In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Rebecca Rowley, President of Santa Fe Community College, to explore student-centred leadership, systems-level collaboration, and what it truly means to remove barriers to success in higher education.

Ben and Dr Rebecca discuss how Santa Fe Community College stands out globally through innovative sustainability efforts, including a controlled environment agriculture program and a campus-wide microgrid powered by solar and battery storage projects that reflect both environmental responsibility and long-term institutional resilience.

n this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Larry Galizio, President and CEO of the Community College League of California, to explore the scale, mission, and future of the largest community college system in the United States.

Ben and Dr. Galizio discuss how the League works behind the scenes to shape policy, funding, and governance in Sacramento, and how that work directly impacts student experience at scale. From championing transfer pathways and workforce-aligned education to expanding access to community college–conferred bachelor’s degrees, the conversation highlights how statewide systems can evolve to meet the needs of place-bound, working, and returning learners.

This conversation is a thoughtful, systems-level look at student success—one that reminds listeners that community colleges are not only engines of workforce development, but democratic institutions that expand opportunity, mobility, and lifelong learning for millions of students across California and beyond.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr Jo Blondin, the fifth president of Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio, to explore leadership, workforce innovation, and what it truly means to build a culture of care in community colleges.

Ben and Dr. Blondin discuss what makes Clark State unique, from nationally distinctive programs in modelling and simulation and addiction and integrated treatment studies to one of the largest nursing programs in Ohio. The conversation dives deep into Clark State’s One Front Door strategy, an equity-centred approach that ensures every learner, whether credit or workforce-focused, receives the same level of access, support, and dignity from day one.

As she reflects on her upcoming retirement after two decades as a college president, Dr Blondin shares hard-earned leadership wisdom, the mentors who shaped her journey, and the advice she gives every student: always sit at the table and never confuse who you are with the job you do.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black, ice President for Student Life at Reed College known affectionately by students as Dr. K to explore what truly human-centred leadership looks like in higher education.

With nearly two decades of experience across student affairs, organizational leadership, and community engagement, Dr. McConnell-Black brings an approach that is authentic, creative, and refreshingly unconventional. As Vice President for Student Life at Reed College, he oversees a deeply integrated ecosystem of academic support, residential life, accessibility services, and co-curricular learning grounded in the belief that students are whole people, not “brains on sticks.”

Ben and Dr K unpack what makes Reed College globally distinctive—from its uncompromising academic rigour and senior thesis requirement to its intentional de-emphasis on grades in favour of feedback, curiosity, and learning. The conversation dives into Reed’s culture of intellectual dissent, relational education, and the power of place, where even crossing a canyon becomes part of the student experience.

The episode also explores the role of technology and AI in student life, balancing optimism with intentionality, and why data must always be paired with lived experience and storytelling. Dr. K shares a powerful reminder that chasing metrics alone misses the point—real student success is found in relationships, growth, and belonging.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr William Serrata, President of El Paso Community College (EPCC), to unpack what it takes to drive enrollment growth and dramatically improve student retention, completion, and post-graduation outcomes at scale.

Dr. Serrata has led EPCC through a period of national recognition, earning distinctions such as Aspen Prize finalist, AACC Student Success Award, and multiple equity honours. Under his leadership, EPCC has become the number one community college in the nation for Hispanic student enrollment and associate degrees awarded, with a deep focus on first-generation student success.

Ben and Dr. Serrata explore how decades of student-success initiatives from Achieving the Dream to Guided Pathways have shaped EPCC’s long-term strategy, and why saying no to misaligned initiatives can be just as important as adopting new ones. 

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Minita Ramirez, President of Laredo College, to explore how history, community, and purpose converge to shape one of the most impactful community colleges in South Texas.

As the first woman president in Laredo College’s 78-year history and a proud alumna, Dr. Ramirez’s journey has come full circle from student to educator to president. Leading an institution rooted in the historic Fort McIntosh and located at the nation’s largest inland port of entry, she shares how Laredo College has evolved from reskilling returning WWII veterans to preparing today’s learners for careers in logistics, trade, healthcare, law enforcement, and emerging AI-driven industries.

Ben and Dr. Ramirez discuss the critical role community colleges play in workforce development, especially in geographically isolated regions, and how applied bachelor’s degrees, industry-aligned programs, and strong employer partnerships are creating affordable, career-advancing pathways for students. Dr. Ramirez also reflects deeply on her personal journey from teaching and publishing to enrollment leadership—and how lived experience informs her student-centered approach to access, equity, and holistic support.

This conversation dives into the real barriers students face financial insecurity, self-doubt, food and housing instability, and mental health challenges—and how removing those barriers can transform lives. Dr. Ramirez closes with a powerful reminder of the responsibility educators carry, and how belief, opportunity, and persistence can change the trajectory of generations.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Stephen C. Rogers, Director of Student Retention and Success at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Since stepping into this role in April 2025, Stephen has focused on strengthening student persistence, academic momentum, and holistic success within one of the nation’s leading engineering and computer science schools. A proud UT Dallas alumnus, he brings a deep understanding of the student journey and a commitment to building systems that support learners at scale especially in rigorous, high-demand academic environments.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Michael Baston, President of Cuyahoga Community College, to explore bold leadership, inclusive excellence, and the evolving role of community colleges in redefining student success.

They also explore the role of executive leadership in driving systemic change, building strong campus cultures, and aligning education with economic mobility and workforce readiness.

This conversation offers a powerful perspective on values-driven leadership, the future of community colleges, and how intentional reform can create meaningful outcomes for students and communities alike.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Lisa Skari, President of Mt. Hood Community College.

Ben and Dr Skari explore MHCC’s breakthrough priorities from Breaking Ground on bond-funded projects and Breaking Free through modernised systems and technology, to Breaking Barriers that support clear student pathways and Breaking Bread through strengthened community partnerships. At the heart of the conversation is equity, ensuring access, opportunity, and success for every student, regardless of background or circumstance.

This episode is a powerful look at servant leadership, community stewardship, and how colleges can build the next fifty years of impact by moving forward togetherone breakthrough at a time.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Larry Galizio, President and CEO of the Community College League of California, to explore leadership, governance, and policy at the heart of the nation’s largest community college system.

Since 2015, Dr. Galizio has led the League in advancing the mission of California’s community colleges—championing access, equity, and effective governance across a system that serves millions of learners. 

Ben and Dr. Galizio discuss the intersection of higher education and public policy, the evolving role of community colleges in social and economic mobility, and the importance of principled governance in leading complex systems, Dr. Galizio offers a rare perspective on how leadership, history, and public argument shape the future of higher education.

A thoughtful conversation with one of the sector’s most respected voices on governance, policy, and community college leadership.