This week, Salli Carter sits down with Michelle Aarons, Executive Director of Programs & Partnerships at the School of Continuing Studies at York University, to explore how continuing education is shaping the future of higher education and why it deserves a central role in university strategy. Together, they unpack the unique power of adult learning, applied education, and transformational teaching, drawing from their own experiences as career-focused women who both recently completed their MMIE at Smith School of Business! Michelle shares how combining learning theory with hands-on application and collaborative learning environments creates lasting impact for adult learners.

The conversation also dives into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in education, examining how educators and institutions can integrate AI without losing the human, relational, and experiential aspects of learning that make education truly transformative. Michelle reflects on her TED Talk, List or Limits, ( watch here: https://youtu.be/zOiwEI1mdcI?si=b5_Qv8DlcTUHwq67) and her philosophy of “Brilliantly Boundless” thinking, offering powerful insights on leadership, curiosity, and building learning environments that unlock potential rather than constrain it. 

This episode is essential listening for higher education leaders, continuing education professionals, instructional designers, and educators who want to rethink what learning can look like, and how to design programs that truly make it stick. 

Time Stamps 

00:00 Intro 

02:00 Michelle's Journey in Continuing Education Leadership 

05:30 The Impact of Continuing Education 

10:15 What Working Professionals Bring to the Higher Ed Space 

18:00 AI and Building Higher Ed Programs 

24:00 Brillantly Boundless Thinking - Michelle's TedTalk 

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