Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide and sexual assault within the context of student mental health and recovery. The discussion focuses on hope, resilience, and the impact of supportive relationships in higher education.
What happens when a leader sees potential in people who've never seen it in themselves? In this deeply moving episode of IngenioUs, Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg shares how a single moment—when a mentor casually said "when you're a college president"—fundamentally shifted her understanding of her own possibilities. Now, as Chancellor of the University of Washington Bothell, she deliberately practices naming potentialin others, especially those who don't see themselves reflected in traditional leadership roles.
Dr. Esterberg's leadership philosophy is grounded in her training as a sociologist and shaped by profound experiences with students overcoming tremendous obstacles. She shares theunforgettable story of a student who was the child of Cambodian refugees, struggling with the intergenerational trauma of genocide. That student brought her a jar of tiny origami stars and cranes—made to fight suicidal thoughts—and years later, Dr. Esterberg watched her cross the stage to receive a master's degree in social work. That jar still sits in her office today as a reminder of the transformative power of authentic relationships in higher education.
In this conversation, Dr. Esterberg explores:
Dr. Esterberg's message is both challenging and hopeful: leadership is not the province of a select few but a possibility and responsibility that exists within all members of academiccommunities. By creating spaces where authentic relationships flourish and barriers to success are systematically dismantled, higher education can truly serve all students—especially those who have historically been marginalized or overlooked.
This episode will inspire anyone who believes in the power of education to transform lives and the responsibility of leaders to see and name potential in others.
ABOUT DR. KRISTIN G. ESTERBERG
Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg is Chancellor of the University ofWashington Bothell. A sociologist by training, she has served in leadership roles at multiple institutions including as Provost at Salem State University and in administrative positions at UMass Lowell. Her research focuses on LGBTQ+ social movements, and she is a passionate advocate for creating inclusiveacademic environments where all students can thrive. An accomplished endurance athlete, she recently completed an Ironman Triathlon.
In this inspiring new episode, host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Patty Lynott, President of RockfordUniversity, to explore how unwavering optimism and strategic risk-taking can transform both careers and institutions.
What You'll Learn:
Key Takeaways:
About Our Guest: Dr. Patty Lynott serves as President of Rockford University and brings decades of higher education leadership experience, including 15 transformative years atSouthern New Hampshire University. Known for her direct communication style and talent for developing emerging leaders, she's passionate about the vital rolesmall private colleges play in American higher education.
What happens when an entire university could be run by a single academic, supported almost entirely by AI? In this provocative installment of his University Design column, David Staley explores the emerging concept of the “soloversity”—a higher education institution operated by one human professor with a network of AI agents handling teaching support, administration, research, and student services.
Drawing parallels to Silicon Valley’s “solopreneurs” and cyber-physical enterprises, Staley asks whether higher education might soon witness entrepreneurial academics launching their own solo institutions. Could these soloversities become the next educational unicorns? And what does this possibility reveal about the future of academic work, institutional scale, and the very foundations of the university?
Listen in as Staley reads his essay aloud, bringing to life his vision of higher education’s possible futures.
📖 Read the full article here: The Soloversity by David J. Staley
Join host Melissa Morriss-Olson for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Rhona C. Free, president of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. As the first non-Catholic president of this Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Dr. Free has transformed USJ into what the Carnegie Foundation recently recognized as an "opportunity college"—one of only 16% of institutions nationwide that successfully combines high access for diverse students with high post-graduation earnings.
In this episode, Dr. Free shares her remarkable journey from first-generation college student and immigrant to transformational university president. Her unique background as an economist trained in both radical social justice economics and traditional market analysis has shaped her approach to institutional leadership, combining strategic decision-making with unwavering values.
Listeners will discover how Dr. Free navigated the historic 2018 transition from women's college to coeducational institution, including the data-driven analysis that informed this pivotal decision and the comprehensive strategy that ensured its success. She reveals the fascinating story behind recruiting legendary UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun and explains how strategic investment in athletics complemented rather than competed with academic excellence.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Free demonstrates what colleagues describe as her "calm and steady" leadership style, rooted in thorough consultation, deliberate decision-making, and her grandmother's wisdom that "an ounce of performance is worth a pound of preaching." She discusses how her economics training helps her understand institutional behaviors and student motivations while maintaining focus on creating opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
The episode explores themes of values-based leadership, strategic transformation, the intersection of mission and financial sustainability, and the profound impact of believing in student potential regardless of background. Dr. Free's insights offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in educational leadership, institutional change management, or creating equity in higher education.
Key topics include the founding mission and current culture of USJ, the role of athletics in institutional transformation, navigating controversy through consultation and transparency, applying economic principles to educational leadership, creating scholarship programs that expand access, and maintaining personal grounding through family support and daily practices like running.
This conversation illuminates how effective leadership combines strategic thinking with genuine care for others, demonstrating that institutions can be both mission-driven and financially successful when guided by leaders who understand that investing in people creates the highest returns.
About Dr. Rhona C. Free: Dr. Free serves as president of the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. She holds advanced degrees in economics and previously served in leadership roles at Eastern Connecticut State University. Under her leadership, USJ has been recognized as Connecticut's only "opportunity college" by the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education.
About Ingenious U: Ingenious U explores the stories and strategies of higher education's most innovative leaders, examining how they navigate challenges, drive transformation, and create lasting impact in theirinstitutions and communities.
In this month’s University Design column, David Staley explores the provocative idea of The Agentic Student. With AI agents increasingly embedded in our daily lives, what happens when students begin sending them to class—not just to take notes, but to participate, ask questions, and even take exams?
Staley examines the possibilities and challenges of this emerging “representative education,” where human learners are joined (or even replaced) by their AI counterparts. What does this mean for learning, teaching, and the future design of higher education?
Listen as David reads his essay aloud and invites us to imagine what comes next.
About This Episode
Join host Melissa Morriss-Olson for an extraordinary conversation with Dr. Danielle Wilken, President of the University of Bridgeport, as she shares her remarkable journey from a 20-year career at Goodwin University to leading one of higher education's most compelling turnaround stories. This episode offers rare insights into transformational leadership, authentic communication, I don't know which one is this Danielle is 16and the delicate balance of executive leadership and motherhood.
About Our Guest
Dr. Danielle Wilken serves as President of the University of Bridgeport, where she has led a dramatic institutional transformation since 2021. Prior to her presidency, she spent nearly two decades at Goodwin University, risingthrough the ranks to become Provost and developing her expertise in Universal Design for Learning. Her leadership philosophy centers on transparent communication, collaborative decision-making, and the belief that educationserves as a pathway to transforming lives, families, and communities.
Key Themes Explored
The Power of Long-Term Institutional Commitment Danielle discusses her unusual 20-year tenure at Goodwin University and how deep institutional knowledge andrelationship-building prepared her for transformational leadership. She challenges the conventional wisdom of frequent career moves in higher education and explains why mission-driven commitment often creates more effective leaders than title-chasing advancement.
Building Trust Through Transparent Communication The conversation explores how Danielle established trust during the complex partnership between GoodwinUniversity and University of Bridgeport, including the challenging bi-weekly town halls during the transition period. She shares specific strategies for maintaining honesty while navigating uncertainty and how transparency became the foundation for cultural transformation.
Innovation Through Inclusive Leadership Learn about the "UB Shark Tank" initiative where faculty and staff pitch ideas directly to cabinet leadership, and discover how this approach has generated concrete results including student-ledcompanies, new athletic programs, and revenue-generating academic initiatives. Danielle explains how decentralized innovation creates buy-in and surfacesopportunities that senior leadership might otherwise miss.
Universal Design for Learning as Institutional Philosophy Danielle shares her passion for Universal Design for Learning, explaining how this pedagogical approach movesbeyond labeling students to leveraging their individual assets. The discussion reveals how UDL principles have influenced not just curriculum design but institutional culture and decision-making processes.
Authentic Leadership and Work-Life Integration In one of the most candid discussions about executive leadership and motherhood, Danielle addresses the myth thatwomen can "have it all" simultaneously. She shares practical insights about managing competing priorities, building goodwill with family members, and using authenticity as a leadership strength rather than vulnerability.
The Legacy of Mentorship and Family Influence The episode includes touching reflections on how daily conversations with her father shaped Danielle's leadership approach and decision-making process. She also discusses being mentored by three women leaders at Goodwin and how observing different leadership styles helped her develop her own authentic approach.
Leadership Lessons
This conversation offers valuable insights for current and aspiring leaders about the importance of presence over administrative isolation, the power of listening and connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, and the necessity of celebrating wins while navigating ongoing challenges. Danielle's approach demonstrates how vulnerability and authenticity can become leadership superpowers when combined with clear vision and consistent execution.
In this episode of the IngenioUs podcast, host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, president of Aurora University and the first Latina to lead the institution.Susana’s inspiring journey—from immigrating to the United States during the Salvadoran Civil War to becoming a transformative leader in higher education—offers a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and purpose-drivenleadership.
Listeners will hear:
Susana’s leadership story is a reminder that lasting impact comes from aligning who you are with the work you do—and frombuilding institutions where everyone has the freedom to bring their wholeselves to the table.
About the Guest:
Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills is the 14th president of Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, and the first Latina to hold the role. An accomplished scholar and leader with a background in sociolinguistics, she has devoted her career toadvancing student success, institutional transformation, and inclusive community engagement. Before joining Aurora University, she served in senior leadership roles at Ball State University, Oregon State University, and Northern Arizona University. Her leadership is anchored in authenticity,equity, and the belief in higher education’s power to change lives—not just for individuals, but for entire families and communities.
Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and reminded of the transformative power of authentic leadership in higher education.
Listen now and subscribe to IngenioUs wherever you get your podcasts.
What if we told you that the most successful higher education leaders don't avoid chaos—they harness it?
While others are paralyzed by uncertainty, these "chaos pilots" are transforming disruption into opportunity, setbacks into sidesteps, and ambiguity into innovation.
In today's release—the fifth installment of Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson's IngenioUs Leadership blog series—she dives deep into Chapter 8: Chaos as Catalyst, exploring how exceptional leaders navigate our rapidly changing landscape with what poet John Keats called "negative capability": the ability to thrive in uncertainty without frantically reaching for certainty.
Read: Two Essential Habits of Chaos Pilots
Read the full blog post here: "Chaos as Catalyst: Piloting Through Challenges and Opportunities"
Discover how leaders like:
You'll learn the two core habits that separate leaders who merely manage change from those who design it—and practical ways to implement these strategies immediately.
But here's what makes this release extra special...
Watch the companion video featuring voices from Dr. Morriss-Olson's latest podcast season
Check out our powerful 15-minute video that brings these concepts to life through the authentic voices of remarkable women leaders, including:
The future of higher education won't be built by leaders who avoid chaos—it will be shaped by those who learn to pilot through it.
Navigate with purpose. Lead through uncertainty. Pilot with courage.
Best,
The CHELIP Team
P.S. After you read and watch, we'd love to hear which insight resonated most with you. Simply reply to this email and share your thoughts—we read every response personally.
These leaders don't just talk about thriving in chaos—they demonstrate it through their lived experiences and hard-won wisdom.
Your Chaos Navigation Questions
As you engage with both the blog and video, consider these reflection questions:What's Next?
This is the fifth of six installments in Dr. Morriss-Olson's IngenioUs Leadership blog series, each lifting up core themes from her book that emerged through interviews with higher education leaders across the country.
Haven't caught up on the previous posts? You can find the complete series here.
Want to dive deeper? Her book IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education provides the complete framework and additional insights from all her research.
In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs, host Melissa Morriss-Olson speaks with Dr. Marcheta Evans, the 12th—and first African American—president of St. Catherine University in Minnesota. With warmth, wisdom, and conviction,Dr. Evans shares her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in the segregated South to the highest levels of higher education leadership.
Listeners will gain insight into what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose in today’s complex environment. Dr. Evans discusses her experience as a “first” in many leadership roles, her commitment to access andequity, and the lessons she learned while leading Bloomfield College through a high-stakes merger. She also speaks openly about the emotional toll of leadership, the power of faith and joy, and the importance of mentoring the next generation—especially women and people of color.
This is a must-listen for anyone interested in transformationalleadership, social justice, and the future of higher education.
🎙️ In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
🔗 Resources and Mentions:
📬 Stay Connected:
Be sure to subscribe to IngenioUs for more conversations withcourageous and creative higher ed leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, pleaseleave a review and share it with a colleague!
In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs, host Dr. MelissaMorriss-Olson speaks with Eileen Moran Brown, founding president of Cambridge College, whose legacy in higher education is both bold and deeply human. With no blueprint but an unwavering belief in the potential of underservedlearners, Eileen built one of the most progressive and inclusive colleges in the country—long before terms like “access” and “equity” were part of thehigher ed lexicon.
From her early years teaching in an inner-city high school, toco-founding a college that transformed thousands of lives, Eileen’s story is one of visionary leadership, fierce empathy, and courageous innovation. Along the way, she encountered setbacks, navigated politics, and leaned on a networkof unexpected allies—including a Rockefeller, a former student named Patti LaBelle, and a cohort of students many had written off.
This is an unforgettable conversation that reminds us what’s possible when you lead from a place of deep purpose and refuse to give up.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
📘 Mentioned in this episode:
Eileen Moran Brown’s memoir:
It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish
(Available wherever books are sold)
👤 About Our Guest:
Eileen Moran Brown is the founding president of Cambridge College, an institution built to serve working adults, first-generation learners, and students traditionallyexcluded from higher education. A lifelong educator and advocate, Eileen is known for her student-centered philosophy, her courageous leadership, and her enduring impact on the lives of thousands.
What does it take to lead through waves of challenge, transformation, and deep institutional change—without losing your sense of purpose?
In this week’s IngenioUs episode, I sit down with Dr. Sandra Harper, a seasoned and celebrated higher ed leader whose story is both refreshingly candid and deeply inspiring. Dr. Harper is a two-time university president, the first woman and first Catholic to lead McMurry University, and a lifelongadvocate for servant leadership and women's advancement in higher education.
From her unexpected start in academia—sparkedby the symbolism of academic regalia at her own college graduation—to her return to McMurry during a time of financial crisis, Sandra’s journey is one of resilience, readiness, and remarkable wisdom.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
Dr. Harper reminds us that titles don’t make leaders—impact does. And her legacy is one of deep, lasting impact.🎧 Tune in now to this rich, wide-ranging conversation:
What does it take to build a new kind of university from the ground up—and lead it with both strategy and soul?
In this powerful episode of IngenioUs, we sit down with Dr.Lori Carrell, Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), whose leadership journey is as courageous as it is unconventional. From her early days teaching in a remote Alaskan village to co-leading a national initiative to redesign the college experience, Dr. Carrell shares how listening, learning, and living into one's purpose can shape transformational leadership.
With her background in human communication, Carrell brings a unique lens to institutional change—one that values deep listening, co-creation, and compassion as strategic tools for impact. Under her leadership, UMR has become a national model for student-centered design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and equity in outcomes.
🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:
Whether you're a president, Provost, faculty member, or future leader, this episode will renew your faith in what higher education can become when innovation is led by human values.
👉 Listen now for a story of courage, creativity, and commitment to purpose.
In this powerful episode of IngenioUs, we sit down with Dr. Kate Smith, President of Rio Salado College—widely recognized as America’s OnlineCommunity College—for a deep and inspiring conversation about what it truly means to lead with both heart and fire.
A lifelong educator who began her career in the classroom, Kate neverintended to become a college president. But as you'll hear, her journey to the presidency was fueled by a passion for removing barriers, championing equity,and creating educational opportunities for all learners—including incarcerated students, working adults, and those historically left behind by traditional higher education systems.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Kate shares:
Kate’s energy is contagious, her insights are groundedin lived experience, and her commitment to making higher education more inclusive and impactful is nothing short of inspiring.Whether you're a seasoned leader, an emerging changemaker, or simply someone who believes in the power of education to transform lives, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Listen now and discover what it looks like to lead with clarity, courage, and compassion—every single day.
Perpendicular Futures: A Footlights College
In this imaginative and thought-provoking episode, futurist and historian Dr. David Staley reads his latest blog article, “Perpendicular Futures: A Footlights College.” Known for his boundary-pushing scenarios for the future of higher education, Staley offers a bold and unexpected vision: What if colleges used performance arts—like theater and show choir—as a strategic enrollment tool, much like intercollegiate athletics?
Drawing inspiration from high school show choir fervor and the storied Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe, Staley explores the idea of colleges investing heavily in performance opportunities not as academic programs, but as extracurricular recruitment strategies. This “perpendicular future” veers sharply from the typical trend lines of higher education planning and invites us to rethink what attracts students to campus in the first place.
Whether you’re a campus leader, a strategist, or simply someone intrigued by the unconventional, this episode will stretch your imagination about what’s possible—and perhaps even probable—for the future of enrollment management.
Perpendicular Change: What it means and why it matters for institutional planning.
Theater and Show Choir as Enrollment Strategy: A new role for extracurriculars.
The Passion Economy in Education: Students paying to perform—not for professional outcomes but for personal fulfillment.
Footlights Reimagined: A nod to Cambridge's legendary troupe and a blueprint for creative placemaking.
NIL Deals for Performers?: Imagining a future where artists, like athletes, earn incentives for their involvement.
Disruption vs. Continuity: Why the future of college enrollment may not follow the path we expect.
How embracing passion-driven participation could unlock new enrollment pathways.
Dr. David Staley is a historian, futurist, and professor at The Ohio State University. He is widely known for his visionary writings and talks that challenge higher education to think differently about its future. In addition to his university teaching and consulting work, Dr. Staley regularly publishes articles on university design and innovation.
In this special mini-episode, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson takes listeners inside Chapter 6 of her book, IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education.
Through short, powerful audio clips from interviews with some of higher education’s most visionary leaders, Melissa illustrates seven leadership practices that unleash true innovation in today's dynamic and demanding environment.
These leaders are not only creative—they are disciplined, strategic, and deeply values-driven in how they innovate. Tune in for inspiring stories, practical insights, and bold reminders that innovation is a practice, a mindset, and a way of leading with purpose.
🛠️ Featured Themes & Voices:💬
🔹 Rethinking the Rules: Innovation as Reinvention
Richard Miller, Founding President, Olin College of Engineering
How radically reimagining assumptions can lead to transformational change.
🔹 Leveraging Assets: Turning What You Have into What You Need
Michael Sorrell, President, Paul Quinn College
Seeing overlooked resources as springboards for innovation.
🔹 Relentlessly Futuristic: Seeing Around Corners
Elizabeth Meade, President Emerita, Cedar Crest College
Designing strategic plans that anticipate the future rather than react to it.
🔹 Cutting Through Clutter to Find Your Focus
Annette Parker, President, South Central College
Leading with clarity and aligning decisions with mission and impact.
🔹 Being Inspiration-Ready: Staying Open to Spark
Nicholas Covino, President, William James College
Listening for opportunities and taking courageous action when inspiration strikes.
🔹 Reinvention as a Steady State
Barbara Mistick, President, NAICU
Building a culture where change is not episodic but continuous and proactive.
🔹 Innovation Rooted in Values
Tracy Hartzler, President, Central New Mexico Community College
Leading with ethics, connection, and care—and why mission-centered innovation endures.
Reflection Questions:📚
Where might you be clinging to outdated rules?
What hidden assets could you leverage for innovation?
How can you lead more intentionally with vision and values today?
Learn More:🎧 Listen, Reflect, and Lead Boldly.
Dive deeper by reading the latest IngenioUs Leadership blog post
Get your copy of IngenioUs Leadership: Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems in Higher Education
Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay IngenioUs.
In this inspiring episode of IngenioUs, host Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, the 14th—and only the second woman—president of Washington & Jefferson College. With over twodecades of leadership experience and a powerful personal story shaped by trailblazing women mentors, Dr. MacLeod Walls offers a compelling vision for the future of liberal arts education.
From her early aspirations as a faculty member to her discovery of a natural strength for administration, Elizabeth shares how resilience, optimism, and a sense of urgency have shaped her leadership. She opens up about navigating gendered expectations, making the case for liberalarts in a skeptical world, and cultivating adaptability as both an institutional ethos and a graduate superpower.
We also get a glimpse of the personal side of herpresidency—including how her beloved dog, Buckeye, helps humanize her role and deepen connections with students on campus.
Whether you’re a current or aspiring leader, an educator, orsomeone who cares about the future of higher education, this conversation willleave you with both inspiration and actionable insights.
🎙️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Dr. MacLeod Walls defines and leads with adaptability
Why innovation must be central to the liberal arts
The leadership lessons she’s drawn from mentors—and from mistakes
How gender dynamics shape presidential leadership in higher ed
The critical skills every future leader should develop
Why partnerships, community engagement, and nimbleness matter more than ever
And yes… how a dog named Buckeye is helping build stronger campus relationships
💬 Quotable Moment:“When what you’re doing matters, nothing should scare you. Nothing should bean impediment.” – Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
🎧 Listen Now and discover how boldleadership, a clear sense of mission, and a joyful spirit are helping shape the future of Washington & Jefferson College—and the liberal arts more broadly.
What does it take to lead across sectors, clear hurdles, andcultivate possibility — not just for yourself, but for others? In this episode of IngenioUs, we sit down with Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the first woman to serve as president of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, andthe first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from her state.
President Herseth Sandlin shares her remarkable leadershipjourney, from growing up on a family farm in the Great Plains, to representing South Dakota on Capitol Hill, to now shaping the future of a thriving university. With honesty and wisdom, she reflects on the challenges and opportunities of being a trailblazer — and what it means to turn personalsuccess into collective empowerment.
Through stories of transformative change at Augustana,including bold moves like academic restructuring and launching Division I hockey, President Herseth Sandlin reveals the power of leading with courage, compassion, and curiosity. She also offers candid insights on navigating gender dynamics, generational differences, and the evolving landscape of higher education.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to lead withauthenticity, build momentum from setbacks, and create lasting impact, this conversation is not to be missed.
🎧 Listen in to discover how StephanieHerseth Sandlin is helping others see and cultivate their own potential — and how you can too.
Takeaways
Augustana University integrates faith with learning.
Leadership is influenced by personal experiences and family.
Women leaders must navigate unique challenges in their careers.
Building relationships is crucial for effective leadership.
Good processes lead to successful outcomes in organizations.
Diversity and inclusion are essential for student success.
Vulnerability in leadership fosters connection and trust.
Emerging leaders should focus on understanding their context.
Innovative programs can address community needs and gaps.
Future growth at Augustana will focus on serving more students.
Sound Bites
"We provide an education of enduring worth."
"Good process leads to good plans."
"I lean into courage, creativity, and humility."
Chapters
00:00Introduction to Augustana University
02:12Leadership Journey and Influences
04:09Trailblazing in Leadership
06:43Navigating Gender Dynamics in Leadership
07:11New Chapter
09:08Advice for Emerging Leaders
11:15Achievements and Strategic Initiatives at AugustanaUniversity
26:34Maturing the Division I Hockey Program
27:27Vision for Augustana by 2030
27:59Growth and Campus Development
29:47Innovative Programs and Opportunities
30:35Identifying Growth Opportunities
32:52Navigating Innovation in Education
35:35Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
39:31Leadership Challenges and Lessons Learned
43:35Core Values in Leadership
45:42Inspiring Future Women Leaders
48:27gaming-transition-high.wav
48:34IngenioUs Outro.mp4
In his newest University Design blog post, futurist and higher education thought leader David J. Staley invites us to rethink the very foundation of undergraduate education: the major.
Staley challenges the brittle, hyperspecialized approach that dominates college pathways today. Drawing from new research and emerging models like the Field of Study approach, he makes a compelling case for a more resilient and antifragile education—one rooted in cognitive diversification and purpose-driven learning.
🔍 Are we preparing students for the dynamic, uncertain world they’re entering—or for a version of the economy that no longer exists?
💡 Read the full article to explore:
Why traditional majors may be failing today’s students
The concept of “epistemological monoculture” and its risks
How double majors and personalized Fields of Study can build career agility
What it means to uncover students’ hidden intellectualism
👉 Read the full blog post here:https://ingeniousu.org/blog/
In this week’s IngenioUs U episode, we sit down with Tracy Hartzler, President of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), to explore how values-based leadership, strategic foresight, and collaborative innovation are transforming the community college landscape.
With a rich background in law, public policy, and finance,Tracy brings a distinctive lens to her role—one that is both deeply pragmatic and profoundly human. From launching bold multi-college collaborations and workforce initiatives like CHESS and UnMuddle to championing entrepreneurialapproaches to economic development through CNM Ingenuity, Tracy’s leadership is rooted in community, responsiveness, and relationships.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Tracy reflects on lessonslearned through the pandemic, the power of servant leadership, and why community colleges are poised to play a central role in addressing our nation’s most urgent challenges.
Whether you're curious about what’s next for higher ed orsimply looking for a refreshing example of grounded, visionary leadership—you’ll find it here.
🎧 Listen now to discover a community college president’s blueprint for leading with purpose, courage, and care.
Takeaways
Leadership is influenced by personal values and experiences.
Central New Mexico Community College serves a diverse student population.
The importance of ethical decision-making in leadership roles.
Collaboration among institutions can lead to improved processes.
UnMuddle Marketplace connects learners with workforce training opportunities.
Ingenuity focuses on entrepreneurship and economic development.
Women leaders face unique challenges but can thrive in supportive environments.
Resilience is key to navigating leadership challenges.
Community colleges play a vital role in workforce training and education.
Personalized education is essential for meeting individual learner needs.
Sound Bites
"I believe in ethical decision-making."
"I’m comfortable in the gray area."
"I’m proud to be a transitory leader."
We are excited to share with you our latest episode—a powerful conversation with Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of San José State University.
In this episode, we explore President Matson's journeyfrom being a first-generation college student to becoming a transformational university president. Along the way, she shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, the role of mentors and sponsors in her rise, and herunwavering commitment to equity, community, and purposeful change.
What makes her story so compelling is how deeply personaland authentic her leadership is. President Matson returned to lead in the very community her parents once left in search of opportunity—bringing everything full circle with a vision rooted in place, purpose, and what she so beautifully calls “the inheritance of courageous curiosity.”
We talk about:✅ Building a new public university from the ground up✅ Creating systems of support for first-generation and underserved students✅ Knowing when—and how—to say “yes” to the next leadership chapter✅ Staying resilient, grounded, and open in the face of change
This episode is for anyone seeking inspiration, clarity, orthat gentle push to keep leading boldly—even when the path isn’t fully clear.
Sound Bites
"Honesty is always the best policy"
"Hope is not a strategy"
"Happiness is an inside job"