IngenioUs

Melissa Morriss-Olson
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Welcome to IngenioUs — where conversations spark innovation and open doors to the future of higher education. Our podcast is a dedicated space for deep dives with the most original minds and active changemakers in academia. Each episode is a journey through the ideas and actions of those at the forefront, pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible in higher ed. Join us as we explore academic innovation, uncovering insights and inspirations from those who dare to think differently.

  1. Educable: Rethinking Intelligence, Education, and the Future of Learning. David Staley

    57M AGO

    Educable: Rethinking Intelligence, Education, and the Future of Learning. David Staley

    In this episode, David J. Staley reads from his latest University Design blog entry, Educable, where he explores a provocative new concept drawn from Leslie Valiant’s recent work: that what truly distinguishes humans is not intelligence—but educability. What if education is not simply about acquiring knowledge or skills, but about undergoing a fundamental “state change”—a transformation in how we think, act, and understand the world? And what if this idea reshaped how we assess learning, design degrees, and even imagine the future of artificial intelligence? Staley challenges us to reconsider long-standing assumptions about education versus training, the purpose of higher education, and what it really means to be “educated” in a rapidly evolving world. Key Ideas Explored Educability vs. Intelligence: A new framework for understanding human uniquenessEducation as “State Change”: Learning as deep cognitive transformation, not just information transferRethinking Assessment: What if grades reflected the degree of transformation rather than performance?Education vs. Training: Why education prepares us for the unforeseenArtificial Educability: A bold vision for the future of AI beyond current modelsThe Future of Teaching: Imagining new methods for educating both humans and machinesWhy This Matters At a time when higher education is under pressure to demonstrate value and relevance, this episode invites us to think more expansively. If education is truly about transformation—about changing who we are—then our current systems of grading, credentialing, and ranking may be missing the point. Staley’s reflections open the door to a more ambitious vision of higher education—one centered on human development, adaptability, and lifelong learning. 📖 Read the Full Blog 👉 Educable by David J. Staley 🎙️ About the Author David J. Staley is a higher education philosopher, strategist, futurist, and designer. He serves as an Honorary Faculty Fellow in Innovation at CHELIP and is the author of Alternative Universities, The AI Symposium, and other works exploring the future of higher education and knowledge systems. 🔗 About the Series This episode is part of the University Design series, published under the IngenioUs blog label, which explores bold, forward-thinking ideas about the future of higher education.

    8 min
  2. “What Are You Going to Do About It?”: Grandview U President Rachelle Keck on Agency, Leadership, and the Power of Possibility

    2D AGO

    “What Are You Going to Do About It?”: Grandview U President Rachelle Keck on Agency, Leadership, and the Power of Possibility

    In this episode of IngenioUs, Melissa Morriss-Olson speaks with Rachelle Keck PhD, JD, president of Grandview University, about leadership, agency, and the evolving future of higher education. Rachelle’s path to the university presidency is far from traditional. After more than two decades practicing law, she transitioned into higher education leadership and eventually became the president of Grandview University in Des Moines, Iowa. In this conversation, she shares how her experiences as a first-generation college student, a woman leader inhigher education, and one of nine siblings growing up in rural Missouri shaped her leadership philosophy. Rachelle discusses the leadership lessons she learned moving from law into higher education administration, the realities of leading a university today, and how institutions can prepare students for a rapidly changing workforce. She also shares the four pillars that guide her leadership every day: love, logic, listening, and learning—a framework that blends analytical decision-making with empathy and collaboration. Throughout the conversation, one powerful question keeps resurfacing—one that Rachelle first heard as a child and now shares with students and emerging leaders: What are you going to do about it? This episode will resonate with anyone interested in women’s leadership, university leadership, higher education innovation, and the future of college leadership. Topics Discussed in This Episode Leadership lessons from growing up in a family of nineNavigating college as a first-generation studentTransitioning from a career in law to higher education leadershipWhat it really means to serve as a college president todayShared governance and collaborative leadership in universitiesLeading institutions during times of uncertainty and changeThe importance of representation and women presidents in higher educationPreparing students for a future shaped by technological changeThe framework that guides Rachelle's leadership: Love, Logic, Listening, and LearningAbout the Guest Rachelle Keck is president of Grandview University, a private university in Des Moines, Iowa. Before entering higher education leadership, she spent more than twenty years practicing law. Her leadership focuses on student opportunity,institutional sustainability, and preparing graduates for meaningful careers and lives of purpose. About the Podcast IngenioUs is a higher education leadership podcast hosted by Melissa Morriss-Olson, Distinguished Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Bay Path University and author of IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education. Each episode features conversations with innovative leaders who are shaping the future of higher education.

    47 min
  3. The Power of Place: Carol Quillen on Leadership, History, and Reconnecting Communities

    MAR 24

    The Power of Place: Carol Quillen on Leadership, History, and Reconnecting Communities

    In this episode of the IngenioUs Leadership Podcast, Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with historian and higher education leader Carol Quillen, former president of Davidson College and now President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Carol brings a historian’s lens to leadership—one grounded in humility, courage, and a deep respect for the power of community and place. Over the course of the conversation, she reflects on her leadership journey from growingup in a small historic town in Delaware to leading one of the nation’s most respected liberal arts colleges. Carol shares insights about what leadership really means, why she believes it is fundamentally about helping communities create the conditions for change, and what she learned about guiding an institution through moments of uncertainty, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation also explores her current work with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where she is thinking deeply about how historic places can help Americans reconnect with the complexity of their shared history. At a time when public conversations often feel abstract and polarized, Carol argues that standing in the places where history actuallyhappened can open the door to more thoughtful dialogue and renewed civic understanding. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on leadership, community, and the enduring importance of place in shaping how we understand ourselves and one another. Key Themes from the Conversation Leadership as Context BuildingCarol describes leadership not as a title or position but as the work of helping a community create the conditions it needs to live up to its highest aspirations. Courage and Humility in LeadershipTwo qualities she believes are essential for leaders navigating complexity and uncertainty. Listening and Trust BuildingHow leaders create environments where people can speak honestly, disagree respectfully, and work together toward shared goals. Leading Through CrisisReflections on guiding Davidson College through the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of transparency when decisions must be made with incomplete information. The Power of Institutional CultureWhy understanding the history and identity of an organization is critical when leading change. The Power of Place in Civic LifeHow historic sites—from Gettysburg to Monticello to immigrant tenements—help us confront the complexity of American history and foster deeper conversations about our shared future. Advice for Emerging LeadersCarol encourages young leaders to focus less on career planning and more on doing the work that is right in front of them. About Carol Quillen Carol Quillen is President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the former president of Davidson College, where she served for eleven years. A historian by training, Carol previously spent many years on the faculty at Rice University and held several administrative leadership roles there. She is widely respected for her thoughtful approach to leadership, institutional change, and civic engagement. Her current work focuses on the role historic places can play in strengthening communities and fostering dialogue about the nation’s shared past and future. About the IngenioUs Leadership Podcast The IngenioUs Leadership Podcast explores how leaders createsolutions to complex challenges in higher education and beyond. Through conversations with innovative and thoughtful leaders, the podcast highlights ideas, experiences, and perspectives that help listeners think differently aboutleadership today.

    53 min

  4. MAR 17

    What If Innovation Doesn’t Begin with the Idea? Leadership Insights with Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson

    Where does innovation really begin? After interviewingdozens of college presidents, one surprising leadership habit kept appearing: listening. When we talk about innovation in higher education, theconversation often centers on bold ideas, new programs, or visionary strategies. But insights from leaders across the field suggest that meaningful innovation often begins somewhere much quieter. It begins with listening. Through the IngenioUs podcast, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson has spoken with dozens of college and university presidents about leading change in complex institutions. One lessonconsistently emerges from those conversations: before introducing new initiatives, successful leaders take time to understand the people and contexts they serve. They listen to faculty, staff, and students, learning how their institutions really work and what challenges people are experiencing. Why does this matter? Because when leaders move tooquickly to solutions, they sometimes end up solving the wrong problem. Listening helps uncover the deeper issues—and the real opportunities for meaningful change. In Dr. Morriss-Olson’s newest blog article, “TheFirst Leadership Habit of Innovation,” she explores this ideaand shares insights drawn from these leadership conversations. You can watch the video and read the full article here: Higher Education Leadership | Innovation | ChangeLeadership | Academic Leadership | Organizational Change

    2 min
  5. University Design: “Interestingness” with David J. Staley

    MAR 6 ·  BONUS

    University Design: “Interestingness” with David J. Staley

    In this episode, David J. Staley reads his latest CHELIP: University Design column, “Interestingness,” inspired by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman’s Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective. What if the pursuit of clearly defined objectives is actually the enemy of breakthrough innovation? Drawing on the intellectual journey of urban theorist Jane Jacobs, insights from computer science, and examples from the history of invention, Staley challenges one of higher education’s most sacred assumptions: that learning must always be guided by predetermined goals and measurable outcomes. Instead, he explores a radical idea — that interestingness, not objectives, may be the true engine of discovery. In This Episode Why Jane Jacobs’ “directionless” intellectual wandering shaped one of the most influential urban thinkers of the 20th century How experiments in artificial intelligence reveal the limits of goal-driven design The paradox of innovation: why the stepping stones to major breakthroughs rarely resemble the final outcome The hidden cost of learning objectives and overly structured curricula Why students who feel “undecided” may actually be operating from a deeper intellectual instinct The case for reimagining Liberal Studies as a major in “interestingness” Key Ideas 1. Greatness Cannot Be PlannedMany transformative discoveries — from microwave ovens to airplanes to early computers — emerged not from direct goal pursuit, but from exploratory work aimed at entirely different problems. 2. The Danger of Objective ThinkingAmbitious goals can create tunnel vision. When we fixate on outcomes, we may overlook the very stepping stones that would lead us there. 3. Interestingness as a CompassNovelty acts as a detector of possibility. Interesting ideas open new pathways — even when their ultimate purpose is unclear. 4. Are Universities Designed for Discovery?With tightly defined learning objectives and structured degree pathways, are we unintentionally suppressing intellectual exploration? 5. Not Having a Plan Can Be a Very Good PlanFor students drawn to curiosity rather than credentials, exploration may not be aimless — it may be the most innovative strategy of all. About David J. Staley David J. Staley is an Associate Professor in the Departments of History, Design, and Educational Studies at The Ohio State University and serves as an Honorary Faculty Fellow in Innovation with CHELIP. His research explores digital history, historical methodology, and the intersection of technology, scholarship, and the future of higher education. A prolific author and curator of digital and physical exhibits, Dr. Staley brings a deep interdisciplinary perspective to conversations about innovation and institutional transformation. A Question for Listeners Are our institutions designed to produce graduates with objectives — or graduates with curiosity? What might change if we structured higher education around interesting questions instead of predetermined outcomes?

    11 min
  6. Behind the Starting Line: Purpose as a Leader’s Superpower

    MAR 3

    Behind the Starting Line: Purpose as a Leader’s Superpower

    In this latest epsiode, Dr. Morriss-Olson is joined by Van Ton-Quinlivan, Founder and CEO of Futuro Health, for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven leadership, systems change, and what it really takes to build opportunity at scale. Van’s leadership journey began “behind the starting line” as a child refugee from Vietnam, and that lived experience continues to shape how she leads today. Over the course of her career, she has led across private industry, public higher education, and the nonprofit sector—most recently founding Futuro Health to address one of the most urgent challenges facing theU.S. healthcare system: the growing shortage of allied health workers. In our conversation, Van shares how Futuro Health was launched at the start of the pandemic and quickly grew into a national workforce ecosystem operating across multiple states. She explains why workforce development must be treated as a team sport, bringing together employers, educators, and community-based organizations to create reliable, equitable talent pipelines. We also explore Van’s leadership philosophy more deeply—how purpose unlocks courage and “fierceness,” why influence matters more than formal authority, and what she has learned about credibility, feedback, and navigating leadership spaces where women are often underrepresented. Van offers practical insights on building coalitions, listening to critics, and knowing when the window is right to push for meaningful change. As we look ahead, Van reflects on the future of work, the impact of demographic shifts and caregiving demands, and how technologies like AI are opening new possibilities to redesign education and workforce systems for today’s learners—not yesterday’s assumptions. This episode is a must-listen for leaders working at the intersection of education, workforce development, healthcare, and social impact—and for anyone seeking to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. Check out Van's podcast, WorkforceRx here: https://futurohealth.org/current-press/press-podcast/

    40 min

  7. FEB 10 ·  BONUS

    The Cost of What We Don’t Talk About in Leadership. An IngenioUs Mini with Melissa Morriss-Olson

    This episode features a brief video reflection introducing a recent CHELIP blog essay by Melissa Morriss-Olson, Ph.D. that examines one of the quietest—and most consequential—forces shaping leadership culture: silence. The video frames the essay within a broader exploration of why innovation and change so often stall in higher education. Rather than focusing on a lack of ideas or commitment, it points to familiar leadership habits that make uncertainty, risk, and discomfort difficult to sustain. The reflection then turns to an even subtler dynamic—the unspoken rules leaders learn about what feels safe to say and what does not. The accompanying blog essay, The Cost of What We Don’t Talk About in Leadership, explores how silence becomes embedded in leadership culture over time. Leaders learn to read the room, soften language, and avoid naming persistent patterns in the name of professionalism or stability. While this restraint may feel responsible in the short term, the essay argues that it often comes at a cost—diminishing clarity, slowing learning, and quietly sustaining unresolved challenges . Rather than assigning blame, the reflection emphasizes clarity: what becomes possible when leaders are able to speak honestly about the realities they are navigating. The video serves as an entry point into a larger conversation about leadership culture, candor, and the conditions required for meaningful change. 📖 Related blog essay: The Cost of What We Don’t Talk About in Leadership🎥 This episode accompanies a short video introducing the themes behind the essay

    2 min
  8. Leading with Integrity and Urgency: Dr. Lisa Vollendorf and the Promise of Public Higher Education

    FEB 3

    Leading with Integrity and Urgency: Dr. Lisa Vollendorf and the Promise of Public Higher Education

    In this episode of IngenioUs, host Melissa Morriss-Olson is joined by Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, President of SUNY Empire State University, New York’s first and only public online university. Dr. Vollendorf shares a deeply thoughtful and values-driven conversation about leadership in higher education at a time when access, equity, and public purpose matter more than ever. Drawing on her own journey—from growing up in a small Colorado town to leading a national model for online public education—she reflects on what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and urgency. Together, Melissa and Lisa explore how leadership is shaped by crisis, why integrity is a leader’s non-negotiable anchor, and how institutions must rethink long-standing structures that unintentionally exclude learners. Lisa also offers powerful insights on women’s leadership, ambition framed throughimpact, and why student-centered design—not institutional tradition—must guide the future of higher education. This episode will resonate with presidents, provosts, deans, faculty leaders, doctoral students, and anyone committed to reimagining higher education in service of all learners. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: Why integrity is the one thing leaders always controlLessons from leading through large-scale crisis and community traumaThe importance of decisiveness and forward momentum in leadershipWhy ambition often looks different for women leadersRethinking online education, access, and student successThe future of public higher education as a democratizing forceAbout the Guest Dr. Lisa Vollendorf is President of SUNY Empire State University, where she leads New York’s first and only public online university. Empire State University is designed to meet learners where they are, recognize prior learning, and expand access to affordable, high-quality education for studentsof all ages and life stages. About the Host Melissa Morriss-Olson is host of IngenioUs and author of IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education. A former provost and longtime higher education leader, Melissa focuses her work on leadership, innovation, and designing institutions that unlock humanpotential. Subscribe & Connect If you enjoyed this episode, please follow IngenioUs, leave areview, and share it with a colleague who cares about the future of higher education.

    51 min
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About

Welcome to IngenioUs — where conversations spark innovation and open doors to the future of higher education. Our podcast is a dedicated space for deep dives with the most original minds and active changemakers in academia. Each episode is a journey through the ideas and actions of those at the forefront, pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible in higher ed. Join us as we explore academic innovation, uncovering insights and inspirations from those who dare to think differently.

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Morriss-Olson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    235
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Melissa Morriss-Olson
  • Show Website
    IngenioUs

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