In 1877, the first college "major" was coined at Johns Hopkins. The catalog for that year is a dense read, though short; courses toward the baccalaureate only required two years of study and then—presumably—a job. That catalog has hardened into something else today: a system that prizes credentials over curiosity, standardization over discovery, and completion over connection.
In this episode, we sit down with Ned Laff and Scott Carlson, co-authors of Hacking College, and our own higher education strategist Howard Teibel, to ask a simple but urgent question: what are we really preparing students for? Drawing on decades of experience in academic affairs, journalism, and institutional change, our guests lay out an alternative framework—the “Field of Study”—that puts students back at the center of their education.
We talk about advising as design instead of compliance, about pilot programs that quietly rewire entire universities, and about the faculty and leadership required to shift the system without burning it down. And we hear stories—personal, institutional, and philosophical—of what happens when students reclaim the blank spaces of their education and begin to connect the dots on their own terms.
This is a conversation about possibility. And about how, even in the face of inertia, the path forward is already being built—one desire path at a time.
We explore...
Links & Resources
For years, finance in higher education has worked quietly behind the scenes—essential, but rarely seen as a force for change. Budgets got balanced, reports got filed, and institutions moved forward... slowly. But what happens when that model starts to crack? When rising costs outpace tuition revenue, and the math that once worked no longer adds up?
It’s a moment of reckoning—and an opportunity.
In this episode of Navigating Change, Pete Wright is joined by Michael Gower, Andrew Simpson, and Howard Teibel—three leaders who are reimagining what’s possible when finance steps out of the back office and into the strategy room. They’re not just managing numbers; they’re reshaping mindsets.
Together, they explore a bold idea: that financial health isn't just about closing budget gaps—it’s about leadership, influence, and building a future-ready institution. Through the lens of the Rutgers University case study, they reveal how finance can become a catalyst for innovation rather than a barrier to it. They talk about navigating resistance, sparking breakthroughs, and embedding financial thinking into the DNA of decision-making.
So what does it really take to shift from financial survival to sustainability? Can higher ed let go of outdated models before it’s too late?
This isn’t just a conversation about money. It’s about power, persuasion, and the future of higher education. Because the real question isn’t whether universities can afford to change—it’s whether they can afford not to.
Links & Notes
The opening speaker at the 2025 NBOA Annual Meeting will be Kyle Scheele, who is known for cooking up wild ideas that many people back for laughs and for learning. NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields discusses with Scheele the process behind some of his outlandish projects and about being creative in the workplace. “I don’t want people to be like me,” said Scheele. “I want them to tap into their own creativity, wherever they may be working.” That might be anything from devising a financial plan to reconsidering the organizational chart. In addition to being a celebrated speaker, Scheele has published four books, one for adults: How To Host a Viking Funeral: The Case for Burning Your Regrets, Chasing Your Crazy Ideas, and Becoming the Person You're Meant to Be, one for teens: We Put A Man On The Moon: Thoughts on Living a Better Story, and two children’s books.
The Net Assets podcast is a partnership between NBOA and Teibel Education Consulting, with hosts NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields and Teibel Education President Howard Teibel. This show is made possible thanks to the generous support of Community Brands.
You can also read a web article based on an excerpt of this podast episode, published in November 2024.
This week, Pete Wright and Howard Teibel dive deep into the topic of weak communication practices and their consequences in organizations. Howard, drawing from his extensive experience working with teams and leaders, shares insights on how miscommunication often stems from focusing on passing information rather than producing action and exploring assessments.
The duo discusses five key consequences of weak communication: mistrust and lack of listening, working in isolation, blame-shifting, people not making offers, and building consensus over-commitment. Howard emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between assessments and assertions, encouraging individuals to back up their assessments with evidence. He also highlights the transformative power of making offers, which enables innovation and engagement at all levels of an organization.
Throughout the conversation, Pete and Howard stress that merely knowing these concepts is not enough; embedding these skills into an organization's culture requires practice, repetition, and a willingness to embrace discomfort. They invite listeners to reflect on their own communication practices and consider how adopting these principles could lead to more effective collaboration and accelerated change within their teams.
Being of service. This is at the heart of the roles we play in higher education.
At the 2024 WACUBO Annual Conference at Disneyland in California, leaders and practitioners in administration came together to explore how they can Dream, Lead, and Inspire others to serve the mission of our industry. Lupe Valencia, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Facilities Officer at the University of Texas at El Paso, recently served as President of WACUBO and just turned the reins over to Michael Clune, who serves as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer at the University of California San Francisco.
Howard sat down with the two of them at the annual conference to talk about service and what inspires them about being part of this extraordinary association committed to providing professional development and networking opportunities for business officers serving higher education in the West.
Don't miss the opportunity to consider participating in next year’s Annual Conference, taking place on the Big Island of Hawaii! You won't want to miss this experience!
We are thrilled to present this episode of the Net Assets Podcast, a partnership between NBOA and Teibel Education Consulting, with NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields and Teibel Education President Howard Teibel.
This episode marks the first in what we hope will become a collection of some of the best and most illuminating interviews dedicated to you, independent school business leaders. As NBOA grows into its new brand identity, we have the great privilege of launching this podcast with a conversation about an institution unafraid of telling the story of what makes them great, a school unburdened by the weight of telling the stories they think the public wants to hear. And who better to share that story than the extraordinary leaders of the Lakefield College School themselves?
Lakefield College School is a coeducational boarding and day school in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada, for students in grades 9 through 12. Today, Jeff and Howard are joined by Anne-Marie Kee, Head of School since 2017, and Tim Rutherford, Associate Head of School and Chief Financial Officer since 2014.
If you've ever wondered what it takes to be authentic in your mission, elevate faculty, staff, and students, and transform enrollment growth along the way, you need to check out this conversation.
This show is made possible thanks to the generous support of Community Brands.
This week, Jeff Shields, President and CEO at NBOA, joins Howard Teibel for a conversation on the future of independent schools ahead of the 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting & Business Solutions Showcase. Howard and Jeff speak about issues of integrating telework, the sustainability of post-pandemic innovations, and the critical importance of community and collaboration in sparking transformative ideas.
“Your next best idea is not going to come from walking down the hallway at your own school,” he says, “It will come from being among more than a thousand people in an international community who have walked in your shoes,” he continues, stressing the invaluable benefits of shared experiences and collective wisdom that can be found at the NBOA Annual Meeting.
Jeff offers a sneak peek into what attendees can anticipate at the 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting & Business Solutions Showcase, taking place February 25 – 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. The event promises to be a hub for independent school leaders to converge, share their experiences, and learn from the collective wisdom of the community.
Links & Notes
As we continue our gradual emergence from a certain hibernation over the last three years, the opportunity to engage with our colleagues is more critical than ever. Brad Bacca, President of Western Colorado University and the Western Association of College and University Business Officers, sits down this week with Howard Teibel as they turn their attention to the upcoming WACUBO Annual Conference coming April 30 to May 3 in Phoenix, Arizona.
This year's theme is Rising to the Challenge - A call to intentionally engage in what we've learned and face our challenges with renewed resilience.
You can join Howard at the conference in his pre-conference workshop on producing innovative and creative thinking in the business office.
To learn more about this conference or register for the event, visit WACUBO.org.