TRANSFORMED

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Dr. Emily Messer, President of Texas Wesleyan University, sits down with host Joe Gottlieb to explore how collaborative leadership and modern strategies are shaping the future of higher education. Dr. Messer shares her journey as a first-generation college graduate turned university president, and how she is guiding Texas Wesleyan through a pivotal moment of cultural renewal, strategic planning, and community and employer engagement.

Listeners will gain insight into how institutions can move beyond a “COVID hangover” by rebuilding trust, explicitly defining core values, and leveraging technology and workforce partnerships to ensure strong student outcomes. From inclusive planning sessions to innovative student success initiatives supported by Title III funding, Dr. Messer highlights how thoughtful decision-making and modern tools are preparing students, and the university, for long-term success in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.

Warm, candid, and forward-looking, this conversation offers inspiration for higher ed leaders navigating change and reimagining how culture, strategy, and technology can align to create real transformation.

References:

Emily Messer, Ed.D.

Texas Wesleyan University

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Mary Papazian, Senior Fellow at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and former president of San José State University, joins our host, Joe Gottlieb, to explore how institutional leaders and boards can navigate today’s perfect storm of change in higher education. 

From AI’s transformative impact to shifting student expectations, political pressures, and evolving financial models, Mary shares how transparent communication, co-leadership, and agile strategic planning can help institutions remain resilient and mission-focused. Listeners will gain insight into fostering board–leadership partnerships, embracing modern technology as a driver for change, and making thoughtful decisions that keep colleges and universities vibrant and relevant in a rapidly changing world. 

References: 

Mary Papazian

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)

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In this episode, our host, Joe Gottlieb, speaks with Dr. Pamela Steinke, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate, about the power of investing in faculty to lead meaningful institutional change. Dr. Steinke shares how USC Upstate has navigated enrollment shifts and regional workforce demands by reimagining academic program review, strengthening collaboration across campus, and empowering faculty to step into leadership and administrative roles.

🎧 Listeners will learn how:

• Transparent academic program review can drive improvement without resorting to cuts
• Faculty leadership and mentorship can reshape institutional culture
• Strategic investments in professional development support both transformation and morale
• Modern advising structures and technology use can create capacity for deeper faculty-student engagement
• Institutions can stay mission-driven while adapting to workforce needs and demographic shifts

References: 

Pamela Steinke 

University of South Carolina Upstate

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Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe speaks with Jeffrey Morin, President of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), about how a patient, community-centered approach can drive significant institutional transformation. Drawing parallels between higher ed and perennial gardening, Jeff shares how MIAD has cultivated enrollment growth, boosted student retention, and modernized campus operations—all while remaining fiscally disciplined and true to its values.

Listeners will hear how deliberate change management, inclusive curricular reform, and smart, transparent use of technology and data helped MIAD double in size without losing its soul. This conversation offers a thoughtful, human take on how small institutions can grow with purpose and agility in an era of increasing skepticism toward higher ed’s value.

References: 

Jeffrey Morin

MIAD

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

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In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe sits down with Dr. Andrea Talentino, President of Augustana College, to explore how she is leading a bold, community-driven approach to strategic planning. With deep roots in teaching, coaching, and student development, Dr. Talentino brings a unique blend of vision and practicality to her leadership.

Listeners will gain insight into how Augustana is embracing creativity, shared governance, and agility to shape a strategic plan grounded in mission and focused on student outcomes. From informal listening sessions and living-room salons to design teams and evolving metrics, Dr. Talentino shares an honest, inspiring view of what it takes to align an entire campus around meaningful transformation.

References: 

Andrea Talentino

Augustana College

Engage with host, Joe Gottlieb, at [email protected] at any time! 

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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In this episode, Joe Gottlieb speaks with Sean Moriarty, Chief Technology Officer at State University of New York, Oswego, about how a coach-style leadership model grounded in trust, consistency, and human connection has shaped his approach to technology in higher ed. Sean shares how his dual reporting relationship to both the Provost and CFO enables broad, strategic alignment across campus priorities, and how his team’s investment in management training and innovation grants continues to pay dividends—especially through the pandemic and into the AI era.

Listeners will gain insight into the power of building a “coalition of the willing,” fostering early adopters, and grounding digital strategy in user-centric design. Sean’s story illustrates how personal leadership philosophies, institutional mission, and regional transformation can converge to create resilient and adaptive digital ecosystems.

Our host, Joe Gottlieb, President and CTO of Higher Digital, brings decades of experience in higher ed technology leadership to each episode.

References: 

Sean Moriarty

State University of New York, Oswego

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

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In this episode, host Joe Gottlieb welcomes Matthew Gunkel, Chief Information Officer at the University of California, Riverside. Matt shares how his team partnered with finance to tackle long-standing technical debt and drive meaningful digital transformation at UCR.

Listeners will learn how thoughtful collaboration, strategic planning, and a shared commitment to innovation helped a resource-constrained institution modernize its application ecosystem, transition to cloud infrastructure, and embrace AI in ways that support student success and operational efficiency. Matt’s insights offer a compelling look at what’s possible when IT and finance unite around a common purpose: recovering from technical debt to create better outcomes for both students and the institution.

References: 

Matthew Gunkel

University of California, Riverside

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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Nuno Fernandes, President of American Public University System (APUS), joins our host, Joe Gottlieb, for an inspiring conversation on leading with purpose, resourcefulness, and humanity. With a unique path from humble beginnings in Portugal to the helm of one of the largest online universities in the U.S., Fernandes shares how his global journey shaped his passion for accessible, affordable education.

Listeners will learn how APUS innovates under financial constraints, why cultivating a culture of kindness and trust is central to organizational success, and how clear vision and shared values fuel meaningful transformation at scale. Fernandes offers honest reflections on leadership, the power of listening, and why change—when led with heart and discipline—can be a force for good in higher education.

References: 

Nuno Fernandes

American Public University System

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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Join our host Joe Gottlieb as he welcomes back Wayne Bovier, Co-founder and CEO of Higher Digital, for a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of transformation in higher education. As a returning guest and original voice behind the podcast's founding, Wayne reflects with host Joe Gottlieb on how far the industry has come—and how much change still lies ahead.

Listeners will gain insight into the dual “category five hurricanes” impacting higher ed: disruptive policy shifts and the sweeping rise of AI. 

Wayne and Joe explore how institutions can evolve by embracing business-minded strategies, rethinking accreditation, and adopting emerging disciplines like strategic portfolio management. Most importantly, they encourage faculty, administrators, and leaders to see AI not as a threat, but as a tool to unlock student success, operational efficiency, and lifelong learning.

Join us for an honest, forward-thinking dialogue aimed at helping higher ed both adapt and thrive.

References: 

Wayne Bovier

Higher Digital

America’s Talent Moonshot - How the United States Can Win the Global Competition for Prosperity and Security​ 

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text!

In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe sits down with Dwane Sterling, Chief Information Officer at Skidmore College, for an insightful conversation about the evolving role of IT leadership in higher education. With a background spanning retail, healthcare, and now academia, Dwane brings a unique, cross-industry perspective to what it means to be a truly strategic CIO.

Dwane and Joe explore how social capital functions as a critical currency for leaders navigating digital transformation. Listeners will gain valuable insights into:

• How to foster trust and collaboration across campus without depleting your social capital reserves.
• The essential shift from "the department of no" to a facilitative, partnership-driven IT culture.
• What it takes to grow from a technical specialist to an institutional change leader.
• The role of operational excellence and emotional intelligence in building credibility and trust.
• How CIOs can influence culture and strategy in environments traditionally slow to change.

Whether you're an IT professional, campus leader, or anyone interested in the intersection of technology and institutional transformation, Dwane’s thoughtful perspective and practical wisdom will resonate deeply.

References: 

Dwane Sterling

Skidmore College

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc