Episode 21: How TESU Is Getting Ahead of AI Before It Gets Ahead of Us

Episode 21: How TESU Is Getting Ahead of AI Before It Gets Ahead of Us

At Thomas Edison State University, staying ahead of the curve isn't just a goal — it's built into the curriculum. In this episode of Edison Sound Stage, course mentor Crystal Sands and David Schwager, Director of Assessment Development, explore how TESU is integrating AI literacy into its living curriculum, starting with SOS-1100: Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today — a required course for every undergraduate student at the university. From hands-on assignments that challenge students to question everything AI produces, to a new one-credit elective, TES-1110: AI Unlocked, TESU is building a three-tiered framework that takes students from basic AI exposure all the way to real competency — no matter their field of study. It's a conversation about what it truly means to be AI literate, and why the students who learn to question AI may be the most valuable people in any room.

Episode 20: Solving the Nursing Shortage with BAYADA Founder Mark Baiada

The United States is short roughly 150,000 nurses — and the gap is growing. In this episode of Edison Sound Stage, we sit down with Mark Baiada, founder and chairman of BAYADA Home Healthcare, to explore how a 50-year legacy of compassionate care is now reshaping how nurses are trained. Mark and his wife Ann — a retired registered nurse — co-founded BAYADA Education, a nonprofit launching an innovative accelerated BSN program in partnership with Thomas Edison State University (TESU) and Cooper University Healthcare. It's a model built to produce floor-ready nurses, faster — with intensive one-on-one clinical training, conditional job offers from Cooper before graduation and leadership development built in from day one.

Episode 19: Coffee and Tea with the Student Trustee | The Advisor's Office

In this episode of Coffee and Tea with the Student Trustee — a special series of Edison Sound Stage — Student Trustee Pamela Tucker sits down with Amy Immordino, an academic advisor at Thomas Edison State University who has quietly transformed the lives of hundreds of adult learners. From helping Pamela earn her associate degree in under six months to nominating her for the student trustee position, Amy's impact goes far beyond course planning. In this conversation, they explore what it really means to be seen, supported and guided through higher education as an adult learner.

Episode 18: From "Too Late" to Student Trustee: Pamela Tucker's Inspiring Return to Education

"You will be 60 with or without a degree." These nine words changed everything for Pamela Tucker, who returned to college after several years and is now Thomas Edison State University's newest student trustee. In episode 18 of the Edison Sound Stage podcast, Pamela shares her journey from administrative professional to student leader—all while working full-time at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Drawing strength from her blue-collar parents' dreams and discovering she already had 33 transferable credits, Pamela proves it's never too late to pursue your education. She offers practical wisdom on balancing marriage, work, and coursework, finding support systems, and why starting with just one class can change your life. This conversation is essential for anyone who's ever thought "maybe I'm too old" or "it's been too long since I was in school."

Episode 17: The AI Arms Race: Creative Minds vs. Machine-Speed Attacks

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing cybersecurity—but not always in the ways you'd expect. In this episode, and in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we sit down with Dr. Henry Collier, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, to explore how AI is transforming both cyber attacks and defenses.