The EdUp Experience

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast!  In this episode of The EdUp Experience, sponsored by the Black History and Culture Academy, we welcome Terence Sawtell, Founder, GOAT.  

Terence talks with Liz and guest host Ashanti Martin about design and development in higher education.  Website user experience, aka student experience, is critical to move students through an application and enrollment process.  Hear what Terence thinks is critical to ensure that students have an experience that doesn't deter them from attending your school! Terence hails from Prince George, British Columbia and will never shy away from telling you how awesome his hometown is. 

He personifies what living in the north is like. He plays Hockey, loves very basic beer and spends much of his spare time working on old cars and "living the dream". Before Goatsocial, Terence spent 6+ years at TELUS honing his craft and learning how to be a leader. He worked up from the call centre to a management role within 2 years, and never looked back. 

Goat (formerly Goatsocial) was founded when a poor experience getting quotes for a website led to Terence re-learning how to build websites after many years dormant. He built his first website in 2004. 

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Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast!  In this episode of The EdUp Experience, sponsored by Claremont Lincoln University, we welcome Daniel Dyboski Bryant, Co-Founder of Educators in VR.  

Daniel comes to The EdUp Experience to talk to us about virtual reality in education.  Simply put, according to Daniel, higher education may not be adopting VR soon enough.  VR can be explored from a number of different angles and have a number of different applications, and the budget to get started does not have to be as significant as one might think!  A school can buy headsets first, use VR via 2D desktops, THEN move to immersive, creative perspectives.  This is a future-thinking episode!

Daniel is a life-long educator specializing in virtual and augmented reality, immersive technologies, 360 media, teacher training, communication and languages. He speaks 5 languages. He is a founder of Educators in VR, an open membership-based community of educators, trainers, researchers and startups who meet, share and collaborate in and with VR and AR across multi-user platforms. Here Daniel is also working on a remote VR learning network. His driving aim is to continually explore, test and develop immersive educational resources and methods that democratize education actually deliver improved learning results.

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Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast!  In this episode of The EdUp Experience, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Dr. Mildred Garcia, President, American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU)!

Millie is President of an organization with 400 state colleges and regional comprehensive colleges.  These institutions are educating the NEW majority of America.  With high-impact practices, state colleges and universities have the responsibility to train the 21st-century workforce, but first, they must re-engage students that have dropped out due to the pandemic (every institution is focused on this).  Millie goes on to talk about the necessity of having educated students in our democracy - while we close the equity, wealth, and gender gaps by making education accessible to all.  Millie also co-chaired the groundbreaking Postsecondary Value Commission Report released by the Gates Foundation earlier in 2021.  She is a powerhouse - don't miss this.

As AASCU's president, Dr. García is an advocate for public higher education at the national level, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of member colleges and universities; serving as a resource to presidents and chancellors as they address state policy and emerging campus issues; developing collaborative partnerships and initiatives that advance public higher education; directing a strategic agenda that focuses on public college and university leadership for the 21st century; and providing professional development opportunities for presidents, chancellors, and their spouses. She is the first Latina to lead one of the six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, D.C.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast!  In this episode of The EdUp Experience, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Dustin Ramsdell.  Dustin is the Director of Student Affairs with Noodle Partners and he is also a fellow podcaster who hosts his own show called HigherEd Geek. Dustin discusses the impact of Noodle and their ability to deliver service to online partners - from a la carte all the way to full-cycle student recruitment and retention.  He talks about the networked approach that Noodle can wield to reduce costs for colleges and universities to offer additional services at a premium.  Dustin also dishes on the HigherEd Geek Podcast which everyone should check out asap!

Dustin Ramsdell is a founding member of ConnectEDU, a higher ed geek, blogger, and podcaster who has been producing episodes for various shows for over four years. He worked on the Student Affairs Collective podcast, creating over 100 episodes with higher ed professionals. Now he hosts his own show, The Higher Ed Geek Podcast, where he explores the intersections of our passions and strengths with his various guests. Dustin also currently works as a Student Affairs Lead at Noodle Partners, where he helps enable universities to develop their digital education programs.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! This is The EdUp Experience President Series Episode #80.  In this episode, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Dr. Ronald L. Shape, President, National American University!  Ron comes on the show to talk to us about the regulatory challenges of tax status among other salient topics.  He discusses NAU's shift from physical campus locations to a centralized online unit well before coronavirus - and the significant barriers that exist when trying to exit physical space.  Schools across the country have had to reimagine what 'space' looks and feels like post-pandemic - learning from a pioneer in the for-profit ed space will lend insight to what schools face today. 

Dr. Ronald Shape began his career at National American University as a Student Account Specialist at the Ellsworth Air Force Base campus in Western South Dakota. He was quickly promoted to System Assistant Director of Financial Aid in 1992. He then served the university in various capacities, including System Controller, Executive Vice President at the Sioux Falls campus, Regional President for the Minnesota Region, Assistant to the University President of National American University, Chief Fiscal Officer and later in a dual role as Chief Fiscal Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He became Chief Executive Officer in 2009, successfully growing the institution throughout his tenure and launching the University’s “Service Center” education model. Dr. Shape also served as a faculty member at the school from 1995 to 2002, teaching accounting, auditing, and finance courses.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! In this episode of The EdUp Experience, sponsored by the Black History and Culture Academy, we welcome Jasmine Chigbu, CEO at MTM - Minorities to Majorities!  MTM is a software company that maximizes the retention of BIPOC students by matching them up with scholarship and grant opportunities.  Jasmine tells her personal story of receiving over 300K to attend college after working all of the opportunities out there, which are hard to find.  MTM collates the different opportunities for BIPOC students to ensure that every student can pursue an education free of financial barriers.  Jasmine has led a team that, in four years, has connected with over 15,000 students in 10 countries to champion financial literacy.

Jasmine has 4 years’ experience in start-up operations. As a student, she secured over $300,000 in scholarships and grants, motivating her to help other underrepresented students do the same. Jasmine is skilled in galvanizing MTM’s amazing team around its mission to revolutionize higher education. Jasmine is hyper-focused on leveraging technology to provide historically underestimated groups the opportunities they need to change their lives.

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! This is The EdUp Experience President Series Episode #79.  In this episode, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Dr. Susan Engelkemeyer, President at Nichols College! 

It's her first day of retirement and it's our honor to highlight the work of Dr. Susan Engelkemeyer and her impact at Nichols College and higher ed.  Hear Susan talk about the Nichols College Susan Engelkemeyer Institute for Women's Leadership carrying her namesake.  Susan talks about her ability to grow that endowment of Nicols by nine times during her tenure with prudent planning and financial stability planning.  She also discusses the impact of coronavirus on her decision-making plans toward retirement and how it changed her perspective on her future planning.  Finally, she discussed the future of higher education including the idea of "free college" and its limits on student engagement.  We can all learn so much from an outgoing President.

As president, Dr. Engelkemeyer oversees a student body of 1,500 full-time and part-time students who are enrolled in Nichols’ undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, and an alumni body of more than 12,000.  Nichols College develops tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business education.  The College offers quality undergraduate degree programs in business, educator preparation and the liberal arts; graduate degree programs in business; and a comprehensive continuing education program. On average, more than 94 percent of its students are employed within six months of graduation.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! In this episode, sponsored by The Alliance for Innovation and Transformation (AFIT), we welcome Erika Liodice, the incoming Executive Director at AFIT! 

The Alliance for Innovation and Transformation, better known as AFIT, is a 50-member organization at the front-end of reimagining what higher education looks like in the future.  Erika Liodice, the incoming Executive Director, talks with us about AFIT and how their membership learns from business, industry, and technology companies to better inform higher ed operations for students.  With monthly CEO networking sessions, to an upcoming summer session cemented by learning partners like Microsoft and the Granger Network, AFIT members are leading by example to show other higher education institutions how to innovate and transform their organizations in the face of unprecedented challenge and change.

Erika Liodice is the incoming executive director at the Alliance for Innovation & Transformation (AFIT), an association for innovative CEOs of higher education institutions and related organizations. She joined AFIT in 2015 as the marketing coordinator. During her tenure, she has played a key role in many initiatives, including the development of AFIT's popular CEO Networking Sessions, which provide a monthly virtual venue for member CEOs and invited guests to have candid conversations about the disruptive changes and challenges facing their organizations. As AFIT's executive director, Erika will help set the organization’s strategic direction and oversee operations, learning partner development, membership growth, and programming. Prior to joining AFIT, Erika spent a decade working in sales, marketing, and advertising for some of the world’s most recognized brands.

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! In this episode, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Simone Figueroa, President at U-Thrive Educational Services!

At U-Thrive Educational Services, they build mental and emotional wellness programs for college students to develop resilience.  Many college students are unprepared for their new reality, and Simone talks about her own personal journey of challenge and redemption to underpin this conversation.  But wait.  Are today's students softer and more fragile than generations past?  Simone doesn't think so, but she does think that our ability to evolve as a society has made talking about mental health more acceptable.  Simone reveals that they've just released a program for first-gen and limited-income students just launched this June!

Simone Figueroa graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Finance and concentration in Spirituality and Health. At the beginning of her academic journey, Simone struggled with her mental health and emotional well-being. It wasn’t until her Junior year when she fatefully stumbled upon a credit-bearing course in Mindfulness that she went from surviving in college to thriving. The effects of this course were so profound that it ultimately changed the trajectory of her career. Upon graduating, Simone went to work for Canyon Ranch, a premier Health & Wellness Resort in Tucson, AZ where she held various positions ranging from Operations Manager of Health, Healing & Spiritual Wellness to Director of Guest Experience. She then went on to start Conscious Living & Lifestyle, a coaching practice to support individuals in achieving physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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● Join the EdUp community at The EdUp Experience!

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We make education your business!

Welcome back to America’s leading higher education podcast! This is The EdUp Experience President Series Episode #78.  In this episode, sponsored by MDT Marketing, we welcome Dr. Lynn Priddy, President & CEO, Claremont Lincoln University!

Lynn joins us to talk about the change within higher education both from her new Presidential tenure and from her past experience of 14 years working with the nation's largest regional accreditor.  She discusses some really unique and provocative ideas for alternative models in higher education for both small and large institutions.  Ever heard of the team degree?  Lynn breaks down the idea and leaves us thinking about what general education should look like as we move forward through coronavirus and the impacts of a globally aware society.  Don't miss this one!

Dr. Lynn Priddy’s career of more than 30 years has focused exclusively on higher education, where she is known as a collaborative change agent and passionate speaker. She is currently the Provost and Chief Academic Officer of National American University, which serves adult students at 35 campuses. Previously, she was Vice President for Accreditation Services at The Higher Learning Commission, the largest regional accreditor in the United States. There she also served in the roles of Director of Education and Training and Peer Review as well as Assistant Director of the Peer Corps and Support Processes. Prior to that she was Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, then Vice President of Planning, Evaluation, and Improvement, for Nicolet College, where she received the Board Award for outstanding service.

Another episode sponsored by our great friends at MDT Marketing! Get your free marketing consultation today! mdtmarketing.com/edup

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next time for another episode!  Contact Us!

Connect with the hosts - Elvin Freytes, Elizabeth Leiba, and Dr. Joe Sallustio

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Thanks for listening!

We make education your business!