The Future of Online Education | Dr. Tonya Aman Kwatia

Can AI Help Students Learn Better?

AI is already changing higher education, but many educators are still wrestling with what that change means. In this episode, Dr. Sonya McCoy-Wilson and Darren Thompson discuss the fears, ethics, and opportunities surrounding AI in education.The conversation covers plagiarism concerns, Grammarly, AI governance, virtual reality, personalized learning, predictive analytics, language translation, and the future of AI-supported student success. Rather than treating AI as either a threat or a miracle solution, the discussion focuses on how institutions can use it thoughtfully to support students, faculty, and learning outcomes.

Training Better Admissions Teams Through Virtual Coaching

Samira Zacharias shares how she entered admissions by accident, why high school recruitment remains such an important part of student outreach, and how admissions teams adapted during and after the pandemic.

Why College Readiness Is a Workforce Issue | Dr. Anthony Cruz

Dr. Cruz shares why he remains passionate about higher ed after more than 27 years, how the pandemic changed teaching and communication, and why colleges must collaborate more closely with K-12 schools, families, and communities. He also discusses the urgent need to increase college-going and completion rates for Black and Hispanic students, the role of community colleges in workforce development, and why higher ed must adapt quickly to demographic, technological, and economic change.

Why Partnerships May Be Higher Ed’s Best Answer to the Enrollment Cliff | Dana Barger

Dana shares her journey from AmeriCorps and mental health counseling into enrollment, why student stories still drive her work, and how partnerships can help institutions prepare for the enrollment cliff. The conversation explores community engagement, employer alignment, student ambassadors, alumni storytelling, sports partnerships, and why higher education must continue proving its value in a changing world.

Why Schools Lose Students in the Process | Nancy Rogers

Nancy shares how she went from receptionist to admissions leader, why scripts are not the enemy of authentic conversations, and why schools need to look closely at their people, product, and process. She also discusses speed-to-lead, texting cadences, application fees, financial aid handoffs, AI in admissions, and the barriers schools often create for themselves.