The LearningMate Podcast

LearningMate

Join us for a podcast exploring the world of education, edtech, and workforce development through conversations with industry subject matter experts and thought-leaders from across the globe united by a passion for equitable access to education for every learner.

  1. Ep 29 - From Access to Impact: Transforming Online Education

    MAY 15

    Ep 29 - From Access to Impact: Transforming Online Education

    Meet Our GuestDr. Andrew Shean, Chief Academic Officer | Los Angeles Pacific University Dr. Andrew Shean is a higher education leader and innovator, currently serving as Chief Academic OfficerLos Angeles Pacific University. With a career spanning K–12 and online higher education, he has led large-scale academic transformation initiatives focused on improving student outcomes, expanding access, and advancing innovative delivery models. A former District Teacher of the Year, Dr. Shean brings a practitioner’s perspective to his work, combining deep experience in teaching, leadership, and system-wide change. He remains actively engaged in research, doctoral education, and advisory work across the education landscape.

    25 min
  2. Ep 28 - Designing AI for Humans: A Social Scientist’s Approach to the Future of Learning

    APR 20

    Ep 28 - Designing AI for Humans: A Social Scientist’s Approach to the Future of Learning

    Meet Our GuestRobert MacAuslan, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence | Southern New Hampshire University Dr. Robert MacAuslan is Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Southern New Hampshire University, where he works on institutional strategy for AI adoption, governance, and implementation. His work focuses on responsible deployment of AI across higher education, including policy, ethics, literacy, and emerging applications that support teaching, learning, and operations. He holds a PhD in Sociology, an MA in Economics, and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Mandarin Chinese, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to questions of technology, culture, and organizational change.

    24 min
  3. Ep 27 - The Cradle-to-Career Data Shift

    APR 1

    Ep 27 - The Cradle-to-Career Data Shift

    Meet Our GuestsClaus von Zastrow, Senior Policy Director | Education Commission of the States As senior policy director, Claus oversees Education Commission of the States’ Policy Team and works with his colleagues to promote timely and relevant education policy and research. He has held senior positions in education organizations for 25 years and has spent much of that time helping diverse stakeholders find consensus on important education issues. Claus is dedicated to ensuring that state leaders have the information and guidance they need to make the best possible decisions affecting young people. Travis Hurst, Senior Project Manager | LearningMate Double Line Travis Hurst is a Senior Project Manager for Double Line and is leading the company's development of the E-W Framework Analysis Tool. Over the last 15 years, he has helped clients tackle tough problems related to managing their Education data.

    30 min
  4. Ep 26 - The Revolution in Assessment Design: How LearningMate’s Assessment Item Generator is Leading Change

    MAR 25

    Ep 26 - The Revolution in Assessment Design: How LearningMate’s Assessment Item Generator is Leading Change

    Meet Our GuestsSagarika Prabhakar, AI and Learning Solution Architect | LearningMate Sagarika Prabhakar, an EDSAFE AI Alliance’s Women in AI Fellow (2025), brings 10+ years of experience in education curriculum development and AI-enabled learning design solutions to the EdTech industry. She has held diverse roles as an English Language Trainer, AI-Conversation Designer, and Instructional Designer, specializing in blended e-learning and instructor-led training (ILT). By authoring and presenting at prestigious international conferences showcasing solutions focusing on AI’s impact in education, she has honed her expertise in AI technologies and led AI-driven projects and workflows in educational content platforms, assessment generation, and AI-based tutoring Chatbots, and much more. Ninad Kochkar, Technology Solution Architect | LearningMate With over 20 years of IT expertise, Ninad Kochkar specializes in architecting scalable, enterprise-grade AI solutions and large-scale microservices systems. As a leader in AI Solutions at LearningMate, he spearheads cutting-edge initiatives in Generative and Agentic AI, orchestrating multimodal content generation specifically for the EdTech domain. His deep technical proficiency spans cloud-native architectures and DevOps, enabling him to drive digital transformation by modernizing legacy systems and implementing intelligent automation for educational content quality and delivery.

    26 min
  5. Ep 25 - Redefining Value in Higher Education: Transparency, ROI, and Student Outcomes

    FEB 2

    Ep 25 - Redefining Value in Higher Education: Transparency, ROI, and Student Outcomes

    Meet Our GuestGeordie Hyland, President and Chief Executive Officer | American College of Education (ACE) Geordie Hyland is the President and Chief Executive Officer of American College of Education. Geordie brings extensive industry experience and leads ACE as an accredited, fully online institution focused on delivering high-quality, flexible, and affordable programs in education, business, leadership, healthcare, and nursing.

    23 min
  6. Ep 24 - From Reactive to Proactive: Redefining the Learner Experience Through Partnership and Technology

    JAN 27

    Ep 24 - From Reactive to Proactive: Redefining the Learner Experience Through Partnership and Technology

    Meet Our GuestsChrista Goge, Vice President of Learner Engagement Strategies | Penn Foster Group Christa Goge is currently the Vice President of Learner Engagement Strategies at Penn Foster Group. She spent the last 15 years working in tech education with a focus on improving the student journey, starting from admissions through post-graduation. She cares deeply about leadership and fosters an environment focused on employee growth, development, and inclusion. Priyanka Raju, Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation Solutions | Straive Priyanka Raju is the Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation Solutions at Straive, where she leads the integration of advanced technologies and AI into Customer Experience and Enterprise Operations. With an extensive background in operations, transitions, research, mergers & acquisition, and organizational transformation, Priyanka brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her leadership. At Straive, she focuses on delivering scalable, tech-enabled solutions that drive efficiency and modernization for global enterprises.

    26 min
  7. Ep 23 - From Content to Intelligence: The New Era of Digital Learning

    12/03/2025

    Ep 23 - From Content to Intelligence: The New Era of Digital Learning

    Meet Our GuestSesha Bolisetty, Senior Vice President of Higher Education Content Operations | Elsevier Sesha Bolisetty is the Senior Vice President of Higher Education Content Operations at Elsevier, where he leads large-scale digital transformation initiatives across global learning ecosystems. With over 20 years of experience in higher education publishing, digital content development, and content technology, he has built a career at the intersection of innovation, scalability, and academic impact. Sesha’s leadership has been instrumental in driving operational excellence through process automation, workflow optimization, and the strategic use of global partnerships. His expertise spans digital courseware design, AI-driven content enhancement, and the implementation of new authoring technologies that make learning more adaptive, engaging, and efficient for faculty and students alike.

    31 min
  8. Ep 22 - The Power of Collaboration in Education Innovation

    11/04/2025

    Ep 22 - The Power of Collaboration in Education Innovation

    Meet Our GuestJulia Caballero, PhD Vice President of Content Strategy and Quality | Penn Foster Julia Caballero, PhD is the Vice President of Content Strategy and Quality at Penn Foster, focusing on transforming content through innovative methodologies. With a rich background in educational development, Julia has previously held positions at Pearson, Sage, and Forester Research, each contributing to her content strategy and course design expertise. At Penn Foster, she is dedicated to enhancing educational quality and ensuring students complete their courses, leveraging data and strategic partnerships to address the diverse needs of learners. Throughout her career, Julia has been instrumental in redefining roles within content development teams and creating learner-centered, active learning environments. Her leadership emphasizes adding new courses and improving the quality of existing offerings, particularly in high-demand fields such as healthcare and veterinary programs. Julia’s passion for education is evident in her commitment to fostering student engagement and retention through thoughtfully designed educational experiences.

    26 min
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Join us for a podcast exploring the world of education, edtech, and workforce development through conversations with industry subject matter experts and thought-leaders from across the globe united by a passion for equitable access to education for every learner.

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