper purpose behind online learning and digital innovation in higher education. Kelvin shares his journey from K–12 to national leadership in online learning, along with powerful insights on why teaching should be viewed as a core student success intervention.

We also dive into how online learning makes teaching more visible—and therefore more improvable—and what that means for faculty, institutions, and the future of learning. Along the way, we tackle the growing influence of generative AI and why human connection still sits at the center of meaningful education.

Key Takeaways:

• Why teaching is one of the most powerful levers for student success
• How online learning reveals what’s really happening in course design
• The evolving role of AI as a “thought partner” in education
• Why human engagement matters more—not less—in a digital world

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in higher education, institutions are facing new questions about governance, academic integrity, and strategic implementation.

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith continue their conversation with Heather Pelkie, who leads AI initiatives at West Coast University and serves as an Assistant Professor of Communication.

Heather explains how her institution is building an AI walled garden to create a safe, governed space for experimentation, innovation, and productivity gains. She also shares why governance, policy, human oversight, and intentional design are essential if colleges and universities want to use AI responsibly.

The conversation explores the future of AI in teaching and learning, the limits of AI detection tools, the importance of AI fluency, and what it really means to keep humans at the center of educational innovation.

This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation on AI, learning design, and the future of higher education.

Key Topics Discussed

• Academic integrity in an AI-driven world
• Why institutions need an AI governance structure
• The purpose of an AI walled garden
• Human-in-the-loop design for higher-risk AI workflows
• Managing permissions, risk, and responsible experimentation
• Why AI detection tools are still unreliable
• Reframing assessment design for an AI-rich future
• AI as part of the future architecture of education
• How to engage learners more effectively in times of rapid change

Heather Pelkie -  https://heatherpelkie.com  

West Coast University - https://www.westcoastuniversity.edu

Engaged By Design - https://www.engagedbydesign.com

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping higher education and the workforce our students are entering. The question for institutions is no longer whether to engage with AI—but whether they will do so intentionally.

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith talk with Heather Pelkie, who leads AI initiatives at West Coast University and serves as an Assistant Professor of Communication.

Heather shares how her work sits at the intersection of AI innovation, learning design, and organizational strategy. She discusses how institutions can move beyond reactive experimentation toward thoughtful implementation that prepares students to work alongside AI systems.

The conversation explores the rapid pace of technological change, the importance of keeping humans at the center of AI use, and new ways educators can design experiential learning using AI-powered simulations and interactive tools.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation exploring how higher education can lead the AI transformation rather than lag behind it.

Key Topics Discussed

• The intersection of AI, higher education, and workforce readiness
• Why higher education is at an inflection point with AI
• Moving from reactive AI experimentation to intentional strategy
• The accelerating pace of AI change and how leaders stay informed
• Keeping the human in the loop when using AI tools
• Using the “How Might We” innovation question to unlock new possibilities
• Designing experiential learning with AI simulations and agents
• Preparing graduates for an AI-integrated workforce

West Coast University - https://www.westcoastuniversity.edu

Engaged By Design - https://www.engagedbydesign.com

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

In this final installment of their conversation with Dr. Kate Zatz, Michael Cottam and Vernon Smith explore one of the most difficult and urgent topics facing higher education today: antisemitism on college campuses and the responsibility of institutional leaders to respond with integrity and wisdom.

Kate begins by sharing personal background about her family, her children’s Jewish upbringing, and the way these issues became very real through her son’s experiences as a student. She recounts troubling incidents of antisemitism at the University of Vermont and reflects on the role that advocacy organizations, student organizing, and federal Title VI complaints have played in pushing institutions to respond.

The conversation then moves into a larger leadership discussion. Kate argues that many higher education leaders are not adequately prepared for the complexity of the institutions they are asked to lead. She raises important questions about leadership pipelines, institutional memory, and the loss of knowledge continuity in higher education.

Vernon and Michael invite Kate to reflect on what gives her hope in the face of these challenges. Her answer points not to grand systems alone, but to the everyday work of raising thoughtful children, mentoring emerging leaders, continuing to learn, and choosing to keep going even after setbacks.

The episode closes with a fitting reflection on Kate’s legacy: not only the thousands of students whose diplomas bear her signature, but the many leaders she has encouraged, mentored, and helped prepare for the work ahead.

This final conversation is both sobering and hopeful—a reminder that higher education leadership requires courage, memory, compassion, and a deep commitment to people.

Key Topics Covered

• Kate Zatz’s family story and Jewish identity
• Antisemitism on college campuses
• Student advocacy and Title VI complaints
• The role of the Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus
• Leadership responsibility in moments of crisis
• Why institutional policies and practices matter
• Knowledge continuity and institutional memory in higher education
• Concerns about leadership preparation and presidential pipelines
• The importance of history, learning, and moral awareness
• Mentorship, hope, and legacy in a life of service

Key Resources for this Episode

Brandeis Center - https://brandeiscenter.com

Jewish on Campus - https://www.jewishoncampus.org

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

In part two, the conversation turns to artificial intelligence and its impact on higher education. Kate shares her experiences teaching during the rapid rise of AI tools and discusses the challenges they create for assessment, academic integrity, and course design.

The discussion also explores how educators can respond by designing meaningful learning experiences that emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving.

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

In part one of this conversation, Dr. Kate Zatz shares the personal story that shaped her commitment to students and higher education. From her journey as a first-generation college student to her leadership roles across multiple institutions, Kate reflects on mentorship, student involvement, and the importance of belonging in higher education.

She also discusses her decades of work with the Girl Scouts and why leadership development and community support matter more than ever for young people today.

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education

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” — shifting how we think about leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Through stories, research, and practical insights, they show how collective movement, shared rhythm, and distributed leadership can help organizations navigate complexity and change.

If you work in education, leadership, or organizational development, this episode will challenge you to rethink how groups move, learn, and evolve together.

Extended Show Notes

Nature offers powerful lessons for leadership — especially when we observe how complex systems move and adapt together.

In this episode, Michael and Vernon welcome back Dr. Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham, authors of The ABCs of Murmuration: Collective Wisdom of Nature. Their work explores how patterns found in nature — particularly bird murmurations — reveal powerful insights about collaboration, adaptability, and collective intelligence.

During the conversation, they explore:

• What murmuration can teach us about collective leadership
• The concept of Flock Logic and shared rhythm in organizations
• Why leadership today requires movement rather than control
• How organizations can adapt by “walking in a new way”
• The power of distributed leadership and emergent collaboration
• Lessons from nature that apply to education, innovation, and change

Rather than relying on rigid hierarchies, effective organizations learn to move like living systems — sensing, adapting, and responding together.

For leaders navigating uncertainty, these ideas provide a fresh lens for understanding how people and organizations can thrive in complex environments.

Join us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more about

• The Course Design Accelerator 
• Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education