WGU Sage Advice

Welcome to the final episode of Season 2. Join our Sage Advice hosts, Chris Bonnell and Emma Salomon, for this series’ wrap-up episode.

Join Chris and Emma as they revisit some of their favorite moments, such as:

- Teaching students market-ready skills
- Preparing the next generation of cyber security experts 
- Combatting the teacher shortage and the nursing shortage
- Empowering students from diverse backgrounds
- Developing microskills 

Chris Bonnell is the Vice President of External Affairs at Western Governors University and he’s been with WGU for over nine years. Chris is a public policy leader in competency-based education and psychology, with a focus on issues of mental illness and providing solutions.

Emma Salomon is the Digital Advocacy Director at Western Governors University, having been with WGU for nearly five years. Before her current role, she was a Government Relations Director at WGU. Emma is passionate about giving underserved populations access to higher education.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

Welcome to this episode of Sage Advice. Host Chris Bonnell is joined by Dr. Adaira Landry and Dr. Resa Lewiss, the authors of the new book MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact.

Join them as they:

- Discuss the concept of microskills
- Delve into the importance of mentorship and support
- Explore the importance of taking initiative

Dr. Adaira Landry is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School with almost a decade of experience mentoring students and early-career professionals. She is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, Forbes contributor, and award-winning mentor. She cofounded Writing in Color, a nonprofit that teaches the craft of writing. 

Dr. Resa Lewiss is a professor of emergency medicine, TEDMED speaker, TimesUp Healthcare founder, designer, entrepreneur, and award-winning educator, mentor, and point-of-care ultrasound specialist. She hosts the Visible Voices Podcast, amplifying content in healthcare, equity, and current trends.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of Sage Advice, host Emma Salomon is joined by Dr. Lisa Herring, President of PROPEL and strategic advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education. 

Join them as they:

- Discuss Dr. Lisa Herring’s journey from administrator to president of PROPEL
- Discuss the importance of preparing students for the workforce
- Speak on the challenges of staffing and how to combat them
- Explore competency-based education and its benefits for individual students

Dr. Herring has a career in education spanning 24 years, including experience as a teacher and administrator across urban and rural environments, and is now president of PROPEL, an innovation and learning hub for the HBCU community. Herring is recognized for her leadership in private-public partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, fostering stronger career paths for students and transforming their learning experiences. 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of Sage Advice, host Chris Bonnell is joined by Sarah DeMark, Vice Provost of Workforce Intelligence and Credential Integrity at Western Governors University (WGU).

Join them as they:

- Discuss Sarah’s transition from traditional education to skills-centric learning
- Delve into skills-based education, stackable credentials, and meeting workforce demands
- Talk about transparency, value, and educational ROI for students
- Discuss the unique approach of WGU in embracing skills-based hiring

Sarah DeMark joined in 2014 and advocates for skills-based credentials that benefit both individuals and employers. She leads WGU's strategy to ensure programs align with in-demand skills so that competency-based education delivers value for students. Additionally, Sarah serves as the interim Executive Director of the Open Skills Network and on 1EdTech’s Board of Directors and spent over 15 years at IT giants like Cisco and VMware.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of Sage Advice, host Chris Bonnell is joined by Michael Horn, co-founder of Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation.

Join them as they:
- Discuss how Yale and Harvard Business School led Michael to the Clayton Christensen Institute
- Dive into what disruptive innovation means in education and how it’s already happening at WGU
- Talk about disruptive innovation and its inherent inclusivity
- Explore AI and its exciting possibilities in education, including individual personalized learning 

Michael teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is an author of several books, including From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)creating School for Every Child; The Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns; Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools; and Choosing College. Michael also co-hosts the top education podcasts Future U and Class Disrupted, is a regular contributor to Forbes.com, and writes the Substack newsletter The Future of Education. 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. 

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of Sage Advice, host Chris Bonnell is joined by Kacey Thorne, Senior Director of Skills Architecture at Western Governors University. 

Join them as they:
- Highlight the importance of skills in a rapidly changing job market
- Explore aligning educational models with workforce demands and how WGU is leading the way in skills-based hiring
- Explain the need to make degrees more valuable through a skills-based approach

Kacey has been at WGU for eleven years and currently operates at the intersection of higher education and the future of work. She is responsible for establishing a network of competencies and skills aligned with workforce needs. 

She has established an emergent ecosystem of partnerships, processes, and technologies that continue to grow and evolve. Kacey is deeply invested in student success and creating higher education systems that support access, equity, choice, and upward mobility. She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from South College and a Master of Education in Instructional Design from WGU. 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of Sage Advice, host Emma Salomon is joined by Mitsu Frazier, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Business at Western Governors University.

Join them as they:

- Delve into the evolution of business education
- Discuss WGU’s approach to competency-based education for evolving business needs
- Shine a light on the importance of power skills in business education
- Talk about the growth of WGU’s College of Business

Mitsu Frazier is the Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Business at Western Governors University. Mitsu has been a cornerstone of WGU for nearly 16 years, playing a pivotal role in steering the university's innovative and competency-based approach to business education. Her leadership has been instrumental in ensuring that WGU's programs are not only reflective of current industry standards but also at the cutting edge of academic innovation.
 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
 

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of WGU Sage Advice, host Chris Bonnell is joined by Paul Bingham, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Information Technology at Western Governors University (WGU).
 
Join them as they:
- Discuss Paul's journey from FBI agent to educator
- Delve into the importance of upskilling amidst rapidly evolving threats
- Explore WGU's approach to integrating industry certifications into education
- Talk about the critical role of cybersecurity in society
 
Paul Bingham, the Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Information Technology at Western Governors University (WGU), is a distinguished cybersecurity and information assurance leader. During his tenure at WGU, he has played a pivotal role in advancing student development, resulting in increased enrollment and graduation rates in the cybersecurity program. 

As an FBI agent for 24 years, Paul led domestic and international cybersecurity investigations with FBI SWAT teams in over 100 high-risk tactical missions. Paul holds several professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Public Accountant, Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Penetration Tester, GIAC Certified Incident Handler, and GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. 

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In this episode of WGU Sage Advice, host Chris is joined by Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Senior Vice President of Western Governors University (WGU) and the Executive Dean of the School of Education.

Join them as they:
- Discuss the future of competency-based learning
- Elaborate on WGU's impactful one-by-one approach to learning
- Talk about the reason behind the shortage of teachers

As a pioneer of competency-based education, Stacey is envisioning, creating, and implementing academic services that optimize student progress and retention, attainment, and career success.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/wgu-in-your-state

In the first episode of Season 2 of WGU Sage Advice, host Emma Salomon is joined by Dr. Kim Kelly-Cortez, Senior Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs at Western Governors University (WGU) and the Vice President of Nursing for the Leavitt School of Health,  to discuss the future of nursing education and the innovative approaches being taken to prepare the next generation of nurses.

Join them as they:
- Delve into Kim’s journey into nursing
- Discuss the challenges in nursing education
- Shine a light on WGU's pre-licensure program for nursing 
- Talk about the current nursing shortage

With a background in education and a passion for healthcare, Kim has played a crucial role in driving the nursing faculty at WGU into the 21st century. She has helped expand enrollment, improve NCLEX scores, and increase student satisfaction.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Sage Advice is brought to you by Western Governors University. To learn more about WGU and how it's pioneering a new path in higher education, visit https://www.wgu.edu/impact