In Season 2, Episode 4 of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we’re discussing Seton Hall’s new Innovation Hub—a collaborative environment designed to inspire creativity, experimentation, and new approaches to teaching and learning. With its wide variety of tools—from Cricut to 3D printing and more—podcast booths, collaborative spaces, STEM applications, and just-in-time learning resources, the Innovation Hub will have something to interest everyone.

We’ll have a group conversation with Mike Soupios, Executive Director of the TLTC, Renee Cicchino, Director of Instructional Design and Training, Chris Petruzzi, Director of Design and Digital Media, John Fernandes, Senior Director of IT Service Management, and Scott Bergenfeld, Trainer and Makerspace Coordinator. Together, they’ll share the vision behind the space, how it will serve our campus community, and what it means for the future of innovation at Seton Hall.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Innovate and Educate, coming the last Thursday in February

Group Conversation [01:08-28:19]

Episode Wrap-up [28:19-29:23]

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website 

Episode Summary: In Season 2, Episode 3 of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we explore how higher education can empower students to connect their learning with meaningful career pathways. For National Career Development Month, we ask an important question: “How can colleges and universities better support students as they prepare for life after graduation?” 

Join us as Jorge Rivera, Director of Career Services at Seton Hall’s South Orange campus, and Jacqueline Pirone, Assistant Dean of Seton Hall Law’s Office of Career Services (OCS), share their perspectives on mentoring, transferable skills, and the evolving needs of today’s workforce. They offer practical guidance for faculty, staff, and students seeking to bridge the gap between academic experiences and professional success. 

Stay tuned for the next episode of Innovate and Educate, coming the fourth Thursday in January! 

Jorge Rivera, Director of Career Services on the South Orange campus [00:40-12:56] 

Jacqueline Pirone, Assistant Dean of Seton Hall Law’s Office of Career Services [12:56-26:28] 

Episode Wrap-up [26:28- 27:15] 

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website  

Episode Summary: In Season 2, Episode 2 of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we explore why keeping your data safe is more important than ever. For Cybersecurity month, we discuss the question: “Why is protecting your data so important, and what practical steps can faculty, staff, and students take to keep their information safe?”

Listen as Chris Richardson, Security Analyst at Seton Hall, talks about the hidden risks of data breaches and the role of cybersecurity in academic life. He will also give practical strategies that all of us—faculty, staff, and students—can use to protect our personal and professional information.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Innovate and Educate, coming the fourth Thursday in November!

Chris Richardson, Security Analyst [00:55-23:03]

Episode Wrap-up [23:04- 24:00]

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website 

In Season 2, Episode 1 of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we explore faculty responses to the question: “In an age where course materials are freely available online, test banks circulate widely, and generative AI tools reshape how students access knowledge—how do we design assignments that genuinely foster learning?”

Listen as Rachel Fikslin, Ph.D., Lecturer in Psychology, talks about how she designs assessments to keep students motivated and to encourage them to bring their whole selves into their work. We will also hear from Meghan Caulfield, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, who will highlight the importance of authenticity to create student engagement while completing assignments. Finally, Sara Fieldston, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of History, will discuss the documentary film project and New York City blog she asks her students to develop, teaching her students real-world skills in a new way.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Innovate and Educate, coming the fourth Thursday in October!

Rachel Fikslin, Ph.D., Lecturer in Psychology [02:31-09:21

Meghan Caulfield, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology [09:25-14:31] 

Sara Fieldston, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of History, [14:36-21:02]

Episode Wrap-up [21:03-22:04] 

Meghan Caulfield, Ph.D.:  Contact Information

Sara Fieldston, Ph.D.: Contact Information

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website 

In Episode Eight of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we begin our exploration of faculty responses to the question: “How is AI transforming workplace expectations, and what skills should college graduates develop to stay competitive?”

Listen as Renee Robinson, Ph.D., Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication, Media and the Arts, explores the potential impact of AI on various industries – from public relations to its role in the art world.  She’ll discuss ethical considerations such as privacy, bias, and using AI responsibly.  We will also hear from Jack Shannon, J.D., Professor of Legal Studies at the Stillman School of Business, who will highlight the importance of teaching students to use Gen AI appropriately and ethically to prepare them for success in the rapidly evolving workplace, as well as discuss some areas of concern when using AI, such as privacy and data security.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Innovate and Educate, coming in Fall 2025!

Renee Robinson, Ph.D. Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication, Media and the Arts [1:10-12:50]

Jack Shannon, J.D. Professor of Legal Studies at the Stillman School of Business [12:51-22:33] 

Episode Wrap-up [22:34-23:01] 

Jack Shannon, J.D.: Contact Information  

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website 

In Episode Seven of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we begin our exploration of faculty responses to the question: “How can we implement responsible AI use in the classroom while ensuring equity, transparency, and student success?” Listen as Ruchin Kansal, MBA, Professor of Practice at the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies and a Visiting Instructor at the Stillman School of Business, talks about the ethical use of AI in the classroom to help students become problem solvers, critical thinkers and communicators. We will also hear from Dongdong Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Asian Studies, as she discusses the use of AI to help students with foreign language learning and in their future studies and career development. Finally, we will hear from Viswa Viswanathan, Ph.D., Professor of Computing Sciences, as he tells us about the impact AI is having on education, including the potential to enhance learning and provide personalized learning experiences, but also the ethical considerations it raises around cheating. 

Next month, we will continue the two-part series, this time focusing on how AI Skills apply to the modern workforce.  We’ll explore questions on how AI is impacting workplace expectations and even changing specific job roles. We’ll consider ethical concerns when using AI in professional settings and how students can prepare for those challenges.   

Professor Ruchin Kansal, Department of Management [1:29-6:42]

Dr. Dongdong Chen, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures [6:43-11:06] 

Dr. Viswa Viswanathan: Department of Computer and Decision Sciences [11:07-17:50] 

Episode Wrap-up [17:51-18:17] 

Dr. Dongdong Chen: Contact Information  

Dr. Viswa Viswanathan: Contact information 

Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website 

In Episode Six of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we finish our exploration of administrator and faculty answers to the question: “How can EdTech help faculty empower students to create content while supporting accessibility initiatives?” Listen to Christine Lhowe, M.F.A., Associate Professor of Art & Design, as she explains how accessibility plays a role in creating teaching students to web design and user experiences communicate to populations with varied abilities. We will also hear from Lauren McFadden, Ed.D., who  talks about supporting future primary and secondary school teachers in preparing to meet the needs of all learners

Next month, we will begin a series, focusing on artificial intelligence. These concepts create new pathways for learning.

Christine Lhowe: Associate Professor of Design and Assistant Department Chair of Programmatic and Curriculum Innovation [00:55-10:06] 

Dr. Lauren McFadden: Associate Professor of Elementary and Special Education [10:07-21:07] 

Kate Sierra, Instructional Designer, and Ann Oro, Senior Instructional Designer [21:08-26:25]

Episode Wrap-up [26:26-26:55] 

Dr. Lauren McFadden: Faculty Profile 

Christine Lhowe: Faculty Profile 

Episode Homepage & Contact Info 

Episode Summary: In Episode Five of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we continue our exploration of faculty answers to the question: “What EdTech can faculty use to create accessible content and support student success?” Listen as Susan Nolan, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Psychology, talks about the ways that DSS and faculty support all students in accommodating varied learning needs and the use of microphones in a large classroom. We will also hear from Wendiann Sethi, Ph.D., Senior Faculty Associate and Director of Developmental Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as she talks about communicating, streamlining and chunking content. Finally, we will talk with Wyatt Murphy, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as he shares how to support all learners as they develop their scientific writing skills and providing context to scientific images and video.

Next month, we will finish the three-part series, this time focusing on how faculty help students prepare for their future work lives by learning about accessibility and universal design for learning principles.

Dr. Susan Nolan: Department of Psychology [1:26-7:13]

Dr. Wendiann Sethi: Director of Developmental Mathematics [7:14-17:16]

Dr. Wyatt Murphy: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry [17:17-23:42]

Episode Wrap-up [23:43-24:10]

Dr. Wendiann Sethi: Contact Information  

Dr. Wyatt Murphy: Contact information 

Seton Hall’s Office of Disability Support Services

Episode Homepage & Contact Info 

In Episode Four of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we begin our exploration of administrator and faculty answers to the question: “What EdTech can faculty use to create accessible content and support student success?” Listen as Carolyn Corbran, Ph.D., MS.Ed., Director of the Department of Disability Support Services (DSS) talks about the varied ways that DSS and faculty support all students in accommodating varied learning needs. We will also hear from Nicole Paternoster, Ed.D., Director of the Academic Resource Center, as she explains how tutoring and academic coaching can support learners through universal design. 

Next month, we will continue the three-part series, this time focusing on how different faculty have designed course learning materials, assignments, and assessments with accessibility in mind. These concepts support all students in a course and provide multiple methods of accessing lectures, varied technologies, and include accommodations that create a supportive environment for learning.

Key topics + time stamps 

Ann Oro, Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center [1:30-4:29]

Dr. Carolyn Corbran: Disability Support Services [4:30-12:10] 

Dr. Nicole Paternoster: Academic Resource Center [12:11-20:08] 

Episode Wrap-up [20:09-21:00] 

Dr. Carolyn Corbran: Contact Information  

Dr. Nicole Paternoster: Contact information 

Episode Homepage & Contact Info 

In Episode Three of the Innovate and Educate podcast, we finish our exploration of faculty answers to the question: “What EdTech successfully transformed student outcomes in your course(s)?” Listen as Dr. Brian Muzás from the School of Diplomacy and International Relations talks about his creation of a “React Artifact” to give students voice and choice in their assessments. We will also hear from Dr. Genevieve Pinto Zipp, Program Director of Health Sciences, and Dr. Leslie Rippon, Associate Professor in the Department of Athletic Training, as they explain how virtual reality scenarios help health sciences students build real-world skills. Finally, Dr. Nicole Paternoster, Director of the Academic Resource Center, will talk about how using Adobe Express to create vision boards allows every University Life student to set personal goals and develop relationships at Seton Hall. 

Next month, we will begin another three-part series, this time about accessibility. Ann Oro, Senior Instructional Designer at the TLTC, will interview campus experts to explore accessibility practices at Seton Hall, highlighting innovative strategies, technologies, and policies that foster inclusive learning environments. 

Dr. Nicole Paternoster: Vision Boards with Adobe Express [12:18-19:07] 

Episode Wrap-up [19:07-20:05] 

Dr. Genevieve Pinto Zipp: Profile 

Dr. Leslie Rippon: Profile 

Dr. Nicole Paternoster: Contact information 

Episode Homepage & Contact Info