NACU PODCAST

NACU’s podcast — Connect, Collaborate, Champion — focuses on higher education’s challenges and opportunities as well as its impact on local and global communities in an effort to provide practical insight for higher education professionals. Each episode features a unique perspective from higher ed insiders, private industry experts, and other voices to capture new ways of thinking about higher education and its influence on society.

Have an idea for a podcast guest? If you’re on a NACU campus, please email Michelle Apuzzio at mapuzzio@nacu.edu. If you’re external to NACU, please email Sean Creighton at screighton@nacu.edu.

Season 5

The New ROI: Why Equity, Access, and Mobility Define Higher Ed’s Sustainable Future (April 23, 2025)

Duwain Pinder, Partner at McKinsey & Company, explores some of the most pressing issues facing higher education today. He discusses innovation in the face of change, strategies for averting the demographic cliff, and why closing disparities is central to redefining ROI through the lens of equity. The conversation also connects these strategies to the sustainability challenges and pressures confronting institutions.

Universities on Fire: Today and Into the Future (April 9, 2025)

Futurist Bryan Alexander examines the impact of climate change on higher education in his award-winning book, Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis. He discusses multiple possible futures—one driven by innovation in teaching, learning, and campus design, and another, more dire scenario, marked by widespread institutional closures and the potential loss of climate change research. This episode explores the spectrum between these extremes and highlights the crucial role students continually play in shaping the future.

Navigating AI in the Classroom: Teaching Students to Think Critically (March 19, 2025)

With AI usage among students on the rise, how can educators ensure they’re fostering critical thinking rather than passive reliance? In this episode of the NACU podcast, we speak with Dr. Allison Seitchik, an associate professor of psychology at Merrimack College, who has been researching the ethical and effective integration of AI in education. Dr. Seitchik shares insights from her own learning journey, discusses the AI guide she developed, and offers practical advice for faculty navigating this rapidly evolving landscape. Access Dr. Seitchik’s guide here. Access the Global AI Faculty Survey report from the Digital Education Council.

The Future of Learning: Technology, AI, and the Evolving Workforce (March 5, 2025)

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Horowitz, Chancellor of The Community Solution Education System, to explore how technology is shaping the future of education. Although The Community Solution institutions are geared toward graduate and professional education, the rapidly evolving job market brings about a fundamental truth: the most valuable trait for college graduates isn’t just expertise—it’s a willingness to learn and adapt as technology continues to reshape the workforce. 

Improving Student Persistence by Expanding Peer Tutoring (Feb. 5, 2025)

Improving student outcomes is a top priority for institutions, with student persistence—a student’s determination to stay enrolled and work toward a degree or credential—being a key metric. In this episode, Samyr Qureshi, founder and CEO of Knack, a peer-to-peer tutoring platform, discusses how institutions can boost persistence rates by leveraging creating a network of peer tutors, ensuring students are connected to resources that keep them engaged and on track.

Advancing Student Success: Insights from Drew Koch of the Gardner Institute (Jan. 8, 2025)

We examine the important topic of student success with Drew Koch, the chief executive officer of the Gardner Institute which has been at the forefront of initiatives to improve student retention, equity, and academic outcomes for more than two decades. Drew discusses how the Gardner Institute works with institutions to assess, plan, and execute strategies that improve student success with measurable results and what institutions should think about as they work towards their own student success goals.

Leading with Love: Paul LeBlanc on Transforming Higher Ed and Reclaiming Boyer’s Legacy (Dec. 18, 2024)

Paul LeBlanc, retired president of Southern New Hampshire University and the 2024 NACU Ernest Boyer Award recipient, shares his remarkable journey from a first-generation college student to leading the transformation of SNHU into the nation’s largest online university. In this episode, he reveals the “secret sauce” behind SNHU’s success and tackles pressing issues in higher education, including affordability, access, and the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling in an AI-driven workforce. LeBlanc reflects on the leadership qualities needed to navigate today’s challenges and emphasizes reclaiming Ernest Boyer’s legacy of truth and ethical action, even when it involves taking risks. This thought-provoking conversation explores how higher education can uphold social justice, revive the American Dream, and inspire institutions to lead with love—showing students that they truly matter.

Political Science and Experiential Learning in a Divided Society (Dec. 4, 2024)

Chris Haynes, associate professor in International Affairs, National Security, and Political Science at the University of New Haven talks about the changing nature of political science, the increasing political divide, and the impact of experiential learning on student development. Dr. Haynes is an expert on immigration, political framing, presidential elections, race and ethnicity, and the impact the changing media landscape is having on politics and public opinion. He is also the co-author of the book Framing Immigrants: News Coverage, Public Opinion, and Policy; founder and director of the University’s Model United Nations program; and the primary liaison between the University and the Washington Internship Institute.

Building Community and Confidence in First-Gen College Students (Oct. 30, 2024)

Imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence in navigating college can happen to anybody, but it can especially be a problem for students who are the first in their families to attend college. These feelings can lead to poor academic performance and a lack of engagement with the campus community, making the path to graduation more challenging.  Our guest is Julie Carballo, Assistant Dean of Students for First-Generation and Military-Affiliated Initiatives at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, which has nearly 40% first-generation students. We’ll talk about how their Cardinal First program provides essential support from enrollment through graduation, how the campus community values and supports first-generation students, and tips on what other institutions can learn from the Cardinal First program. To stay up-to-date, follow them on Instagram @firstgencardinals.

Navigating Tenure in Times of Change: Lessons from the Mitchell Hamline Merger (Oct. 2, 2024)

We discuss the story of how the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, born from the merger of two established institutions, undertook the complex process of rewriting its tenure code. As mergers in higher education become more common, the challenges of blending distinct cultures, policies, and faculty expectations are increasingly in the spotlight. Our guests are Linda Hanson, president emerita at Hamline University, and David Larson, law professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Senior Fellow at the Dispute Resolution Institute. 

Check out previous episodes here.