Careers aren’t linear and learning shouldn’t be either. 

Justin Samuels has lived that reality, from working in higher ed to senior engineering at Mailchimp to founding RenderATL. Along the way, he's learned one truth: the skills you need tomorrow don't exist in today's textbooks. In this episode of UnchartED State, Sean Owen and Maddie Ludt sit down with Justin for a candid conversation about what it really takes to grow in fast-moving industries and what higher education needs to do differently. From embedded internships that put students in the trenches to hiring people smarter than yourself, Justin unpacks where colleges struggle to keep pace with industry and why teaching adaptability matters more than teaching tools. This conversation is about building the kind of learners who don't just survive change. They drive it.

Drawing from his journey as a Mississippi State alum, engineer, and entrepreneur, Justin unpacks what higher education gets right, where it struggles to keep up with industry, and why adaptability, belonging, and learning how to learn matter more than any single credential.

In This Episode:

• Changing careers (not just jobs) and embracing uncertainty
• Building community and belonging in remote and hybrid worlds
• Why degrees matter less than experience, mindset, and curiosity
• Hiring people who are smarter than you and why that’s a strength
• The role of internships, co-ops, and industry partnerships in closing skill gaps
• Learning how to learn in a world that changes faster every year

Careers aren’t linear, innovation isn’t tidy, and learning never really ends. This episode explores how breaking things, thoughtfully, can lead to better leaders, stronger communities, and more resilient learners.

Who needs college anymore? What should higher education look like in an era of rapid change, AI, and evolving workforce demands?

In this episode of Uncharted State, Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt sit down with Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab and author of Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter. Together, they explore why degrees still matter for some learners, why they don’t for many others, and what must change to create meaningful, trusted pathways beyond the traditional four-year model.

Drawing on years of research, real learner stories, and national workforce data, deLaski challenges the “college for all” narrative while making a compelling case for short-term credentials, micro-pathways, employer-aligned learning, and the human skills that AI can’t replace.

In This Episode:

• Who the “new majority learner” is and why higher ed wasn’t designed for them
• Why affordability and relevance keep millions from completing degrees
• The rise of short-term credentials, apprenticeships, and stackable pathways
• How employers, colleges, and states can build trust in alternative credentials
• Credit for prior learning, skills transcripts, and work-based experience
• Why critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy matter more than ever
• How universities can balance workforce outcomes with the public good

Learning no longer follows a single path. This episode offers a deep exploration of how education, work, and lifelong learning must weave together to better serve learners and society.

📘 Learn more about the book or purchase a copy:
https://www.whoneedscollegeanymore.org

As 2026 begins, what changes will define higher education? And how do we prepare learners for a world where the jobs, technologies, and challenges of tomorrow don't yet exist?

In Episode 8 of Uncharted State, Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt are joined by special guest Dr. Asim Ali, Executive Director of the Biggio Center at Auburn University, to make bold predictions about the year ahead. Sitting on the front porch of a new year, they tackle everything from the future of the four-year degree to emerging technologies that seemed impossible just months ago.

We're living in what Dr. Ali calls a "liminal period"—the old model is dying, but the new one isn't fully formed. In this in-between space, universities face critical questions: Will degrees continue as the primary organizing principle, or are stackable credentials and continuing education reshaping everything? How do we balance preparing students for immediate workforce needs while developing lifelong learners? And what role will AI, augmented reality, and cultural fluency play in classrooms?

In This Episode:

•  The Four-Year Degree: Will it remain the organizing principle of higher education, or are unbundling and stackable credentials the future?
• Land Grant Legacy: How institutions like Mississippi State and Auburn have navigated economic transformations before
• Continuing Education: Why it's the overlooked solution for meeting immediate workforce needs while preserving holistic learning
• Emerging Technologies: Augmented reality, AI-powered learning profiles, brain-computer interfaces, and what seemed crazy yesterday
• Generational Shifts: Moving beyond traditional demographic categories to AI fluency, cultural quotient, and diverse learning needs
• Faculty Evolution: The shift from sage on the stage to facilitator, and what support faculty need to make that transition
• Student Engagement: Why motivation matters more than technology, and what needs to change
• Learning Environments: Creating spaces for time-scarce adult learners

Higher education stands at a crossroads. This conversation offers a roadmap for universities ready to become lifelong learning partners, meeting students not just for four years but throughout their lives.

What happens when the pace of change in higher education outpaces the systems designed to sustain it? And how do institutions adapt intentionally and intelligently to a future where AI, shifting learner needs, and rapid disruption are the norm?

In Episode 7 of UnchartED State, Dr. Kim Siegenthaler, joining us all the way from Hawaii, talks with Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt about the urgent transformation taking place across higher ed. From AI literacy and faculty training to demographic cliffs, workforce expectations, and the realities of campus life in a post-COVID world, this episode explores how institutions can stay nimble, relevant, and learner-centered.

Dr. Kim offers a candid look at the tension between long-range planning and sudden disruptions, the changing profile of today’s learners, and why embracing chaos and ambiguity may be essential for educators moving forward.

In This Episode:

• Why banning AI is unrealistic—and why faculty AI literacy matters more than ever
• How higher ed can nurture student creativity and leverage emerging technologies
• The growing disconnect between traditional structures and modern learner needs
• Long-range “hurricane” shifts vs. sudden “tornado” disruptions shaping universities
• Rethinking faculty development, curriculum design, and institutional agility
• The future of enrollment, research, workforce development, and community relevance

Higher education is standing at a crossroads, and this conversation shines a light on the mindset, strategies, and courage it will take to lead through the uncertainty ahead.

What does it take to rethink teaching for a new generation of learners? And how can curiosity, reflection, and shared inquiry reshape the future of higher education?

In this episode of Uncharted State, Dr. Shannon Harmon—faculty member turned instructional innovator—joins Susan Seal and Maddie Ludt to examine how the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is transforming the way universities approach teaching. From questioning long-standing norms to embracing discomfort, Dr. Harmon shares why examining our own practices is essential for improving student learning and building a more adaptive academic culture.

In This Episode:
 • What the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning actually is and why it matters
 • How faculty curiosity and reflective practice drive meaningful change
 • Why today’s learners require new approaches, new structures, and new mindsets
 • The role of feedback, experimentation, and “failing forward” in instructional growth
 • How AI literacy, micro-credentials, and competency-based learning are reshaping the future
 • Why the classroom must become a community of learners

Teaching isn’t static. It’s a living, evolving practice. This episode explores how embracing inquiry, innovation, and the needs of today’s learners can reshape classrooms, curriculum, and the future of higher education itself.

What does it mean to be a people-first leader? And how can empathy, openness, and shared power transform the way we lead?

In Episode 5 of Uncharted State, Dr. Will Reed—military leader turned educator—joins Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt to explore what it means to lead with people at the center. From the Army to the classroom, Dr. Reed shares how connection, humility, and care are reshaping leadership in higher education and beyond.

In This Episode:

• What “people-first leadership” looks like in action
• How lessons from the military and Marvel movies can inspire teamwork and shared power
• The value of empathy, openness, and listening in leadership development
• Why servant leadership and psychological safety matter more than ever
• How Mississippi State’s applied leadership programs are preparing learners to lead change

Leadership isn’t about titles or authority—it’s about people. This episode reveals how leading with heart, humility, and shared purpose can transform teams, organizations, and lives.

Who is the “new learner,” and how are universities redefining education to meet them where they are?

In Episode 4 of Uncharted State, Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt explore what it means to learn, teach, and grow in an era of constant change. From virtual cadaver labs to credit for prior learning and lifelong pathways that blend work, study, and technology, they dive into how higher education is transforming to support learners at every stage of life.

In This Episode:

• What defines the “new learner” and how their paths differ from traditional students
• Real stories of learners redefining success through flexible education pathways
• How community colleges and universities are collaborating for seamless transitions
• Credit for prior learning and the power of recognizing real-world experience
• How VR, simulation, and AI are transforming how—and where—we learn
• Why listening, relationships, and empathy matter as much as innovation

Learning today doesn’t follow a straight line. The new learner journey is about flexibility, relevance, and reimagining education as a lifelong, connected experience.

As industries evolve and AI reshapes the workforce, universities face a new challenge: preparing learners not just for their first job—but for a lifetime of reinvention.

In Episode 3 of Uncharted State, Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt explore how higher education and industry can collaborate to define what success truly means in today’s dynamic world.

In This Episode:

• Why 65% of jobs still require a college degree—and why that’s only part of the story
• How universities can become lifelong learning partners, not just degree-granting institutions
• The rise of “returnships” and retooling opportunities for mid-career professionals
• Why soft skills, creativity, and adaptability still matter more than ever
• How AI integration in curriculum can empower—not replace—the human thinker
• Building “sandbox” spaces where students, faculty, and industry explore innovation together

Education is no longer a finish line—it’s a lifelong partnership. Success today means agility, curiosity, and collaboration between learners, universities, and the industries they’ll transform.

Are GPAs and graduation rates really measuring success? Dean Susan Seal and team challenge traditional metrics and explore what success means today.

In Episode 2 of Uncharted State, Susan Seal, Sean Owen, and Maddie Ludt tackle a fundamental question: How should we actually measure student success in higher education?

In This Episode:

• Why traditional metrics (GPA, retention, graduation rates) were designed for external stakeholders, not students
• The shift from "college ready" to "student ready" institutions
• Credit for prior learning: Why recognizing work experience improves graduation rates
• Moving beyond "traditional" vs "non-traditional" labels that devalue student experience
• How career impact and skill application define success for adult learners
• The role of technology and AI in identifying student needs and measuring outcomes

Success looks different for everyone. A student returning after 15 years of management experience has different needs than an 18-year-old freshman—and universities must meet both where they are, not force them into outdated categories.

How do students truly feel connected to their university? Dean Susan Seal and team explore practical strategies for building authentic belonging.

In this inaugural episode of Uncharted State, Dean Susan Seal, Associate Dean Sean Owen, and Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement Maddie Ludt from Mississippi State University's College of Professional and Continuing Studies tackle one of higher education's most critical challenges: helping diverse student populations feel like they belong.

In This Episode:

• Why belonging drives student success, retention, and deeper learning
• Practical instructional strategies that foster genuine connection
• How to engage diverse populations: military veterans, working professionals, traditional students, and adult learners across generations
• The role of vulnerability and authenticity in effective teaching
• What students can do to take ownership of their educational experience
• Real stories from the classroom

Whether you're teaching, designing educational programs, or navigating your own learning journey, this conversation offers actionable insights for transforming isolation into community.