Kent Barnds: Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.

Dean Hoke: Kristen Soares is the fourth president of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), representing more than 85 nonprofit institutions dedicated to the public good. As president, she works with leaders across the state to shape higher education policy and serves as the sector’s chief spokesperson. Under her leadership, AICCU partnered with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to implement the Associate Degree for Transfer pathway, expanding opportunities and improving access for transfer students.

Soares plays a prominent role in statewide and national higher education leadership, serving as a member of the California Education Round Table, the Governor’s Council for Career Education, and the NAICU State Executives Council. She previously spent nearly 25 years at the University of Southern California (USC), where her career in higher education began with a federal Work-Study job, one she credits with landing her in the university’s senior administration and setting her on a lifelong path in higher-ed leadership. During her tenure, she led government and civic engagement efforts across California and Washington, D.C. 

Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from USC. Kristen, we’re delighted to have you with us on Small College America.

Kent - Q1:  Kristen, for those who may not be familiar, could you start by telling us about the role of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and how it supports its member institutions? What is AICCU’s top legislative priority this session?

Dean – Q2: California has one of the most complex and influential higher education ecosystems in the country, with the University of California (UC) system, the California State University (CSU) system, and the independent sector each serving distinct missions. How does AICCU advocate for independent colleges within this landscape, and what opportunities or challenges arise in coordinating with state agencies and legislators?

Kent – Q3: Many small colleges are rethinking their academic portfolios to meet changing student and workforce demands. What innovations or program models are you seeing that balance tradition with transformation—without losing institutional identity?

Dean – Q4:  With rising concerns about college affordability and ROI, how should small private colleges articulate their value proposition to skeptical families? What alternative business models or revenue streams show the most promise for achieving long-term financial sustainability?

Kent – Q5: Higher education has faced increased political scrutiny nationwide. How do you advise independent college leaders to communicate their value and relevance to the public and policymakers in today’s polarized climate?

Dean – Q6: Kristen, after you looked into your crystal ball, before meeting with the leaders of over 85 nonprofit institutions from AICCU, what's the most important piece or pieces of advice you'd offer them about the future?

Closing

Kent: Kristen, thank you for joining us and for sharing your insight into California’s independent higher education community and the issues shaping small colleges nationwide.

For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Edu Alliance Group — a higher education consulting firm that champions small colleges and the communities they serve.

On behalf of our guest, Kristen Soares, my co-host Dean Hoke, and myself, thank you for joining us.

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.  

Today, we’re joined by Michael H. Scarlett, Professor of Education at Augustana College. Michael supervises student teachers and teaches educational psychology and assessment, social studies methods, and educational technology. Before coming to Augustana, he spent four years on the faculty at Montana State University, Billings. He began his career teaching middle-school social studies—American history, world geography, humanities, and state history—and later taught secondary social studies in St. Paul Public Schools.

Michael earned his B.A. from Macalester College in St. Paul and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction (Social Studies Education) from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.

Off campus, he’s a proud husband, dad of two, beagle wrangler, avid runner and kayaker, and former soccer player and youth coach with 15+ years on the pitch. I understand you have served as a history judge many times over the years, including as a National History Day judge at Bettendorf Middle School in Bettendorf, Iowa. :)

Q1: Michael, tell us about the Augustana Education program. What does it offer, how many students are in the program, and what makes it distinct  

Q 2: What drew you into education—and how has your role at Augustana evolved?
Follow-up: As a teacher, was there a moment that confirmed you’d chosen the right path?

Q3: How would you describe today’s job market for new teachers, and where is the greatest teacher shortage?  

Quick follow-up, is there something school districts or private and charter schools can do to address these shortage?  

Q4: What are the biggest challenges education majors face as they prepare for the classroom, and what strategies or supports do you emphasize to help them thrive?

Q5: A recent student wrote in a review that you made them feel they belonged in the program—especially after a rough start—and praised your respectful, nonjudgmental style. What practices do you recommend to support struggling students, whether a college professor or a middle school teacher?

Q6: We like to end with the future. Looking 5–10 years ahead, what gives you the most hope that more high school students will choose teaching, especially through pathways at small colleges like Augustana?

Michael, thank you for sharing your journey and your vision for teacher education at Augustana. Your commitment to making every student feel they belong in the classroom is exactly what education needs right now."

For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

“This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Edu Alliance Group — A higher education consulting firm that champions small colleges and the communities they serve.” 

On behalf of our guest, Michael Scarlett, my co-host Kent Barnds, and Dean Hoke, thank you for joining us.”

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.  

 
Dean: Our guest today is Dr. Teresa Valerio Parrot, APR, the Principal of TVP Communications. She is co-host of the Trusted Voices Podcast and co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, has numerous media bylines, and is a frequent keynote speaker.

She is writing a book on higher-education governance for the Harvard Academic Press and co-editing a book on public scholarship for the Cambridge Press. CASE awarded her the Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, and she serves as a CASE Laureate. In 2024, PR News honored her as an industry leader and for her strategy work, and in 2025, Diverse listed her among women making a difference in academe.

She is secretary of the board for the Public Relations Society of America, co-chairs the American Marketing Association’s Higher Education Symposium, and also serves on the board of the PRSA Foundation. Teresa enjoys spending time outdoors in Colorado with her husband and dogs and volunteering with arts and community organizations in the Denver, Colorado area. 

Question 1: Tell me about your journey into higher-education communications, what led you into this field, and what experiences have most shaped your perspective on how colleges tell their stories? And then, tell us about your firm, TVP Communications, and the work you and your team do with colleges and universities. 

Question 2: Many small private colleges are mission-driven but resource-limited. What are the most common messaging or positioning missteps you see when they try to stand out? Is there a recent example where a smaller institution got its narrative right?

Question 3: You’ve said higher education doesn’t have a storytelling problem — it has a truth-telling problem. For small colleges that struggle to articulate their value in a crowded marketplace, how does that idea translate into practical communications or marketing strategy? 

Follow-up: For small colleges that struggle to articulate their value in a crowded marketplace, how does ‘truth-telling’ translate into practical communications or marketing strategy?

Question 4: You and Erin Hennessy launched the Trusted Voices podcast, which has become one of the most insightful conversations about leadership and communication in higher education. How has podcasting shaped your own view of authentic communication — and do you see opportunities for smaller colleges to use podcasting as a platform for storytelling or leadership visibility?

Question 5: Your upcoming book with Harvard Academic Press focuses on governance. What governance or communication patterns do you see break down most often at smaller, tuition-dependent institutions?

Question 6: Looking to the future of higher education — and especially the smaller private colleges that form its backbone — what gives you optimism, and what keeps you up at night?

Kent: Teresa, thank you for joining us today. It’s been a pleasure hearing your insights on communication, leadership, and the future of higher education. We’ll be watching for your forthcoming book on higher-education governance and look forward to continuing the conversation when it’s released.

For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Teresa Valerio Parrott, my co-host Dean Hoke, and I, thank you for listening.”

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.  

Today, we are speaking with Dr. Josh Hibbard, a higher education leader, strategist, and storyteller passionate about helping students and families navigate one of life’s biggest decisions: choosing a college. As Vice President for Enrollment Management at Whitworth University, located in Spokane, Washington, Josh oversees admissions, financial aid, and military and veterans outreach, helping students chart a path toward both education and purpose. 

With more than two decades of experience in enrollment strategy, leadership development, and brand building, Josh brings practical insight and a deep sense of mission to his work. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences, where he shares lessons on leadership, innovation, and student success. Beyond titles and roles, Josh sees himself as a guide—someone who believes curiosity, community, and faith have the power to transform lives. Josh was born and raised in Haines, Alaska. Population 1,700, and when he’s not working with students or cheering on his team at Whitworth, you’ll likely find him outdoors with his family.

Question 1: Josh, what led you to Whitworth University, and what stood out to you?  What do you think makes Whitworth distinctive among small, private liberal arts universities today? 

Question 2: Whitworth made national news with its decision to cut tuition nearly in half to make pricing more transparent. What drove that decision, and what has the impact been so far? How did you build consensus across campus for such a bold change? Have you seen measurable changes in applications or student perceptions of value?

Question 3: You’ve called the traditional high-price, high-discount model “a silly game.” Why do you think this pricing system persisted so long in higher ed, and what will it take for more colleges to follow Whitworth’s lead?
 

Question 4: Whitworth blends a strong Christian ethos with a liberal arts tradition. How do you stay true to that mission while navigating the competitive realities of enrollment and finance?
 

Question 5: You often speak about curiosity, community, and faith as transformative forces. How do those values shape your leadership style and Whitworth’s campus culture? What lessons about leadership have you learned from your own mentors?

Question 6: As you look to the next five years, what do you see as the biggest opportunities or challenges facing small and mid-sized private universities—and how is Whitworth preparing for them?
 
 Close: Josh, thank you for joining us today and getting the opportunity to learn more about you and Whitworth. For those listening, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Josh Hibbard, my co-host Kent Barnds, and myself, thank you for listening.”

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.  

Today, we are speaking with Jon Nichols, an author and educator whose work explores the intersection of personal narrative and institutional collapse in American higher education. He is the author of Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States, a deeply reflective and investigative account of the 2017 closure of Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana, where three generations of his family served as faculty and administrators. Drawing on his background as both an insider and journalist, Nichols illuminates the human cost behind financial and governance failures. He currently teaches English at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois, and his work has made him a frequent commentator on America's college closure crisis. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Debbie, and his dog, Tony.

• Welcome Jon. Your book, Requiem for a College, is described as part memoir, part institutional autopsy, and compelling reading. What drew you to blend personal narrative with investigative reporting, rather than writing a purely objective analysis of Saint Joseph's closure?
• Three generations of your family were connected to Saint Joseph’s College—your father, Dr. John Nichols, who taught and served there for five decades, and your brother Michael, who also taught there and now teaches at Purdue. How did you balance the emotional weight of losing a family institution with the analytical distance needed to understand what happened?
• Saint Joseph’s closed in 2017, relatively early in what’s become an accelerating wave of small-college closures. Looking back, what warning signs should have been taken more seriously—at your institution or across higher education in general?
• Jon, your book captures not just institutional failure but also human loss—the erasure of identity, community, and legacy. What has been the long-term impact on former students, faculty, and the Rensselaer community?
• As someone now teaching at a community college, how has your experience with Saint Joseph’s closure shaped your view of what sustainable higher education looks like in America?
• Looking into the future, what policies or systemic reforms do you believe could reduce the frequency of college closures—and who should take the lead in driving those reforms: federal or state agencies, accreditors, or institutional boards?

Jon, thank you for joining us today and discussing your new book, Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States. For those listening, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Jon Nichols, my co-host Kent Barnds, and Dean Hoke, thank you for listening.”

Today, we are speaking with  Dr. Frank Shushok Jr., the 12th president of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, since 2022. He collaborates with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and regional partners to position the College as an agile, innovative, and learner-centered institution. 

Under his leadership, the College launched Imagine Roanoke, a strategic plan that includes creating four transdisciplinary schools and transforming the residential campus into a 21st-century learning laboratory. The plan's signature initiative, Roanoke College–Roanoke Valley (RC-RV), expands access to continuing education and workforce development. The College has launched new programs, begun construction on the McConnon Discovery Center, and revitalized student life. Shushok has over 30 years of experience in higher education, including roles at Virginia Tech and Baylor University. 

He holds degrees from Baylor University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Maryland, College Park. He and his spouse, Kelly, have three adult children and two dogs. 

Q1: To begin, tell our audience about Roanoke College and what makes it different from other colleges?

Q2: While there are no “non-traditional pathways” to the presidency anymore, your pathway is distinct. You’ve spent much of your career in student life and student success, when did you know you wanted to be a college president?

 Q3: Most of your career has been at large institutions. What are three or four big adjustments you had to make as you moved to work at a small college?

Q4: You’ve made some big bets at Roanoke. You’ve worked with the community to add football and marching band. You’ve also been on what seems like a partnership tour as you’ve signed new agreements with all kinds of partners. What have you been so focused on, new programs??

 Q5: At a small college, a president is usually expected to be everywhere twice. How do you handle the expectations to attend every event with the pressure to find and friend-raise? And what do you do to prevent burnout?

 Q6: Like many private institutions, Roanoke has experienced significant changes and survived and thrived in its 180-year history. If we were to look five years into the future, what gives you the most hope for Roanoke College and, more broadly, for the role of small colleges in American higher education?

Closing: Frank, thank you for joining us today and getting the opportunity to learn more about you and Roanoke. For those listening, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Frank Shushok, my co-host Kent Barnds, and Dean Hoke, thank you for listening.

“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I’m Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.”

Today on Small College America, we’re joined by Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, who serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at La Roche University in Pittsburgh. He is the editor of "The Chief Academic Officer's Handbook: A Provost's Guide to Visionary Leadership," just released by Johns Hopkins University Press.  

Gregor previously was Provost and Executive Vice President at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, was Acting Provost and Dean at North Park University in Chicago, and was Department Chair and Professor at Gordon College. 

He actively serves on the boards of the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) and, recently, as the President of the Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO). He holds memberships or fellowships in prestigious organizations, including the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Royal Historical Society.  He has also served as Podcast host of EdUp Provost.

Gregor, welcome to Small College America.”

Q1: Gregor, to begin, could you tell our audience about La Roche University and what attracted you to the role of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty?

 Q2: During your first year at La Roche, what are your top academic priorities? Are there particular initiatives — whether in programs, partnerships, or student success — that you’re especially excited to advance?

Q3: Much of your career has been spent in small college settings. How do the insights in The Chief Academic Officer’s Handbook especially resonate for provosts at smaller, tuition-dependent institutions?

Q4: As well as serving as the book’s editor, you wrote a chapter titled Lifelong Learning for Provosts: Increasing One’s Toolbox. Tell our audience more about that, and discuss one of your takeaways — particularly the idea of ‘embrace being uncomfortable.’

Q5: You’ve served in senior leadership roles at Whitworth, now at La Roche, and with the Association of Chief Academic Officers. What are the most critical skills provosts need today to succeed in such a complex environment?

 Q6: Looking ahead, how do you see the role of the provost evolving over the next decade, especially as institutions face current and future unknown challenges?

“Gregor, thank you for joining us today and sharing your insights on leadership and the future of small colleges. For those listening, if you’d like to learn more about Small College America, go to our webpage at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, my co-host Kent Barnds, and myself, thank you for listening.”

“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.  

Dean: “Today, we are speaking with Dean McCurdy, president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. Dr. McCurdy has been an innovative leader at small private liberal arts colleges and at large public community colleges. 

Prior to joining Colby-Sawyer in June, Dean was provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, which enrolls more than 200,000 students. In his various roles with the system, Dean spurred record enrollment and boosted student achievement through experiential education. 

At Kalamazoo Valley Community College, as associate vice president for instruction, Dean launched a health-focused campus that catalyzed community revitalization and workforce development through sustainable food education and preparation. 

Dean, an ecologist, was also a tenured biology professor at Albion College and an award-winning researcher of marine systems. Earlier in his career, he was a visiting professor of biology and field manager of the Coastal Studies Center at Bowdoin College. 

Dean holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in biology from Acadia University and a doctorate in biology from Carleton University.  

Q1: Dean, to begin, could you tell our audience about Colby-Sawyer and what makes it distinctive?

Q2: At Ivy Tech you worked within a statewide system serving nearly 200,000 students. Now you’re leading Colby-Sawyer, with a student body of about 1,000. What lessons from managing at such scale do you see applying most directly to a small college like Colby-Sawyer?

Q3: You’ve talked about the evolving role of small colleges in regional workforce development. Where do you see Colby-Sawyer’s strongest opportunities to contribute—whether through partnerships, academic programs, or community engagement?

Q4: Colby-Sawyer is known for traditions like Mountain Day, which bring students, faculty, and staff together in unique ways. How do you balance honoring those traditions with ensuring students gain the skills and experiences needed for a changing workforce?

Q5: In our prep conversation, you emphasized the importance of telling alumni success stories. Can you share an example that captures the impact of a Colby-Sawyer education and how those stories help define the college’s value to future students?

Q6: If we were to look five years into the future, what gives you the most hope for Colby-Sawyer—and more broadly, for the role of small colleges in American higher education?

Kent Barnds: “Dean, thank you for joining us today and sharing your vision for Colby-Sawyer and small colleges more broadly. For those listening, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover.

This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Dean McCurdy, my co-host Dean Hoke, and myself, thank you for listening.”

We welcome Dr. Jeremiah Williams, a Professor of Physics at Wittenberg University since 2007, where he teaches the full spectrum of undergraduate courses and leads an undergraduate-focused research program in plasma physics.  He received a BS in Physics and Mathematics from Dickinson College, an MS in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in Physics at Auburn University. 

His area of research is experimental plasma physics with a focus on dusty plasmas, and the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, and NASA have funded his work. He has also been active in the intermediate and advanced physics laboratory community.  He has been an active member of the American Physical Society (Division of Physics), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), and the Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (AAPT), where he has served on a variety of committees and task forces.  He is currently on detail to the National Science Foundation, where he serves as a program director for the Plasma Physics program.

 Q1: Jeremiah, you’ve had an impressive academic journey—from Dickinson to UCLA to Auburn—before joining Wittenberg in 2007. Could you talk about what drew you to a small liberal arts university, and what has kept you there for nearly two decades?

Q2: You’re currently serving as a Program Director for the National Science Foundation’s Plasma Physics program. How does that experience benefit not only you professionally, but also Wittenberg and your students? Could you share one or two examples of how your NSF role has created opportunities or insights that you’ve brought back to campus?

Q3: Wittenberg is known for its liberal arts ethos. In your view, how does that kind of education uniquely prepare physics students—who may go into research, industry, or even careers outside of science?

Q4: One of the themes we return to on this podcast is the transformative power of small colleges. Could you share a story of a Wittenberg student who started in your classroom or lab and went on to do something remarkable?”

Q5: Many small colleges have faced financial pressures — including difficult decisions about budgets, academic programs, and faculty positions. From your vantage point as both a professor and an NSF leader, what do you see as the biggest challenges facing small colleges today, particularly in sustaining strong STEM programs? And where do you see the greatest opportunities for them to thrive?

Q6: As you reflect on your career at Wittenberg and your national work, what excites you most about the future of undergraduate science education? And on a personal level, what has been most rewarding for you in teaching, mentoring, and researching at a small college?”

Closing

Kent Barnds: Dr. Williams, thank you for being with us today. For those listening, if you’d like to learn more about Small College America, go to www.smallcollegeamerica.net  where you can find details on upcoming episodes, connect with us, and suggest topics for future conversations. This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.

On behalf of our guest, Dr. Jeremiah Williams, my co-host Dean Hoke, and myself, thank you for listening.

“Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke.  

Today, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Gary Daynes, Interim President of Salem Academy and College, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With a career devoted to leadership in small colleges, Gary has guided institutions through transformation and written extensively on higher education.  Gary holds a PhD in American History from the University of Delaware. He is also the author of a new book, How to Be a Small College, a timely guide on how institutions like Salem can thrive by embracing distinctiveness, focus, and community.” 

Question 1:  Salem’s Background and Gary’s Journey
"Let’s start with some background. For those who may not know, can you tell us about Salem Academy and College, its history, and its unique place in the Winston-Salem community?”
Follow-up: “You’ve led and advised several small colleges over your career. What made you decide to step into the interim presidency at Salem at this particular moment?”

Question 2: Tradition and Transformation
"Salem is the nation's oldest women's college and has deep Moravian roots. How do you balance honoring that historic mission—including your identity as a women's college—while also positioning Salem for the future? And how does that women's college identity factor into current enrollment and positioning discussions?"

Question 3: The Book: How to Be a Small College
“You’ve just released a new book, How to Be a Small College. What motivated you to write it, and what central message do you most hope leaders, faculty, and students will take away?”

Question 4: Distinctiveness and the Student Experience
"In the book, you argue that small colleges shouldn't try to mimic large universities but should embrace their distinctiveness. Can you give an example of a college, perhaps Salem or another, that has done this well?"

Question 5: Partnerships and Community Engagement
"Winston-Salem has a rich higher education landscape with Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State, and other institutions. I understand Salem has developed partnerships with some of these colleges. How are these collaborations currently benefiting Salem, and what role do you see partnerships and community engagement playing in Salem's strategic future?"

Question 6: The Small College Challenge
"Looking ahead five years, what gives you the most hope for the future of small colleges in America?"

Closing

Gary, thank you for being with us today. For those listening, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our LinkedIn site, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover." This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.  On behalf of our guest, Gary Daynes, my co-host Dean Hoke, and I, thank you for listening.