Higher education is feeling the pressure—from shifting student expectations to mounting demands for proof of impact. But real change rarely comes with a crash of cymbals. Sometimes, it sneaks in quietly—with the right tools, small shifts in teaching practice, and a mission everyone can rally around. 

In this episode, we explore how one university quietly orchestrated a 11.5% reduction in course withdrawals. Guests Derek Bruff, Gina Londino-Smolar, and Sue-Mun Huang show us why the right tech doesn't just support teaching, it shapes it. And how aligning technology decisions to mission and values can get every section of the orchestra playing from the same score.

Guest Bios

Derek Bruff is the associate director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia. The author of Intentional Tech and Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, Derek is also the host of the Intentional Teaching podcast. 

Gina Londino-Smolar is a teaching professor and Director of the Forensic & Investigative Sciences program at Indiana University. She was recently awarded the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Technology. 

As Director of Product, Sue-Mun Huang leads the charge in building web and mobile solutions that make teaching and learning better. A champion of responsible tech, she’s on a mission to turn good ideas into everyday practice. 

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