College Matters. Alma Matters.

Dean Neville Vakharia of Drexel University Pennoni Honors College: A Hidden Jewel.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter [https://almamatters.substack.com/] Dean Vakharia has an interdisciplinary background. An Engineering undergraduate, master’s in arts administration and Phd in Information Science. He has experience working in the corporate sector as well with non-profits. When the opportunity to be Dean of the HC came up, he threw his hat in the ring. On this podcast, Dean Vakharia shares his background, his vision for Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Scholarships & Grants, Role of AI, Career Opportunities, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  * Dean Neville Vakharia’s Background * Pennoni Honors College * Impact of AI * Career Opportunities Topics discussed in this episode: * Introducing Dean Vakharia, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel U [] * Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] * Background [] * Becoming the Dean [] * Vision for Honors College [] * Flagship Programs [] * Custom Design Major [] * Fostering UG Research [] * Fellowship Programs [] * Financial Aid [] * HC Applicants [] * AI Impact [] * Career Opportunities [] * Advice for High Schoolers [] * Closing Thoughts [] Our Guest: Dr. Neville Vakharia is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Dean Vakharia is an Associate Professor in the Arts Administration program at the Antoinette Westphal College. Memorable Quote: “...put the focus on you as a student, as a learner, and focus on your own growth, and that will get you where you want to go.” Dean Vakharia.  Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript. Similar Episodes: College Experiences [https://almamatters.io/podcasts/?category=college&profile=alumni] Calls-to-action: * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegequadcast/]. * To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. [podcast@almamatters.io] * Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-matters-alma-matters/id1507222597], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Us9jUMVMBbA8azD05gAEs].

Dr. Josh Cannon of Frederick Honors College: Helping Students Find Resources for Undergraduate Research.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter [https://almamatters.substack.com/] After finishing High School, Dr. Cannon joined the Marine Corps as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguist. Dr. Cannon loved the process of learning a language. So, after the Marine Corps, Dr Cannon attended the University of Pittsburgh where he discovered archaeology which he combined with his love for languages.  Dr. Cannon joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at Frederick Honors College, Research Infrastructure, Research Fellowships, Success stories, and Advice for High Schoolers. Topics discussed in this episode: * Introducing Dr. Josh Cannon, University of Pittsburgh [] * Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] * Background [] * Why Languages? [] * Interest in Research [] * Research Infrastructure and Resources [] * Students’ Research Participation [] * Fellowships [] * Success Stories [] * Advice for High Schoolers [] Our Guest: Dr. Josh Cannon is the Director of Research at Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh. Memorable Quote: “So if you're going to spend time doing this research, you really should present, or you should try to publish, or you should try to use it as kind of a launching pad for a different research project that you do by yourself or you do with another faculty member. So we kind of work with them on how would that, what would that look like? And how do you find a professional conference that you might want to present at? Oh, you found it now. How do you write an abstract? And how do you submit it?”Dr. Cannon. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript. Calls-to-action: * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegequadcast/]. * ToAsk the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. [podcast@almamatters.io] * Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-matters-alma-matters/id1507222597], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Us9jUMVMBbA8azD05gAEs].

If it’s February, This must be College Visits, in College News Fit to Digest. February 19, 2025.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter [https://almamatters.substack.com/] Making sense of the College News. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take. Topics discussed in this episode: * College Visits and Why you should do them [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shveta-bagade-2bb25a13/], College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegequadcast/]. * Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-matters-alma-matters/id1507222597], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Us9jUMVMBbA8azD05gAEs].  For Podcast Transcripts, visitalmamatters.io/podcasts [https://www.almamatters.io/podcasts/].

Dr. Josh Cannon & Freshmen from Frederick Honors College at Pitt: Using the“Getting Started with UG Research” Workbook.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter [https://almamatters.substack.com/] In the Fall semester of 2024, Dr. Cannon used the Getting Started with UG Research Workbook as a resource in a class he taught the Honors College freshmen In this special episode, we talk to Dr Cannon and 3 students - John, Preeti and Jacob about their experience with the workbook! On our podcast, Dr Cannon talks about using the workbook, the students describe their experiences and suggestions, and finally some advice for high schoolers. To learn more about the Workbook, please email using the subject line ‘UGR Workbook’ podcast@almamatters.io. [podcast@almamatters.io]using the subject line ‘UGR Workbook’) In particular, we discuss the following with them:  * Dr. Cannon on Using the Workbook in a class * Use of Podcast Stories * Students’ Feedback on the Workbook * Student Takeaways * Advice for High Schoolers Our Guests:  * Dr. Josh Cannon, Director of Research, Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh. * 3 Current Freshmen - John Logue, Preeti Rao and Jacob Halka. Memorable Quote: “My biggest takeaway was really just seeing that process kind of laid out [in the Workbook]. I think coming in, I feel like the biggest obstacle for me was really understanding where to go to look for research. It seems there's not like a set way to just go about doing it. ”John Logue, Freshman. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript. Recommended Episodes:College Experiences [https://almamatters.io/podcasts/?category=college&profile=alumni] Calls-to-action: * Follow us onInstagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegequadcast/]. * ToAsk the Guest a question, or tocomment on this episode, emailpodcast@almamatters.io. [podcast@almamatters.io] * Subscribe orFollow our podcasts at any of these locations:Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-matters-alma-matters/id1507222597],Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Us9jUMVMBbA8azD05gAEs].

Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University: Promoting AI Literacy.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter [https://almamatters.substack.com/] This episode is part of a series of conversations related to AI and Education. In this Episode, Dean Harper shares a Historical Perspective on AI, An approach to Gen AI, AI related Courses, Digital Infrastructure, Policies, Faculty use, Impact on Admissions Applications, Ethics, and Future of AI in Higher Ed. Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Dean Graeme Harper, Oakland University [] Historical Perspective [] Approach to Gen AI [] AI Courses [] Digital Infrastructure [] AI Policies [] Faculty Use of AI [] Admissions Impact [] Ethics [] Future with AI [] Our Guest: Professor Graeme Harper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-harper-34748446/] is the Dean of the Oakland University Honors College [https://oakland.edu/hc/], Rochester, Michigan. Dean Harper received the Bachelor of Arts degrees in History, English, Economic History from the University of Sydney [https://www.sydney.edu.au/]. He then earned his Master of Letters from the University of New England (AU) [https://www.une.edu.au/], PhD in Creative Arts from University of Technology Sydney [https://www.uts.edu.au/]. Dean Harper also received a PhD in from the School of English and American Studies from the University of East Anglia [https://www.uea.ac.uk/] (UK).  Memorable Quote: “We can't assume that the students are going to be AI literate, and the faculty are not. That's a blanket assumption that we can't make. So it's actually about all of us. It's about staff as well.” Dean Harper. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegequadcast/]. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. [podcast@almamatters.io] Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/college-matters-alma-matters/id1507222597], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Us9jUMVMBbA8azD05gAEs] and others.