Now available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Buzzsprout.

Please join John N. Gardner, Founder Executive Chair of the non-profit John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (Gardner Institute) for a series of provocative conversations with leaders and influencers in higher education.

The Gardner Institute, a 22-year-old non-profit, has been at the forefront of innovation in higher education; our mission very clearly connects us to the broader societal efforts to increase social justice. The Gardner Institute connects with thousands of professionals in the higher education ecosystem; through a wide array of activities such as Transformative Conversations, the Teaching and Learning Academy, and the Socially Just Design Series, and through our work as an Intermediary for Scale supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As a leader in the student success movement in higher education, we strive to provide support for institutions interested in social justice and institutional transformation.

August Releases

August 1, 2023

Episode 75- Understanding Governing Boards

Merrill Schwartz, Senior Fellow and Senior Consultant, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

Merrill Schwartz clarifies misconceptions on governing boards. She explains the evolving roles and responsibilities and membership of governing boards. Learn more about her experiences in building understanding, and the importance of learning on the job through opportunities such as internships.

 

August 8, 2023

Episode 76- Research for Student Engagement

Brent Drake, Senior Vice President for Operations and Research, Gardner Institute

Learn how data and research can be used to help underserved students. Brent Drake shares how this goal influences his work and research findings that can provide opportunities to build student engagement.

 

August 15, 2023

Episode 77-Social Science Impact in Education

Richard Arum, Professor of Sociology and Education, University of California- Irvine

Learning from his experience teaching in public schools, Richard Arum gained an interest in impacting education on a higher level. Listen to how social science is used to address education policy and reform.

 

August 22, 2023

Episode 78- A Student’s Perspective

JD Gardner, Student, Sewanee: The University of the South

Hear from an incoming student on his experience working towards college. As a student-athlete, JD Gardner learned leadership and skills to succeed. Listen to how he plans on using these skills in college and what influenced him in selecting an institution.

 

August 29, 2023

Episode 79- Balancing Teaching and Research

Michael Dennin, Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning and Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education, University of California-Irvine

Michael Dennin starts the conversation on balancing institutional focus between teaching and research. He shares ideas on teaching as a team effort by working to the strengths of faculty members.

 

September releases:

Jody Fournier

Tony Scinta

Beverly Kahn

 

Past Episodes:

January 18, 2022 Episode 1- Interrogating Reality: Who should be a college president?

Walter Kimbrough, President, Dillard University

Listen to a snippet here:

Full Episode is available to download here.

 

January 18, 2022 Episode 2- Lead with what you know best

Kurt Ewen, Vice-Chancellor Strategic, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness/Chief of Staff, Houston Community College

Listen to a snippet here.

The full episode is available to download here.

 

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January 31, 2022 Episode 3 - Creating new organizations to advance student success

Maria Martha Chavez, Chief Executive Officer, Catch the Next

Listen to a snippet here

The full episode is available to download here.

 

February 8, 2022 Episode 4 - A Bold New Direction in College Financial Aid

Kirsten Turner, Vice President for Student Success, University of Kentucky

Listen to a snippet here.

The full episode is available to download here.

 
 

February 15, 2022 Episode 5 - Capturing the space between the notes

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The full episode is available to download here.

February 23, 2022 Episode 6- Innovation to ensure quality and protect students

Belle Wheelan, President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Listen to a snippet here.

The full episode is available to download here.

March 8, 2022 Episode 7 - Leading from the Middle with Kimberly Koledoye

Kimberly Koledoye, Program Coordinator of Student Success, Professor of Learning Framework & Developmental English
Houston Community College

The full episode is available to download here

March 15, 2022 Episode 8 - A Kentucky Story with Aaron Thompson

Aaron Thompson, President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

The full episode is available to download here

March 22, 2022 Episode 9 - “We must change the system; not the students” with Charlie Nelms

Charlie Nelms, President-in-Residence, United Negro College Fund

Listen to a snippet here

The full episode is available to download here.

 
 

Mar 29, 2022 Episode 11- “What are you doing to change the world?” with Susan Winslow

Susan Winslow, President Macmillan Learning

Listen to a snippet here

The full episode is available to download here.

 

April 5, 2022 Episode 11- Transforming the Dream of College

Tristan Denley, Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Innovation, Louisiana Board of Regents

The full episode is available to download here.

 

April 12, 2022 Episode 12 - Falling in Love with the Institution

Dan Friedman, Executive Director University 101, University of South Carolina

The full episode is available to download here.

 

April 19, 2022 Episode 13 -The Value of Higher Education

Peter Felten, Executive Director, Center for Engaged Learning, Elon University

The full episode is available to download here.

 

April 26, 2022 Episode 14 - Kurt Ewen Philosophy of an Authentic Leader

Kurt Ewen, Vice Chancellor Strategic, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness/Chief of Staff, Houston Community College

The full episode is available to download here.

Read his recent work:

Recurring Anticipatory Grief

A Rude Awakening

On Falls and Falling

 

May 3, 2022 Episode 15- Creating a Sense of Belonging

Leo Lambert, President Emeritus and Professor at Elon University

The full episode is available to download here.

 

May 10, 2022

Episode 16- Socially Just Design

Drew Koch, CEO, Gardner Institute

The full episode is available to download here

 

May 17, 2022

Episode 17 - Importance of Institutional Data

Casey Green, Founding Director The Campus Computing Project

Download full episode

 

May 24, 2022

Episode 18 -Arguing for Innovation

Susan Whealler Johnston, President and CEO , National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

Download full episode

June 7, 2022

Episode 19- Becoming an Innovator

Frank Dooley, Chancellor, Purdue Global

Download full episode

June 14, 2022

Episode 20- Wholeness, Authenticity, and Spirituality in Higher Education

Laura Rendón, Professor Emerita and Co-Director of the Center for Research and Policy in Education, University of Texas- San Antonio

Download full episode

 

June 21, 2022

Episode 21 - Power of Faculty Mentorship

Peter Nwosu, Provost and senior vice president of academic affairs and student success, Lehman College of The City University of New York

Download full episode

 

June 28, 2022

Episode 22 - Higher Education Collaborations: Innovation in Opportunity

Laura Latta, Executive Director, Tulsa Higher Education Consortium

Download full episode

 

July 5, 2022

Episode 23- Influential Guides

John Whiteley, Professor of Social Ecology, University Of California -Irvine

Download all episodes

 

July 12, 2022

Episode 24- The Asset Mindset

Tina Gridiron, Vice President, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning

Download full episodes

 

July 19, 2022

Episode 25 - The Transfer Bias

Janet Marling, Executive Director, NISTS, University of North Georgia

Download Full Episode

 

July 26, 2022

Episode 26 - Pioneering Innovation

Lou Albert, Professor of Practice, Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University

Download full episode

 

August 2, 2022

Episode 27- Innovation into Action

David Brightman, Senior Editor, Stylus Publishing

Download full episode

August 9, 2022

Episode 28- Critical Challenges in Postsecondary Education

Arthur Levine, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

Download full episode

 

August 16, 2022

Episode 29 - Funding Social Justice

William F.L. Moses, Managing Director, Kresge

Download full episode

August 23, 2022

Episode 30- Transforming Private Colleges

Hope Williams, President, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU)

Download full episode

 

August 30, 2022

Episode 31- Leading Governing Boards

Henry Stoever, President, Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities

Download full episode

 

September 6, 2022

Episode 32 - Imagining a Better Future

Brandon Smith, Associate Vice President, Gardner Institute

Download full episode

 

September 13, 2022

Episode 33- Becoming a Student-Ready College

Nicole McDonald, Assistant Vice Provost, Student Success, University of Houston

Download full episode

 

September 20, 2022

Episode 34- A Path Forward

Dan Greenstein, Chancellor, Pennsylvania’s State System Higher Education

Download full episode

 

September 27, 2022

Episode 35- The Third Space

Emily McIntosh, Director of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience at Middlesex University, London, UK

Download full episode

 

October 4, 2022

Episode 36- Global Perspective of Student Success

Barry O'Connor, President Emeritus, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland

 

October 11, 2022

Episode 37- Promoting Student Persistence

Vincent Tinto, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University

 

October 18, 2022

Episode 38- Student Employability

Phillip Gardner, Founding Director of the Michigan State University Collegiate Employment Institute, Michigan State University

 

October 25, 2022

Episode 39- Bold within Boundaries

George Mehaffy, Senior Advisor, SOVA

 

November 1, 2022

Episode 40- Democracy in Higher Education

Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO, Lumina Foundation

 

November 8, 2022

Episode 41- Relationship-Rich Education

Isis Artze- Vega, College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Valencia College

 

November 15, 2022

Episode 42- Deliberative Innovation

Merrick Furst, Distinguished Professor, Georgia Tech

 

November 22, 2022

Episode 43- Service-Minded Policymaking

Rob Anderson, President, SHEEO

 

November 25, 2022

Episode 44- Student Success in South Africa

Nthabiseng Ogude, Vice-President, Pan African University and Acting Director, University of Pretoria Pre-University Academy

 

December 6, 2022

Episode 45- Responsive Design in Education

Aaron Brower, Vice Provost, University of Wisconsin- Extended Campus

 

December 13, 2022

Episode 46- Advising for Success

Victoria McGillin, Vice-President, Gardner Institute

 

January 10, 2023

Episode 47- Rediscovery and Reflection

Kurt Ewen, Vice-Chancellor Strategic, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness/Chief of Staff, Houston Community College

 

January 17, 2023

Episode 48- Lifelong Mentorship

James Anderson, Former Chancellor and Professor of Psychology, Fayetteville State University (UNC)

 

January 24, 2023

Episode 49- Engaging American History

Ed Ayers, Executive Director of New American History and President Emeritus of University of Richmond

 

January 31, 2023

Episode 50- Innovative Tools in Higher Education

George Kuh, Chancellor's Professor Emeritus, Indiana University

 

February 7, 2023

Episode 51- An Interview with John Gardner

John Gardner, Founder and Executive Chair, Gardner Institute

 

February 14, 2023

Episode 52- Passion and a Plan

Catherine Andersen, Interim Provost, University of Baltimore

 

February 21, 2023

Episode 53- Transfer Advocacy

Rusty Monhollon, President and Executive Director, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

 

February 28, 2023

Episode 54- Data for Change

Tim Renick, Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success, Georgia State University

 

March 7, 2023

Episode 55- Engaging Academic Support

Amanda Haney-Cech, Director of the Academic Resource Center, Marietta College

 

March 14, 2023

Episode 56- Cultivating Student Agency

Nancy Cable, Chancellor Emerita University of North Carolina Asheville, and Executive Director of The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust,

 

March 21, 2023

Episode 57- Yes to Innovation

Jim Hundrieser, Vice President, Consulting and Business Development, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

 

March 28, 2023

Episode 58- Establishing Campus Culture

Dennis Pruitt, Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost, University of South Carolina

 

April 4, 2023

Episode 59- Innovating for Native Students

Diane Reyna, Retired Instructor, Institute of American Indian Arts

 

April 11, 2023

Episode 60- Law and Liberal Arts

Michael Moffitt, Philip H. Knight Chair in Law, Faculty-in-Residence, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon

 

April 18, 2023

Episode 61- Innovations in Storytelling

Bill Goodykoontz, Media Critic, The Arizona Republic and USA Today Network and Adjunct Instructor, Arizona State University

 

April 25, 2023

Episode 62- Becoming the Example

Rolundus Rice, Chief Operating Officer Tuskegee University

 

May 2, 2023

Episode 63- Defining and Framing Higher Education

Thomas Parham, President, California State University, Dominguez Hills

 

May 9, 2023

Episode 64- The Postsecondary Value Commission

Jamey Rorison, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

 

May 16, 2023

Episode 65- The Student Learning Imperative

Charles Schroeder, Former Vice Chancellor and Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri-Columbia

 

May 23, 2023

Episode 66- Equity in the Graduate Student Experience

Steve Desir, Director of Professional Learning & Development, University of Southern California

 

June 6, 2023

Episode 68- Student Success in Portugal

Manuel João Costa, Associate Professor and Pro-Rector for Educational Innovation and Student Affairs, University of Minho

 

June 13, 2023

Episode 69- The Community College Promise

Josh Wyner, Vice President, The Aspen Institute and Executive Director, The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program

 

June 20, 2023

Episode 70- Reclaiming the Mission

J. Cameron (Cam) West, President, Huntingdon College

 

June 27, 2023

Episode 71- Effective Teaching

Rebecca Mushtare, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, SUNY Oswego

John Kane, Professor of Economics/ Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, SUNY Oswego

 

July 11, 2023

Episode 72- Academic Persistence

Charles Weiss, MD

 

July 18, 2023

Episode 73- Serving the Community

Chad Brown, President, Zane State College

 

July 25, 2023

Episode 74- Improvisation and Innovation

Laurie A. Carter, President, Lawrence University

 
 

Future Guests:


Podcast Audience:

  • College and University faculty, staff, administrators, leaders, and trustees from all sectors of higher education: two-year, four-year, private, public, not-for-profit, for-profit.

  • Foundation program officers

  • Accreditors who certify higher education quality and compliance, regionally, nationally, by discipline, by profession

  • Anyone who cares about equitable outcomes for students in higher education

The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

It is also available on Buzzsprout: https://officehourswithjohngardner.buzzsprout.com/

The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Gardner Institute.

 

Office Hours with John Gardner is produced by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

Executive Producer: Ethan Campbell

Voice Over Work: Kharynton Allen

Podcast Team consists of:

John Gardner, Founder, and Executive Chair, Gardner Institue

Casey Green, Founding Director, The Campus Computing Project

Monica Flippin Wynn, Senior Assistant Vice President, Gardner Insitute

Brandon Smith, Assistant Vice President, Gardner Institue

Katie Locke, Director of Marketing and Communication, Gardner Institute

Brittany Connor, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication, Gardner Institute