Mastering the Next

San Francisco Bay University is innovating their core curriculum with Agility Praxis Pathways, or APP reflecting their commitment to a new paradigm of higher education.  What excites me about the APP Model is how it reframes the age-old challenge of bridging theory and practice in higher education. While many institutions talk about innovation, San Francisco Bay University has created a framework that actually delivers on the promise of adaptive, student-centered learning – no surprise given their reputation in this area. Ray does a deep-dive into this model with SFBU Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Bradley Fuster.

Guest Name: Bradley Fuster, DMA, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at San Francisco Bay University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/

Guest Bio: Brad Fuster, DMA, has extensive experience in higher education management, particularly in academic affairs, enrollment management and technological innovation. He has held key leadership positions at Keuka College, where he served as provost and intermittently as acting president, managing a substantial institutional budget and leading numerous academic and infrastructural improvements.

During his tenure at Keuka, Fuster led sweeping advancements in experiential learning, program development and enrollment strategies. He significantly improved student retention and success by demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Additionally, Fuster possesses a rich background in music education, having served as a professor and department chair, where he was instrumental in creating innovative academic programs and enhancing faculty and student resources.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The MBA admissions landscape has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, with AI tools promising to help candidates craft the 'perfect' application. But here's what fascinates Ray - we're seeing a growing tension between automation and authenticity, and that’s apparent in the world of international MBA admissions. While generative AI can help write essays, the truly successful candidates are those who maintain their authentic voice. In this episode, Ray is joined by Eric Lucrezia of Candidate.Coach; an independent consultant with over two decades of experience helping candidates across the globe navigate this delicate balance.  They explore how technology is both helping and challenging MBA applicants in 2025.

Guest Name: Eric Lucrezia, Founder, Candidate.Coach

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlucrezia/

Guest Bio: With over 20 years of experience in admissions consulting, career coaching, education, and recruitment, Eric Lucrezia has helped candidates worldwide take the next leap in their careers. His expertise is rooted in a strong commitment to quality education, global interconnectedness, and diversity & inclusion.  

As the former Director of Recruitment for the Global MBA program at ESSEC Business School (Paris, France & Singapore), Eric possesses a deep understanding of what makes MBA applicants stand out to admissions committees. Previously, at France’s prestigious Sciences Po, he conducted workshops on crafting impactful CVs and mastering interview techniques. His experience also includes roles in admissions and recruitment at Long Island University in New York. Additionally, with a background in teaching English—including at the esteemed École de Guerre—he provides meticulous editing for application essays, ensuring flawless grammar and structure.  

Since 2020, Eric has worked full-time as an MBA admissions consultant, guiding applicants toward top business schools. His expertise extends to advising candidates for various Master's programs, as well as coaching professionals in job and internship searches. Based between Paris and New York City, he remains globally connected and readily available to support clients across different time zones.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hispanic Serving Institutions are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of American higher education, enrolling millions of students across the country. In this episode, Ray isjoined by Dr. Mike Flores, Chancellor of Alamo Colleges District and past Chair of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). We'll explore HACU's evolving mission, the unique strengths of Hispanic Serving Institutions, and what it will take to ensure these institutions can meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population.

Guest Name: Dr. Mike Flores, Chancellor of Alamo Colleges District and past Chair of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-flores-9023a08/

Guest Bio: Dr. Mike Flores assumed the role of chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District on Oct. 1, 2018, after unanimous vote by the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees. With more than 20 years of service to the Alamo Colleges District, Dr. Flores possesses the distinction of being the ninth appointed chancellor and the first Hispanic chancellor in the district’s history. Flores serves as a board member and chair of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and he is a board member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, Achieving the Dream, Strada Education Foundation, greater: SATX, UP Partnership, and United Way San Antonio. Flores was born in Del Rio, Texas, and is a graduate of Holmes High School in San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in political science from Illinois State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He lives in central San Antonio with his wife Martha, a talented creative director and entrepreneur, and their daughters, Mara and Mia.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The shifting labor dynamics in higher education represent one of the most profound transformations in academia's history, with contingent faculty now making up a whopping 68% of the academic workforce. In a provocative recent article for The Evolllution, Bob Ubell, Vice Dean Emeritus at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, explores what he calls the 'Uberfication' of higher education and its implications for the future of teaching and learning. He joins Ray tol discuss his unique perspective on these systemic changes that have turned traditional faculty employment models upside down.

Guest Name: Robert Ubell, Vice Dean Emeritus of Online Learning, New York University Tandon School of Engineering

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ubell-a24a8414/

Guest Bio: Bob Ubell is Vice Dean Emeritus of Online Learning at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering and Senior Editor of CHLOE, an annual survey of higher ed online officers, sponsored by Quality Matters. Recipient of the highest honor given for individual achievement in digital education, the A. Frank Mayadas Leadership Award, Ubell is a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) and a member of the Advisory Board of Online Learning, the journal of OLC, where he served on the organization’s board for a number of years. Until recently, he was a member of McGraw-Hill Education’s Learning Science Research Advisory Board.

A columnist for EdSurge and contributor to Inside Higher Ed and other leading publications, Ubell has contributed more than 100 articles to scholarly and general periodicals and is the author or editor of 20 books, with the most recent being Going Online, published in 2017, and its companion volume, Staying Online, published in 2021 — both from Routledge. Ubell has taught and lectured at leading colleges and universities, including Columbia, MIT, The New School, NYU, University of Rochester, and Stevens Institute of Technology, among others.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

San Jose State University sits at the epicenter of technological innovation, bridging the world of higher education with the dynamic ecosystem of Silicon Valley. As universities across the country grapple with reimagining digital learning, SJSU is reinventing how higher education can be enhanced through innovative technologies. To explore their approach, Ray is joined by Dr. Vincent Del Casino, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at San Jose State.

Guest Name: Dr. Vincent Del Casino, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, San Jose State University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-j-del-casino-jr-0a060356/

Guest Bio: As SJSU’s provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Vincent J. Del Casino Jr. serves as a key member of the university president’s leadership team with primary responsibility for ensuring academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate studies as well as a continual commitment to research, scholarship, and creative activities that benefit all students and society at large.

At the University of Arizona, Del Casino provided leadership and administrative oversight as the campus redeveloped central spaces for student support activities; re-organized its central administrative areas; increased online enrollment and program offerings; and enhanced student success and retention. With more than 18 years of academic and administrative experience in higher education, he also served as professor and chair of the Department of Geography at California State University, Long Beach.

Del Casino is a prolific writer and researcher who authored the book Social Geography: A Critical Introduction. He has also edited, co-edited and co-authored multiple other books and published dozens of articles and book chapters on topics ranging from health, robots and robotic technologies, cartographic theory, and tourism, in the context of geography. His numerous commentaries on higher education have been published in The Evolllution and Inside Higher Education, including “Machine Learning, Big Data and the Future of Higher Education.”

Prior to earning his doctorate in geography from the University of Kentucky, Del Casino received his master’s in geography from the University of Wisconsin and bachelor’s in international relations and East Asian studies from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The landscape of online program management companies (or OPM) is undergoing significant transformation, with universities facing complex strategic decisions and OPM companies merging and shifting business strategies. Political and regulatory changes are creating both challenges and opportunities for higher education institutions seeking to expand their online learning offerings. To help us unpack these critical dynamics, Ray is joined by Phil Hill, Publisher of the On EdTech blog and Partner at Phil Hill & Associates – one of the leading experts in the evolving world of online education partnerships.

Guest Name: Phil Hill, Publisher of the On EdTech blog and Partner at Phil Hill & Associates

Guest Social: 
https://x.com/PhilOnEdTech
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phildhill/

Guest Social: Phil is founder of Phil Hill & Associates and publisher of the On EdTech newsletter. Phil provides advice on educational technology strategy and organizational change management. He has assisted multiple colleges, universities, and systems of higher education in technology-enabled change initiatives, with an emphasis on the development of effective online and hybrid education strategies. Revered for his honest and upfront take on market trends for online / hybrid education, OPMs, regulatory analysis, and learning platforms, Phil provides thoughtful and practical advice to his clients. His unique graphics and visuals have been widely used and shared in the education space.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Access to affordable, high-quality education is a challenge many institutions aspire to solve, but few approach it as boldly as Campus. From free college credits for high schoolers to personalized student support services, Campus is an innovative new approach to online community college that is redefining what accessibility and success mean in higher education. In this episode Ray is joined by Mike Belicose, CFO of Campus, to discuss the ways institutions can build a more inclusive and the future for higher education.

Guest Name: Mike Belicose, Chief Financial Officer, Campus

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbelicose/

Guest Bio: Mike Belicose is an accomplished financial executive with 17 years of diverse professional experience spanning top-tier financial institutions and an industry-leading startup. As the Chief Financial Officer at Campus, he brings a wealth of strategic insight and financial expertise to this innovative higher education organization.

Throughout his career, Belicose has distinguished himself as a versatile financial leader with an exceptional ability to distill complex financial information into clear, compelling narratives. His professional journey reflects a commitment to excellence, strategic thinking, and innovative problem-solving.

A strong communicator and skilled storyteller, Belicose excels at translating intricate financial results into accessible and meaningful insights. His approach combines technical proficiency with strategic vision, enabling him to set high standards and drive organizational performance.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The competition for international graduate students, especially those hailing from India, is fiercer than ever. Navigating complex visa processes, working with education agents, and standing out in a crowded marketplace requires agile, data-driven strategies. In this episode, Ray is joined by Abhyuday Pai, the Assistant Dean for International Graduate Recruitment at the University of Buffalo, to get an inside look at how he's helping Indian students achieve their goals of studying in the United States.

Guest Name: Abhyuday Pai, the Assistant Dean for International Graduate Recruitment at the University of Buffalo

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhyudaypai/

Guest Bio: Abhyuday Pai is an accomplished higher education professional with over 16 years of experience in international recruitment, admissions, and student services. Currently serving as the Assistant Dean for International Recruitment at the University at Buffalo (UB), Abhyuday plays a key role in shaping the university's global outreach and expanding its international student base.

A proud alumnus of New York University (NYU), he built his extensive career in higher education through his 15 years of service at NYU, where he played a pivotal role in scaling the university’s international admissions operations. During his tenure at NYU, he successfully developed and implemented recruitment strategies that helped position the institution as a global leader in higher education. His work focused on building strategic relationships, expanding the university's global footprint, and ensuring that international students had a seamless admissions experience.

At UB, he continues to leverage his expertise in international recruitment to enhance the university’s global presence, fostering partnerships with educational institutions and organizations worldwide. He is known for his innovative approach to recruitment, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and has been instrumental in developing recruitment strategies that cater to the unique needs of international students.

His deep understanding of the international student landscape, combined with his passion for higher education and cross-cultural exchange, has made him a respected professional in the field. His commitment to ensuring that students from around the world have the opportunity to thrive in U.S. higher education institutions continues to inspire his work and drive positive change within the academic community.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Innovation in graduate student education is something we talk a lot about here on “Mastering the Next,” but making it really work is a challenge for lots of schools.  Initiatives can lack strategic focus and, frankly, an understanding of the needs of today’s graduate students.  In this episode, Ray is joined by Dr. Tom Rock, Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer at   of Columbia University in New York City – the nation’s first, and largest, graduate school for education.  Their dialogue explores what it takes to successfully develop graduate student pathways and a variety of new initiatives being implemented at Teachers College designed to do just that.

Guest Name: Dr. Tom Rock, Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer at Teacher’s College of Columbia University

Guest Social:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-rock-nyc/

Guest Bio: Originally from the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, Dr. Rock has over 30 years of experience in student affairs having worked in undergraduate and graduate admissions and enrollment management and graduate student affairs. In his role as Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer at TC, Dr. Rock is the Senior Student Affairs Officer for the College and oversees the administrative offices and staff members that support students on their pathways at Teachers College.  He is passionate about student success and helping students flourish at TC and beyond. 

Dr. Rock has worked in the field of undergraduate admissions and College Counseling at the University of Dayton, Alfred University and The Albany Academy (NY).  He has worked in graduate admissions at Columbia University (NY), Hofstra University (NY) and Teachers College, Columbia University (NY).  His student affairs work has been at Teachers College, Columbia University (NY). He also received a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Graduate School of Education for participation in the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE).  Dr. Rock was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2018 and traveled to Japan as part of the Fulbright Administrator Scholarship Program.  

In his spare time, Dr. Rock enjoys running (he's finished 15 NYC marathons),  tennis (he is a USTA certified tennis official), spending time with his family and traveling. 

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building partnerships between universities and companies is an old idea – today, however, companies need universities more than ever as they seek to make their teams “future ready.”  From upskilling and reskilling to finding ways to reward high potential employees, sophisticated employers are looking for schools that offer high quality, affordable, online education and are sponsoring tuition through innovative programs like those offered through InStride.  Ray is joined by Stephanie Tsales, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at InStride, to talk about building that future-ready workforce.

Guest Name: Stephanie Tsales, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at InStride

Guest Bio: Stephanie Tsales is the VP of Strategic Partnerships at InStride - a public benefit company that drives meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. With 20+ years in higher education, she's passionate about helping universities and corporations work together to build partnerships that win for the workforce.

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieowens/

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Connect With Our Host:
Dr. Ray Lutzky
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lutzky/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Mastering the Next is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.