Trusted Voices

Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot welcome Brandon Busteed, the CEO of BrandEd, to discuss the importance of relationship-rich and work-integrated learning in higher education. He emphasizes the need for relevance and engagement in college experiences and the disconnect between higher education language and the desires of students and employers.

Teresa Valerio Parrot and Erin Hennessy focus on the findings of Inside Higher Ed's 2024 Survey of College and University Presidents. The conversation delves into the apparent optimism among college presidents amidst realistic uncertainties, the implications of potential mergers between institutions, and the pressing need for reviewing speech policies in light of current events.

Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot welcome Paul LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University, as he highlights the need for trust, relationships, and community building in education. LeBlanc suggests that AI will shift the focus from knowledge-based education to developing higher-order skills such as judgment, wisdom, and empathy.

In this episode of the Trusted Voices Podcast, hosts Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot outline their top 10 New Year’s resolutions for the higher education industry. Covering topics such as crisis communication planning, institutional culture and climate and Title VI compliance, they emphasize the importance of being prepared for reputational issues, reviewing and updating communication tools and policies and seeking guidance from relevant organizations.

In this crossover episode of the Trusted Voices Podcast and Higher Voltage, hosts Erin Hennessy, Teresa Valerio Parrot, and Kevin Tyler delve into institutional culture and climate as they explore the pivotal role of two-way communications in creating a sense of belonging in higher education.

Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot dive deep into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and its profound impact on higher education. Erin candidly shares her feelings of unpreparedness in the face of AI's challenges, setting the stage for a thoughtful discussion on the diverse range of reactions to this emerging technology, from anticipation to trepidation. After emphasizing AI's growing presence in our daily lives and its profound implications for academia, the hosts introduce the Gartner Hype Cycle as a valuable framework for comprehending the journey of new technologies and where AI is currently perched.

Paul Fain, creator of The Job newsletter and the related weekly publication Work Shift, joins Teresa and Erin to dig into the practical application of a degree and the importance of prioritizing work readiness.

Teresa and Erin discuss the importance of engaging the communications team early in crises and highlight the significance of professionalizing leadership roles, including board professionals. They also stress the need for self-care due to increasing burnout concerns among higher ed colleagues.

Kicking off Season 2, Rice University President Reginald DesRoches joins Teresa and Erin to discuss the importance of openness and how to embrace politics at one of the most prestigious private universities in the country.

The inaugural season of Trusted Voices covered a lot of ground, full of unguarded conversations and actionable insights as we explored the intersection of higher ed leadership and communications. In the final episode of our first season, Teresa and Erin look back on the first season’s line-up of guests and reflect on what each brought to the podcast and to higher education in general. They share their to-be-read piles for the summer, their predictions for upcoming changes to higher ed and what they hope to accomplish in Season 2 this fall.