The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

Dustin Ramsdell

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode #315: Higher Ed, Free Speech, and the Future of Democracy

    In this thought-provoking episode, political philosopher and Penn GSE professor Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath joins host Dustin to unpack one of higher ed’s most pressing—and polarizing—topics: the future of free speech and academic freedom on campus. Drawing from her books Free Speech on Campus and Cancel Wars, Dr. Ben-Porath makes the case for a more inclusive vision of free expression in higher education, while warning against rising government overreach in curricula. She also highlights the important work happening on this topic at the SNF Paideia Program, where she is Faculty Director. Together, they explore how colleges can stay true to their democratic mission even as they navigate growing political pressure and cultural division. Guest Name: Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath - Professor & Faculty Director at University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Dr. Ben-Porath has been teaching at Penn GSE since 2004. She is an associate member of the political science department and the philosophy department at Penn. She also currently serves as the faculty director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program. She served as a special assistant to the university president, and as chair of the faculty advisory board to Penn Press, and as executive committee member of the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy. In 2010 she was a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, in 2012–2013 she was affiliated with the Safra Center for Ethics at Tel Aviv University, and in 2020–2021 she was a fellow in residence at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    29 min

  2. JAN 28

    Episode #314: Why Faculty Are Your Secret Marketing Weaponf

    In this week’s episode, Dustin sits down with Brian Hartnack, Founder and CEO of Archer Education, for a rich conversation about the evolution of digital marketing and enrollment management in higher ed. Brian shares the origin story behind Archer, his thoughts on the shifting landscape of online education, and what institutions should really be doing right now to stay competitive in an AI-powered world. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a roadmap for modern marketing leaders in higher education. Guest Name: Brian Hartnack, Founder & CEO, Archer Education Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Brian Hartnack is the CEO and co-founder of Archer Education, a leader in higher education marketing and enrollment growth. With more than 20 years of experience in online education, Brian has spent his career helping institutions navigate the evolving demands of online and adult education. He is passionate about developing practical, innovative solutions that expand access, improve enrollment outcomes, and support long-term institutional capacity. Brian believes that thoughtfully designed online learning plays a critical role in making higher education more accessible, affordable, and engaging for today’s learners. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    27 min

  3. JAN 21

    Episode #313: Why Your Institution Needs to Elevate Its Digital Student Experience

    Most students aren’t dropping out because they’re disengaged—they’re falling behind because your tech isn’t meeting their needs. In this energizing episode, Dustin chats with Shana Holman, Head of Strategic Engagement and Alliances at Pathify, about the results of Pathify’s 2025 Student Digital Experience Survey. They unpack why digital friction is far more than an IT problem—it's a barrier to academic success, mental health, and student belonging. From the mounting demand for unified platforms to the hidden equity issues plaguing your tech stack, this episode makes a compelling case for why the student experience must be reimagined—and what institutions can do today to make real progress. Guest Name: Shana Holman, Head of Strategic Engagements & Alliances, Pathify Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: As Pathify’s Head of Strategic Engagement and Alliances, Shana Holman partners with university leadership teams and Pathify’s customer advisory board to navigate the complex challenges facing higher education today. With extensive experience in both higher education and EdTech partnerships, she brings practical insights on how universities can leverage integrated technology solutions to create more connected campus experiences while maximizing their existing technology investments. Shana lives in Denver, Colorado and enjoys the Colorado mountains with her family and 2 yellow labradors. She is also a parent to two students navigating higher education. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    24 min

  4. JAN 14

    Episode #312: Empowering Students to Understand and Influence the World

    What do Montenegro, Gen Z protests, and open educational resources have in common? According to Julia Sherwin, everything. In this episode, Dustin Ramsdell sits down with Julia—Executive Director of the Global Education Initiative at Global Post Media—to explore why global literacy isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore. They unpack how free access to high-quality international journalism can transform classrooms, inspire student activism, and better prepare learners for a truly interconnected world. This conversation is a must-listen for faculty who want to level up their teaching, institutions looking to champion open resources, and anyone passionate about empowering the next generation of globally competent citizens. Guest Name: Julia Sherwin, Executive Director of the Global Education Initiative, GlobalPost Media Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Julia Sherwin is a communications professional and storyteller at heart, with experience across journalism, public relations and higher education. She is a former Philadelphia-area radio host, where she developed two highly engaging interview-style shows that each ran for five years. Julia was also an adjunct instructor in Temple University's Department of Journalism. Today, she is a PR consultant and the executive director of GlobalPost's Global Education Initiative. She loves connecting with like-minded professionals, students and educators, so please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min

  5. JAN 7

    Episode #311: How Institutions Can Actually Win at Digital Transformation

    In this premiere episode of the 2026 season, Dustin welcomes back Taran Lent, now CTO of the soon to be rebranded Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD), for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in higher ed. They dig into the rationale behind the rebrand, the creation of the Higher Ed Innovation Index report, and how institutions can sustainably modernize their operations while staying student-centric. From embracing AI to fostering digital upskilling, Taran offers grounded advice from the frontlines of transformation—advice shaped by both internal change and direct collaboration with campuses nationwide. Listen to Taran’s previous episode on the podcast here! Guest Name: Taran Lent - CTO at Transact + CBORD Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Taran Lent has been building and operating payment technology companies his entire professional career. He is an accomplished entrepreneurial leader with experience in start-up, growth and public organizations. His specialty is forming and motivating high-performance teams to focus and execute on major new product ideas. Taran currently serves as CTO at Transact + CBORD. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    Episode #310: How InsideTrack Is Expanding What Success Coaching Can Be

    In this final episode of the year, Dustin talked with Ruth Bauer, President at InsideTrack, who shared how the organization’s new Coaching Lab is expanding access to coaching far beyond traditional college students. Ruth reflects on 12+ years of building human-centered, tech-supported student success systems and explores how flexible, scalable coaching can support everyone from GED earners to returning adult learners. Guest Name: Ruth Bauer, President, InsideTrack Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Ruth Bauer is a purpose-driven leader, executive, and lifelong learner who is currently serving as the President of InsideTrack, a student success coaching nonprofit that has served over 3.6 million learners since 2001. Over the past two decades, she has devoted her career to education and personal development at every level -- from early childhood education to higher education and corporate learning and development. As a proud first-generation college student and public school mom, Ruth has seen the transformative potential of expanding educational opportunity in my own life, which sparked a lifelong passion for working at the intersection of education, social impact, and leadership. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    Episode #309: Why Work-College Students Are Becoming Founders-in-Training

    What if launching a business was a graduation requirement? At Paul Quinn College, that’s exactly what students are doing.  In this episode, Dustin sat down with Jeff Meade from Paul Quinn College (PQC), who shares how this HBCU is integrating entrepreneurship into the student experience—not as an elective or a club, but as a campus-wide, curriculum-infused mission. You’ll hear how students from every discipline are learning to think like founders, pitch real ideas, and even secure funding. Guest Name: Jeff Meade - Assistant Professor & Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, where he is leading a bold initiative: Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur. The program ensures every student launches a venture before graduation, making entrepreneurship a core life skill rather than an extracurricular option. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side marketing programs that gained national recognition. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Today, Jeff is pioneering venture-based learning, a model that equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and real-world experience to thrive as founders, innovators, and intrapreneurs in any field. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    32 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Episode #308: Building the Future of Degree Management with Student-Centered Design

    In this episode, Dustin chats with Sabih Bin Wasi, Founder and CEO of Stellic, about rethinking course registration, degree planning, and the broader student experience. What started as a tool to help Sabih navigate his own college journey as a first-gen student has evolved into a platform used by over a million students worldwide. Together, they unpack why registration is more than a transactional task—it’s a pivotal point that shapes academic, personal, and professional futures. Whether you’re a registrar, advisor, or enrollment leader, this conversation will challenge you to question outdated systems and consider how better tech (and mindset shifts) can improve both the student and institutional experience. Guest Name: Sabih Bin Wasi - Founder and CEO at Stellic Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Sabih Bin Wasi is the founder and CEO of Stellic, a student success platform transforming how universities help students plan and achieve their academic goals. As a student at Carnegie Mellon University, Sabih experienced firsthand how complex and confusing the higher education system can be for students trying to make the right choices about their paths. What started as a personal frustration with course planning evolved into a drive to reimagine how institutions support students through their most consequential years. Under Sabih’s leadership, Stellic has grown from a student-built prototype at CMU to a comprehensive enterprise platform used by over 80 universities to streamline degree planning, advising, and academic operations. Sabih is energized by Stellic’s mission to enable 10 million student success stories, and as a lifelong learner at heart, he continues to approach every challenge with curiosity, creativity, and a deep belief in the power of higher education to transform lives. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
See All (377)

Trailers

4.7
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Dustin Ramsdell
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    377
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Enrollify
  • Show Website
    The Higher Ed Geek Podcast