Podcast
Life in Higher Ed
Hosted by Denise Nelson Nash & Herminio L. Perez · EN
Welcome to Life in Higher Ed. We are senior higher education administrators and combined we have over 50 years of experience. We are here to talk about what goes on behind the scenes on college and university campuses. We surface the interesting, the confounding, and the seemingly absurd, and we do so with honesty and a sprinkling of humor. We want to help you not only survive but thrive and to know that you are not alone in your journey. If you are an administrator in higher ed or considering becoming an administrator, this podcast is for you!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Higher Ed Futures: Possibilities, Vision, Options - Bryan Alexander
May 2700:57:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHigher education is navigating a polycrisis, a confluence of demographic shifts, economic instability, political hostility, and technological disruption that has pushed American colleges and universities into a period of managed decline. Bryan Alexander joins us to explore what that means for the future of higher ed. While agency is unevenly distributed, we all have choices to make, and together, we can shape what comes next.Bryan Alexander, PhDBryan Alexander is an internationally recognized futurist, author, and consultant whose career has been devoted to understanding and shaping the future of higher education. He earned his doctorate in English language and literature from the University of Michigan and has since built a body of work spanning faculty roles, nonprofit leadership at the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education, and his own consultancy, Bryan Alexander Consulting, LLC. His three books from Johns Hopkins University Press — Academia Next, Universities on Fire (winner of the 2025 Frederic W. Ness Book Award), and his most recent, Peak Higher Ed: How to Survive the Emerging Academic Crisis (2026) — have established him as one of the field's most authoritative voices on crisis, change, and what comes next. He is currently a senior scholar at Georgetown University, where he teaches in the Learning, Design, and Technology graduate program.Alexander speaks and publishes widely, with articles and commentary appearing in The Atlantic, Inside Higher Ed, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Times Higher Education, among many other outlets. His book Academia Next received the Association of Professional Futurists' Most Significant Futures Work Award, and Universities on Fire was recognized with the 2025 Frederic W. Ness Book Award from the American Association of Colleges and Universities.Resources:Alexander, B. (2026). Peak Higher Ed: How to Survive the Emerging Academic Crisis. Johns Hopkins University Press https://peakhighered.com/AI Substack https://aiandacademia.substack.com/Alexander, B. (2023). Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Transcribe →If you can't tell the story, how can you lead? - Trisha Beck and Denise Nelson Nash
Mar 2300:28:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode, we explore why the ability to craft and share meaningful stories is essential to effective leadership, sense‑making, and trust‑building in complex organizations.Joining the conversation are Trish Beck and Denise Nelson Nash, co‑authors of Trinity of Leadership: Learners, Thinkers, Tinkerers, and thought leaders whose work examines how leaders use narrative to clarify purpose, navigate change, and inspire action. Together, they discuss storytelling as a strategic practice—one that helps leaders connect values to decisions, bridge divides, and create shared meaning across communities.Drawing on their recent work published by Akers Follett Press, the conversation moves beyond technique to explore storytelling as an ethical and relational act of leadership—particularly relevant in moments of uncertainty and transformation.Trisha Beck, EdD, RN, NE-BC, FACHEDr. Beck brings over two decades of healthcare leadership experience, combining clinical expertise with innovative organizational transformation. She holds a Master's degree from Northeastern University and a Doctorate from New York University. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to placing human stories at the center of healthcare solutions, bridging medicine and human dignity. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes the intersection of compassion and innovation.Denise Nelson Nash, EdD, MFA, RYT-200Dr. Nelson Nash is a Renaissance leader whose career spans performing arts, city administration, academia, and executive leadership. She served as Director of Cultural Planning for the City of Pasadena from 1991 to 1997. She holds a BA from Scripps College, an MFA from the University of Michigan, a Doctorate from New York University, and a 200-hour yoga teacher certification. A self-proclaimed "professional Tinkerer," she has mastered the art of reinvention while maintaining her core philosophy of human-centered leadership. Her global experiences and diverse career inform her unique leadership perspective.Resources:Beck, T., Nelson Nash, D., et al. (2026). Trinity of Leadership: Learners, Thinkers, Tinkerers, Akers Folett Press.https://akersfollettpress.com/
Transcribe →Academic Freedom: then vs now - Jonathan Friedman and Amy Reid
Jan 1600:48:13Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMore than half of U.S. college students now attend institutions in states where new laws and policies restrict what can be taught and how campuses can operate, according to a new PEN America report. In this conversation, Jonathan Friedman and Amy Reid explore how these constraints are reshaping student learning, faculty work, and the vital research that transforms curiosity into innovations that drive economic growth, create high-paying jobs, strengthen national security, improve public health, and power new technologies.PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. They champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Their mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Jonathan FriedmanJonathan Friedman, Ph.D., is the Sy Syms managing director of U.S. free expression programs at PEN America, where he leads national advocacy to protect the freedom to write, read, and learn and to safeguard the free circulation of literature, art, and ideas. Since joining PEN America in 2018 as the inaugural director of its Campus Free Speech Program, he has developed free expression workshops for higher education, expanded the organization’s work opposing book bans, educational gag orders, and government censorship in schools and universities, and overseen initiatives such as the Flashpoints centenary series and Free Expression Advocacy institutes for youth. An interdisciplinary scholar and prolific report author and media commentator on academic, artistic, and press freedom, he has facilitated dozens of programs across education, library, and arts sectors and holds an MA and Ph.D. in international education from NYU.Amy ReidAmy Reid is the Interim Program Director for PEN America’s Freedom to Learn Program, where she collaborates with national and state-based networks to resist government censorship in higher education and champion public education and the liberal arts. She previously served as a professor of French and director of Gender Studies at New College of Florida, and in 2023–2024 was Chair of the Faculty and faculty representative on the Board of Trustees, working to defend academic freedom in the Florida State University System. A PhD in French from Yale and an award-winning translator of Francophone African fiction, she has translated works by authors including Véronique Tadjo, Patrice Nganang, Mutt-Lon, and Blaise Ndala, and is currently translating Marie-Célie Agnant’s novel Rosa the Alligator, forthcoming in 2025.Resources:America’s Censored Campuses: Expanding the Web of Control https://pen.org/report/americas-censored-campuses-25-web-of-control/Snapshots of Censorshiphttps://pen.org/snapshots-of-censorship/
Transcribe →Faculty Mentoring: what mentees need today - R. Todd Benson
Oct 900:46:41Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode, we sit down with R. Todd Benson from COACHE (Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education) to explore what makes faculty mentoring truly effective. Todd shares insights from COACHE's extensive research on faculty job satisfaction and workplace climate across hundreds of institutions. We discuss the data-driven elements that contribute to successful mentoring relationships, common pitfalls departments face, and practical strategies for creating a culture where both new and established faculty can thrive. Whether you're a department chair, a seasoned mentor, or a junior faculty member seeking guidance, this conversation offers perspectives on building stronger academic communities through intentional mentoring practices.R. Todd BensonR. Todd Benson, Ed.D., is the executive director and principal investigator of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) — a research-practice partnership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Benson leads the COACHE team across all dimensions of its research and partner engagement and has worked in higher education for three decades. He is the co-author of a new book: Evaluating Educational Development: A Comprehensive and Data-Driven Approach for Colleges and Universities, (Carol A. Hurney, Bonnie B. Mullinix and R. Todd Benson, Routledge, December 2024), which shows how educational developers can use data to monitor and demonstrate the impact of their work, laying the foundation for evidence-based decisions to improve practice.Benson earned his doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University, where he studied the experiences of doctoral students and the factors that contributed to their respective career outcomes. Previously, Benson served as a student affairs professional for over 10 years at colleges and universities across the country.Resources:Hurney, C.A., et al. (2024). Evaluating Educational Development: A Comprehensive and Data-Driven Approach for Colleges and Universities, Routledge.Mathews, K., & Benson, R. T. (2023). Evidence-based faculty development: The COACHE research-practice partnership. In Success After Tenure (pp. 263-284). Routledge.Davis, T. M., et al. 2022). Barriers to the successful mentoring of faculty of color. Journal of Career Development, 49(5), 1063-1081.
Transcribe →In crisis and calm: building an essential partnership with your institution's legal counsel - Guilherme Costa
Sep 1200:44:47Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFrom navigating routine compliance challenges to managing full-blown institutional crises, discover how administrators cultivate strategic partnerships with their legal advisor that prove invaluable when the stakes are highest. Guilherne Costa shares candid insights on building trust during quiet periods, establishing clear communication protocols, and why the best crisis responses start long before trouble hits campus. Whether you're facing student protests, Title IX investigations, or unexpected legal challenges, this episode reveals how to transform your general counsel from reactive advisor to proactive strategic partner.Guilherme M. CostaGuilherme M. Costa serves as the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation of Bentley University. Guilherme brings more than 15 years of higher education leadership experience, having previously served Syracuse University as the Interim Senior Vice President and University Secretary (and previously as the Senior Associate Vice President and Deputy University Secretary), Ithaca College as the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, the South Dakota Board of Regents as General Counsel, and the University of Idaho as the Deputy General Counsel (and previously as the Associate General Counsel). Guilherme earned undergraduate degrees in business administration and political science from the University of Florida, a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and a master’s degree in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho. ResourcesFabiano, A, Harrington, B, et al. (2025). Five Priorities for College & University Legal Counsel Starting the Academic YearMasterly Legal (2024). Why Higher Education Institutions Need a Dedicated Higher Education Attorney https://www.masterlylegal.com/why-higher-education-institutions-need-a-dedicated-higher-education-attorneyMorioka, S. (2022). The Evolution of the General Counsel https://quadrangle.michigan.law.umich.edu/issues/fall-2022/evolution-general-counsel
Transcribe →Beyond the application: the changing face of college admissions - Kent Barnds
Aug 1200:34:50Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWith recent shifts in federal and state policies, legal rulings, and evolving demographics, how are institutions adapting their approaches to student recruitment and selection? This question is on the minds of educators, administrators, and families across the nation. W. Kent Barnds, executive vice president for strategy and innovation, Augustana CollegeKent brings over 30 years of strategic leadership experience in higher education to today's conversation. As a seasoned higher ed professional who has served in key roles including Vice President for Enrollment, Communication, and Planning and Executive Vice President at Augustana College, as well as contributing to organizational success at Elizabethtown College, Kent has become a trusted advisor in the non-profit sector. His expertise spans strategic planning, enrollment management, and organizational development, with a proven track record of driving sustainable growth and enhancing student experiences.Known for his analytical rigor and collaborative approach, Kent excels at engaging diverse stakeholders and translating strategic vision into actionable plans. His ability to synthesize market trends, facilitate consensus, and navigate complex challenges has consistently delivered results for the institutions he's served. As a recognized thought leader in higher education strategy, Kent continues to help organizations chart successful courses in an ever-evolving landscape, making him an invaluable voice on the future of higher education and non-profit leadership.ReferencesLegatt, A. (2025, July 29). College admissions is changing. Here’s what parents need to know. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivalegatt/2025/07/29/college-admissions-is-changing-heres-what-parents-need-to-know/Urban Institute. (2025, July 2). College enrollment patterns are changing. New data show applicant and admit pools are too. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/college-enrollment-patterns-are-changing-new-data-show-applicant-and-admit-pools-are-tooAmerican Psychological Association. (2023, August 7). APA reaffirms support for equity, inclusion in college admissions, in response to Supreme Court ruling. APA Newsroom. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/08/equity-inclusion-college-admissions
Transcribe →Resilience Redefined: Leading in Turbulent Times - Ralph Gigliotti
May 4, 202500:33:49Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhen chaos strikes, how do leaders step up, steady the ship, and guide their organizations toward resilience and renewal? This is on the minds of leaders across higher ed and beyond. Dr. Ralph Gigliotti, whose work focuses on helping leaders transform moments of crisis into opportunities for growth and reinvention, shares his insights and recommendations for navigating challenging times.Ralph GigliottiAs Assistant Vice President for Organizational Leadership in University Academic Affairs at Rutgers University, Ralph directs the Office of Organizational Leadership and provides executive leadership for signature development programs, consultation services, and research initiatives. He serves as an advisor to senior leaders on change leadership, crisis management, and organizational strategy, facilitating the alignment of planning activities with university priorities. He oversees initiatives to strengthen organizational effectiveness and advances strategic academic transformation projects. Ralph holds faculty appointments in multiple schools and departments at Rutgers, is the author of 10 books and over 50 peer-reviewed publications focused on leadership and organizational dynamics, and serves on numerous university committees, including as co-chair of the Presidential Employee Excellence Committee.Beyond Rutgers, Ralph is president of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI), a consortium of nearly 100 North American colleges and universities dedicated to advancing excellence in higher education. He serves as a member of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners, co-leads both the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science Team Science Core and the Distinction in Leadership in Academic Healthcare Program, and holds professional certifications as a Gallup Strengths Coach and Birkman Professional. A recipient of numerous teaching, research, and service awards, Ralph actively contributes to the International Leadership Association and National Communication Association.Resources:Leadership Generativity and the Social, Emotional, and Pragmatic Pivot from Crisis to Post-Crisis (2024) by Ralph Gigliotti Guide for Leaders in Higher Education: Concepts, Competencies, and Tools (2021) by Brent D. Ruben, Richard De Lisi, Ralph GigliottLeadership in Academic Health Centers: Core Concepts and Critical Cases (2021) by C. Goldthwaite and Ralph GigliottiCrisis Leadership in Higher Education: Theory and Practice (2019) by Ralph Gigliotti
Transcribe →Higher education and politics: finding your path in 2025 - Teresa Valerio Parrot
Mar 25, 202500:34:20Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThings have become more complicated for higher education in 2025, with executive orders, grant terminations, funding reductions, and investigations. This isn't the first time higher education has faced a crisis; what's different this time, or is it? Teresa Valerio Parrot provides perspective and advice on navigating tumultuous times.Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal, TVP CommunicationsTeresa is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communications counsel focused on transparent leadership and relationship building. Teresa helps higher education executives truthfully share excellence and genuinely own mistakes through their communications and actions because she knows honesty is present in all sound proactive and crisis outreach. Previously, Teresa served as senior vice president for Widmeyer Communications and vice president for SimpsonScarborough. She counts almost 10 years of service with the University of Colorado, including an officer-level appointment as Assistant Secretary of the University. She is co-host of the Trusted Voices Podcast, co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, has numerous bylines with national and higher education media, and is a frequent keynote speaker. She was awarded the Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence by CASE and serves as a CASE Laureate. Teresa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a doctoral degree in higher education policy and leadership from Southern Methodist University. She is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She serves on the boards of PRSA and the Colorado-based Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and is a member of the Denver Ballet Guild.ResourcesTrusted Voices Podcast https://tvpcommunications.com/trusted-voices-podcast-season-one-recap/Issues of Educational Leadership: Crisis Management during Challenging Times (2021) by Fern AefskyThe Prepared Leader: Emerge from Amy Crisis More Resilient Than Before (2022) by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten
Transcribe →DEI: Why is it being used to divide America? - Dr. Daryl G. Smith
Feb 25, 202500:43:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode, we delve into the attacks on DEI with Dr. Daryl G. Smith, author of Diversity's Promise for Higher Education. Dr. Smith discusses the complex dynamics of institutional capacity building and offers insights into mission advancement during these turbulent times. Dr. Daryl G. Smith, PhDDr. Smith is a Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emerita of Education andPsychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined CGU as a facultymember after serving for years as a college administrator in planning and researchand student affairs. She is the author of numerous books and publications, including Diversity’s Promise for Higher Education: Making it Work (4 rd ed). She has served as an evaluator, consultant, and faculty to numerous projects, professional associations, and campuses across the country and to foundations such as the James Irvine Foundation, the Haas Jr. Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and The Hewlett Foundation. She served as part of two U.S. delegations to Ford Foundation sponsored tri-national conferences (India, South Africa, U.S.) on campus diversity, higher education, and democracy that took place in South Africa and the United States. Smith was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in South Africa in 2010 and 2012.Resources (all publications authored or co-authored by Daryl G. Smith):Diversity’s Promise for Higher Education: Making it Work (4th ed) (2024)Framing Diversity Work Today: An Imperative for Excellence for a Pluralistic Society (2024)Leadership Excellence in a Pluralistic Society: The Role of Identity and Inclusive Leadership (2021)Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Emerging Cross-national Perspectiveson Institutional Transformation (2014)
Transcribe →Unbias: Unconscious bias at work - Stacey A. Gordon
Feb 4, 202500:37:11Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode Stacey Gordon, founder and principal consultant of Rework Work and author of Unbias: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work, Stacey commented, “The awareness piece is so big. When I first started DEI work, about a decade ago, I really thought it was all about action, and I was that person, like, you need to take action. (“...”) But the more I do this work, the more I am scaling back and just keep coming back to the awareness piece, because I can't make you take an action, can't make you do anything, but once you become aware, and like I said, you have that alignment, that intentionality, that accountability for wanting to do something, (“…”) you're going to do what is right because you see it. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.”Stacey A. Gordon, MBAAs an Executive Advisor and Inclusive Workplace Culture Consultant, Stacey Gordon anchors action using change management principles while facilitating mindset shifts. She combines concepts of recruiting, career development, diversity, and workplace culture to focus on reworking how companies work, including how they inclusively recruit, hire, and engage employees, effectively creating inclusion and belonging for all. Through her company, Rework Work, she has worked with executive leaders and people managers from companies such as American Express, Kia Motors, Hewlett Packard, GE, Roku, The Obama Foundation, and many others to deliver education, coaching, and consulting that supports organizational change and leadership development in furtherance of creating inclusive workplace cultures.Stacey’s book, UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work, debuted at #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Release list, while her unconscious bias course on the LinkedIn learning platform was the #1 most watched course of 2021 and has been translated into several languages. Her audience is quickly approaching 2 million unique learners, and Stacey has been recognized as a passionate supporter of DEI by Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, Pepperdine University, and LinkedIn. She earned her MBA from Pepperdine University Business School, her SHRM-SCP certification, and the SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture Credential. To learn more, visit learn.reworkwork.comResources:Unbias: Addressing Unconcious Bias at Work (2021) by Stacey A. Gordon
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