Built With A-State

Todd Shields
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Hosted by Todd Shields, Built with A-State is the definitive tactical guide for industry leaders looking to partner with Arkansas State University. This series provides a transparent "user manual" for engagement, detailing everything from the CREST program to faculty collaboration models. By removing academic jargon, we simplify the process for organizations to access university resources and scale their regional impact.

  1. 4d ago

    System Reset: Leading a University and System Through Explosive Growth

    Higher education cannot survive in a vacuum anymore. Dr. Todd Shields and Dr. Calvin White, Jr. break down their strategy for aligning the ASU System directly with industry demands. This conversation maps out the operational mechanics of running a university system like a 24/7 enterprise. Shields and White dissect the transition from outdated degree pipelines to applied research engines that supply regional manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. They detail the late-night phone calls, the shift in scholarship funding toward mid-range students, and the grants fueling the new College of Veterinary Medicine. It takes relentless communication with parents and policymakers to keep enrollment numbers climbing. For administrators navigating stagnant enrollment, this episode outlines a blueprint to rethink regional value propositions and recruit effectively. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow higher-ed operator. What industry partnership do you think universities should focus on next? 0:00 Todd Shields Takes the ASU Presidency 4:44 Building University and Industry Partnerships 8:48 The Shields and White Leadership Handoff 17:07 Dr. Calvin White on the 24/7 Chancellor Role 20:35 Rethinking A-State Scholarships and Recruitment 23:02 The Veterinary Medicine Research Accelerator

  2. Sep 8

    Best of Built With A-State: The New Path to Earning Potential

    Education must move at the speed of business, or risk leaving an entire workforce behind. Todd Shields sits down with Graham Cobb and Shane Broadway to examine how institutions are actively rewriting the curriculum playbook. Traditional four-year degree pipelines are fracturing under the weight of rapid technological shifts. Operators need incumbent workers trained immediately, forcing colleges to build stackable credentials directly alongside corporate partners like Dassault Falcon Jet. This conversation strips away the academic theory to examine the actual logistics of custom workforce training and adjusting to older, non-traditional student populations. We look at the costs of scaling these programs and the missteps that happen when education fails to consult industry floors. For local business leaders navigating severe talent shortages, this episode provides a practical framework to partner with two-year colleges for immediate upskilling. Subscribe and share this episode with a peer trying to solve their hiring bottlenecks. What specific skill gap is hurting your daily operations the most right now? @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 Intro & Regional Relationships 2:31 Changing Demographics in Higher Education 5:14 Building Curriculum with Industry Leaders 9:49 Shane Broadway on System-Wide Perspectives 13:59 Stackable Credentials and Workforce Training 19:40 Political Consensus and State Transformation

  3. Aug 25

    Pace Line Strategy: Drafting and Leading in Your Industry

    Economic isolation is a fast track to stagnation. As technology accelerates and workforce demands shift, municipalities, industries, and educational institutions can no longer afford to operate in isolated silos. Graham Cobb of Paceline Strategies joins the show to discuss why adopting a regional approach, stitching together diverse communities and industries, is the only way to build the economies of scale necessary for long-term growth and stability. We sit down to unpack the critical components of successful regionalism, from the undeniable impact of housing stock on quality of life to the evolving role of universities as neutral conveners. The conversation explores the mechanics of a "pace line strategy," illustrating how organizations must rotate between leading and drafting to share the load. Graham also dives into the shifting demographics of higher education, where older students and incumbent workers are returning to update their credentials at the speed of business. Building these regional networks isn't easy. It requires leaders to step outside their comfort zones, confront the limitations of their local resources, and actively participate in civic infrastructure. You will walk away with a clear understanding of why shared experiences matter more than assigned tasks, how to foster accountability within regional partnerships, and the mindset shift needed to view your organization as a vital piece of a larger economic puzzle rather than a standalone entity. If you care about economic development, civic engagement, and the future of workforce education, you’ll get a lot from this. Please subscribe to the channel and share this episode with anyone interested in building stronger, more connected communities. How is your community or industry currently struggling with regional collaboration? @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 - The Case for Regionalism and Cross-Industry Connection 7:11 - Universities as Switzerland: Facilitating Economic Growth 13:50 - The Pace Line Strategy: Knowing When to Lead 21:17 - Evolving Higher Education for the Lifelong Learner 34:57 - How to Participate and Lead in Your Region

  4. Aug 11

    Navigating the Modern Higher Education Landscape

    Navigating the modern higher education landscape requires far more than passive leadership. Colleges across the nation are facing intense headwinds, shifting demographics, and declining enrollment figures. Taking on an executive role like university chancellor isn't a guaranteed safe bet; it involves managing massive budgets, balancing complex political expectations, and taking calculated professional risks. To drive sustained institutional success today, leaders must focus on high-stakes execution, relentless effort, and an unshakeable commitment to the communities they serve. We sit down with Dr. Calvin White Jr., Interim Chancellor at Arkansas State University, to break down the actual operational mechanics of leading a major public university. We get into how the institution achieved five consecutive semesters of enrollment growth by completely revamping its value proposition, modernizing outreach for 16-to-18-year-olds, and creating accessible scholarship pipelines like the Arkansas Promise Plus. Dr. White shares how A-State is expanding its academic footprint by launching the state’s first College of Veterinary Medicine, establishing a seamless "two-plus-two" system partnership with ASU Beebe, and driving research expenditures from fifth to third in the state by partnering directly with key regional industries like steel and agriculture. The core philosophy driving these moves is simple: institutional success comes from blocking out noise, returning to fundamental access, and treating research as a direct R&D arm for local communities. Stepping into the highest administrative seats means agreeing to a 24/7 commitment that the public rarely witnesses. Success in senior university leadership often requires sacrifice, stepping away from family events, answering emergency calls at midnight, and operating quietly as the engine behind the scenes. Moving from the classroom to the administrative ranks means betting on yourself and relying heavily on the tools earned at every previous level of your career. If you care about higher education leadership, expanding workforce development, and rural economic access, you’ll get a lot from this episode. Be sure to subscribe to the channel and share this video with colleagues who value practical leadership insight. What is the biggest operational lesson you've taken from a leader who stepped up during a critical inflection point? Let us know in the comments below! ​ @ArkansasStateMediaNetwork⁩   0:00 - Introduction & Interim Chancellor Welcome 1:12 - Stepping into Leadership & Taking Career Risks 5:20 - A Day in the Life of a University Chancellor 10:38 - Driving 5 Semesters of Consecutive Enrollment Growth 21:00 - Launching the College of Veterinary Medicine 29:21 - Expanding Research & Legacy Vision

  5. Jul 28

    From Flagship to System: Dr. Todd Shields and Dr. Calvin White on Leading the Next Era

    Top-down mandates and command-central edicts rarely survive contact with the real world, especially in institutions where trust is the currency of progress. At a time when higher education faces shifting enrollment landscapes, athletic restructuring, and demand for immediate workforce alignment, organizations need stable continuity over constant, chaotic upheaval. Newly minted Arkansas State University System President Todd Shields and incoming Interim Chancellor Calvin White sit down to unpack their 18-year working relationship and explain how they plan to lead A-State through its next chapter. We get into the mechanics of building an executive team that isn't afraid to push back, argue ideas, and test concepts through real-world pilots. The conversation highlights specific milestones like the "freshman to physician" program, the development of the CREST Center, and the strategic positioning of A-State as a workforce continuum and applied research engine for industries along the Mississippi River corridor. Their secret sauce relies on what Shields calls "deliberate dialogue"—a process that takes raw room chaos and channels it into an actionable, shared plan where every participant understands the "why" behind the final decision. Leading a major university system requires navigating difficult internal workflow bottlenecks, recovering from a decade-long enrollment decline, and absorbing the inevitable failures that come with testing new initiatives. Viewers will walk away with a practical framework for shared governance, a blueprint for empowering frontline staff by asking "what would you do?", and a realistic look at how leaders can scale local organizational successes without forcing rigid solutions onto unique campus cultures. If you care about organizational continuity, collaborative leadership, and building resilient teams from the ground up, you’ll get a lot from this. Make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with a colleague or mentor who values practical leadership over theory. What is the biggest top-down mandate in your industry that needs to be replaced with open, shared dialogue? Let us know in the comments below. @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 - The Role Reversal and Introductions 11:30 - An 18-Year Leadership Partnership 28:00 - Campus Legacies and Building Teams 38:00 - Strategic Communication Across the State 50:00 - What Lies Ahead for Chancellor White 1:01:00 - Unplugging, Burnout, and Final Thoughts

  6. Jul 14

    Aligning Higher Ed: What Employers Actually Need Today

    Traditional degree pipelines are failing to keep pace with rapid industrial expansion and technological disruption. With billions of dollars in capital investment flooding into regional markets right now, organizations cannot afford to rely on outdated educational models that leave critical operational gaps unfilled. Dr. Todd Shields, newly named President of the Arkansas State University System, sits down to break down how he is shifting regional education from a theoretical public good to an agile, applied workforce engine. We sit down to examine how seven unique campus ecosystems can collaborate to address the entire workforce continuum, from entry-level technical skills to advanced research on electric arc furnaces. We explore how institutions are aligning with intermodal logistics hubs, navigating private-good educational models, and deploying custom AI agents to automate administrative workflows. The conversation highlights his overarching philosophy that a university system must operate like Switzerland for industry competitors, serving as a neutral collaborator that pours jet fuel on existing regional strengths rather than dictating top-down academic mandates. Real transformation requires dismantling historical institutional isolation and confronting the logistical realities of massive economic growth. We dissect the friction involved in auditing legacy degree programs, including the humbling necessity of scrapping long-standing core curriculum requirements when employers confirm they no longer drive results. Viewers will walk away with a practical framework for fostering brutal internal transparency, a mindset shift toward viewing employees as lifelong learners from K-12 through retirement, and a critical warning against prematurely replacing human capital with automation instead of upskilling your existing team. If you care about regional workforce development, applied research partnerships, and strategic AI integration, you’ll get a lot from this. Make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with other leaders who are building for the future. What is the biggest operational gap between your current workforce skills and the technology coming down your industry pipeline? @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 - The Role Reversal & System Transition 10:30 - Defining the System President & Campus Collaboration 22:00 - The Four-Year Transformation & The Power of Teams 30:00 - Catalyst Northeast Arkansas & The Regional Economic Boom 38:30 - Higher Education as a Private Good: Meeting Industry Needs 45:30 - Building AI Agents and Upskilling the Workforce

  7. Jun 30

    Policy Meets Progress: Navigating the Politics of Workforce Funding with Shane Broadway

    Traditional higher education models face a significant talent leak when they fail to adapt to rapid regional economic shifts. With changing student demographics and immediate economic pressures, educational institutions must look past rigid four-year structures to remain essential drivers of regional growth. In this episode, host Todd Shields sits down with Shane, Vice President for University Relations for the ASU System and Chancellor of ASU Three Rivers, to discuss the critical intersection of public policy, campus leadership, and industrial workforce development. We sit down to examine the systemic adjustments required to bridge the gap between academic programming and direct corporate labor needs. Our conversation dives into the tactical deployment of stackable credentials, the execution of specialized workforce training partnerships with corporations like Dassault Falcon Jet, and how the "Big Six" state budget priorities heavily dictate institutional funding pathways. Shane highlights his core leadership philosophy: sustainable regional prosperity depends entirely on building flexible, lifetime educational on-ramps rather than enforcing an all-or-nothing approach to enrollment. Constructing these agile pipelines requires intense coordination, enduring the friction of legislative term limits, and actively breaking down fragmented media silos that keep local success stories hidden from the public. Viewers will walk away with a functional blueprint for how modern higher education can partner directly with industry leaders to support workers at any stage of their career lifecycles. If you care about economic mobility, workforce adaptation, and public policy collaboration, you’ll get a lot from this. Please remember to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support the network. What is the single biggest barrier your local industry faces when trying to source trained talent? Let us know in the comments below. @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 - Introduction & The Three-Job Leader 1:35 - Rethinking Campus: The Shift to Workforce Training 8:11 - Stackable Credentials & The Changing Student Pipeline 13:25 - From First-Gen Student to Speaker of the House 24:32 - Navigating Legislative Politics & The "Big Six" Budget 41:38 - Transforming Communities: Prison Education & Targeted Media

  8. Jun 16

    Best of Built with A-State: Better, Not Bigger for Sustainable Growth

    The disconnect between corporate expectations and workforce readiness remains the single greatest bottleneck to localized economic growth. When major industrial operations, retail empires, and manufacturing plants cannot find talent aligned with modern technical realities, expansion stalls and regional economies plateau. In this special highlight episode of Built with a State, host Todd Shields brings together the very best strategic insights from a powerhouse lineup of Mid-South business titans, featuring executives and founders from Hytrol, Nucor-Yamato Steel, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Gearhead Outfitters. We sit down to review the core operational blueprints that drive multi-million dollar supply chains and massive manufacturing facilities. This curated deep dive covers the technical mechanics behind processing 75% of global e-commerce shipments, the circular economy logistics of running North America's largest steel recycling operation, and the ground-level impact of two-week micro-courses for programmable logic controllers. The unique secret sauce woven throughout these highlights is a radical commitment to hyper-local collaboration, demonstrating how embedding private industry leaders directly into the curriculum design process fundamentally transforms raw regional talent into highly specialized operational assets. The unvarnished reality of managing high-growth organizations means making hard, unglamorous choices, such as intentionally halting expansion to fix backend supply chain inefficiencies or challenging rigid academic funding formulas that favor four-year degrees over rapid, weekend technical training. Viewers will walk away with an actionable understanding of how to structure an organization around adaptability, hire for core behavioral traits rather than paper credentials, and leverage targeted partnerships to solve immediate staffing constraints. If you care about commercial scaling, regional economic development, and practical workforce infrastructure, you’ll get a lot from this curated showcase. Please make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with an entrepreneur, educator, or business leader in your network. Which executive's perspective on tackling the talent gap resonated most with your current operational strategy? Let us know in the comments below. @arkansasstatemedianetwork.com. 0:00 - Introduction to the Best of Built with a State 0:27 - Hytrol: Material Handling and Supply Chain Logistics 5:09 - Nucor-Yamato Steel: Clean Manufacturing and Innovation 10:00 - State Chamber of Commerce: Fixing the Workforce Gap 13:31 - Micro-Certifications and Immediate Wage Growth 15:34 - Gearhead Outfitters: Culture and Scaling Smarter

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About

Hosted by Todd Shields, Built with A-State is the definitive tactical guide for industry leaders looking to partner with Arkansas State University. This series provides a transparent "user manual" for engagement, detailing everything from the CREST program to faculty collaboration models. By removing academic jargon, we simplify the process for organizations to access university resources and scale their regional impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Todd Shields
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built With A-State
  • Show Website
    Built With A-State

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