Futures Series on Community Colleges

Kate Thirolf and Debbie Sydow

The Futures Series on Community Colleges delivers books that tackle big ideas and advance bold calls to action that impact our nation’s community colleges. This podcast features authors of books in the Series and seeks to advance insights and inspiration across the community college sector, so we can advance positive change, support our students and our colleges, and together, strengthen our communities.

Episodes

  1. Jun 9

    Jim Jacobs: Moving a Community College Forward

    Dr. Jim Jacobs recently wrote a fantastic new book in the series titled Moving a Community College Forward: My Story as an Educator, Researcher, President, and Radical. In this interview with Futures Series co-editor Debbie Sydow, Jim shares insights from his experience at Macomb Community College, where he started as an adjunct faculty in 1967 and retired as college president in 2017. Told through the lens of his career at Macomb, his book examines the growth and development of the college, the community, and community colleges overall. Read his book and listen to this episode to learn more about how critical factors, like leadership, values, and institutional choices, shape the trajectory of community colleges. Order Jim's book at https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/moving-a-community-college-forward-9798216377979/ or wherever books are sold. For more info about the book series, visit https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/series/the-futures-series-on-community-colleges/. Thanks to community college graduate Jean-Luc Gagnon for producing the Futures Series podcast theme music. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com.

    45 min

  2. 06/20/2021

    Randy VanWagoner: Competing on Culture

    Dr. Randy VanWagoner is president at Mohawk Valley Community College in New York and the author of a timeless book in the Futures Series titled Competing on Culture: Driving Change in Community Colleges.  In this episode, we dive into what culture is and why it’s so influential; we talk about the power of paradox and the importance of equity; and we explore how the pandemic has, in many ways, been a “cultural catalyst” for colleges. You'll also want to hear his ideas about what community colleges need to be thinking about now in order to prepare for the future. Thanks again to community college student Jean Luc Gagnon for creating and producing our theme music.  Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @FuturesSeriesCC.

    49 min

  3. 06/06/2021

    Kjell Christophersen: Community Colleges as Economic Engines

    Dr. Kjell Christophersen is the co-founder and recently retired senior economist at Emsi, a company that, for decades, has produced high-quality economic impact studies on community colleges. In this episode, we talk about a range of topics that he explores in his new book, Community Colleges as Economic Engines.  He shares how Emsi carefully and thoroughly measures the net impact of community colleges and how community colleges can and should use their economic impact studies to gauge, not just what they are worth to their students and communities, but also how they can be even stronger economic engines for their regions. Thanks again to community college student Jean Luc Gagnon for creating and producing our theme music.  Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @FuturesSeriesCC.

    49 min

  4. 02/14/2021

    Chris Shults: Redefining the Community College Business Model

    Dr. Christopher Shults recently authored a fantastic book for the Futures Series titled Reinventing the Community College Business Model. In this episode, we talk about his book and transformative power and potential of community colleges to support the success of their students and make their communities stronger. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @FuturesSeriesCC.

    45 min

  5. 02/14/2021

    Scott Martin: Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality, and the Redefinition of the Classroom

    In this episode, I connect with Dr. Scott Martin to interview him about his book in the Futures Series titled Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality, and the Redefinition of the Classroom.  A main takeaway is that we’re in a really exciting time right now in education, even amidst the pandemic crisis and enrollment uncertainties we're facing, because some emerging technologies have the potential to alleviate some of the seemingly intractable challenges we’re facing and heighten limitless opportunities for educators and learners across the board. Thanks again to community college student Jean Luc Gagnon for creating and producing our theme music.  Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @FuturesSeriesCC.

    37 min

  6. 02/14/2021

    Introducing the Futures Series on Community Colleges Podcast

    We're excited to introduce the Futures Series on Community Colleges podcast. We will be featuring thought leaders from across the sector, notably authors of the books in the Futures Series, with the goal of advancing insights and inspiration across community colleges. We also will be highlighting the voices and experiences of community college students, since their voices and their success matter most. Special thanks to Jean-Luc Gagnon, a student in the audio production and engineering program at Washtenaw Community College, who helped produce our theme music. Contact us at FuturesSeriesCC@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter @FuturesSeriesCC.

    2 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

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About

The Futures Series on Community Colleges delivers books that tackle big ideas and advance bold calls to action that impact our nation’s community colleges. This podcast features authors of books in the Series and seeks to advance insights and inspiration across the community college sector, so we can advance positive change, support our students and our colleges, and together, strengthen our communities.

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