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What if the biggest barrier to student success isn’t what happens inside the classroom—but everything happening outside of it? In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Inside Higher Ed editor in chief Sarah Custer sit down with Bunker Hill Community College president Pam Edinger to discuss her book, Beyond the College Walls: Partnerships and the Future of Community College Reform. Pam explains why the future of higher education requires colleges to stop operating in isolation and start building stronger partnerships with employers, community organizations, K–12 schools, policymakers, and workforce leaders. From paid degree apprenticeships and work-based learning to nursing shortages, workforce development, economic mobility, childcare, housing, food security, and transportation, this conversation explores what students actually need to complete college and build family-sustaining careers. Pam also shares how Bunker Hill Community College partnered with Mass General Brigham to rethink healthcare education by allowing students to learn and earn at the same time. For higher education presidents, provosts, administrators, faculty, workforce leaders, community college professionals, and anyone working on student success, this episode offers a powerful challenge: stop asking students to fit the institution and start redesigning the ecosystem around their lives. What You’ll Learn: Why student success strategies must extend beyond curriculum and the classroom, and why colleges cannot solve completion and economic mobility challenges without employers, nonprofits, government, and community partners working alongside them. How Bunker Hill Community College and Mass General Brigham are building a degree apprenticeship model where healthcare students can earn money while completing clinical and academic learning instead of balancing school with unrelated full-time jobs. Why work-based learning cannot simply mean adding more internships—and how colleges and employers can jointly build curriculum, talent pipelines, experiential learning opportunities, and sustainable pathways into family-supporting careers. Why housing, childcare, healthcare, food, transportation, K–12 education, college access, workforce development, and public policy are all part of the same student success ecosystem—and why breaking down the boundaries between these systems may be essential to meaningful higher education reform. #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #CommunityCollege #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicMobility Weekly Wisdom with Bunker Hill Community College President and Author Pam Eddinger Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

AI is forcing higher education to confront a question much bigger than whether students are using ChatGPT to cheat: What is a university actually for? In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, former Southern New Hampshire University president Paul LeBlanc joins Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer to discuss the future of higher education in an AI world. Drawing on more than two decades leading SNHU, LeBlanc explains why artificial intelligence could fundamentally reshape college, white-collar work, assessment, university leadership, and the skills students need for the future. He also shares the thinking behind his new book, Reclaiming Purpose: The University in an AI World, and lays out a practical path for university leaders navigating the transition. From getting institutional data and cybersecurity in order to creating clearer AI policies, redesigning broken assessment systems, and developing a real theory about the future of work, this conversation offers a framework for colleges trying to move beyond reaction and toward leadership. And underneath it all is a bigger possibility: AI may give universities an opportunity to reclaim their original purpose of developing not only better workers, but better human beings. You’ll Learn: → Why Paul LeBlanc believes universities need clear fixed, flexible, and free policies for artificial intelligence, and why inconsistent AI rules are frustrating students. → How generative AI is exposing weaknesses in traditional college assessment, including an overreliance on papers, tests, and measures that may not actually demonstrate learning. → Why every academic department needs a theory about the future of work and must reconsider what graduates need to know and be able to do as AI changes professional careers. → Why LeBlanc believes the biggest opportunity for higher education may be moving beyond workforce preparation and reclaiming a broader mission centered on human development, relationships, purpose, and society. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Higher education is facing a moment where moving slowly is no longer an option. In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Karen Stout, outgoing president and CEO of Achieving the Dream, to reflect on decades of leadership in community college student success, institutional transformation, data-driven decision-making, and what it really takes to leave an organization stronger than you found it. Karen shares lessons from leading Montgomery County Community College, transforming Achieving the Dream into a national student success network, and helping hundreds of community colleges rethink completion, transfer, mobility, workforce alignment, and community impact. This conversation is for higher ed leaders, community college presidents, faculty leaders, student success professionals, nonprofit executives, and anyone trying to drive meaningful change in education. You’ll hear why colleges must stop fighting their data, why innovation needs intention, why faculty must be centered in reform, and why the future of student success depends on moving faster from knowing to doing. Highlights: → You’ll learn why community colleges have a unique power to shape the future of their local communities and why Karen Stout calls “leveraging your localness” their secret sauce.  → You’ll hear how Achieving the Dream used a transformative unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott to build capacity, strengthen reserves, and reinvest in under-resourced colleges.  → Karen explains why higher ed leaders must own their data, especially around completion, transfer, bachelor’s degree attainment, mobility, and workforce outcomes.  → She also shares why institutions need to stop chasing shiny objects and instead pursue innovation with intention, clear priorities, and a deeper focus on teaching, learning, faculty engagement, and shared governance. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here. Chapters 00:00 Intro00:14 Welcome to Start the Week with Wisdom01:13 Karen Stout’s Achieving the Dream legacy02:00 Leadership transition and stewardship03:26 What Karen is proudest of04:05 Leveraging the local power of community colleges05:45 Succession, transition, and leaving stronger06:00 The impact of MacKenzie Scott’s investment07:58 How ATD invested in long-term capacity10:44 Why colleges must move faster on reform12:00 Compressing the time between knowing and doing13:08 Bringing faculty into the center of transformation15:42 Advice for higher ed leaders today15:54 Why colleges must stop fighting their data16:45 Innovation with intention, not invention18:00 What it means to own your data20:06 The best career advice Karen received20:33 Closing reflections

What does student success really look like after high school? In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Melissa Connolly, CEO of OneGoal, to talk about college access, postsecondary success, multiple pathways, student advising, first-generation leadership, and why the old “college or bust” mindset no longer fits the lives of today’s students. Melissa shares how OneGoal is helping young people prepare for life after high school through stronger advising, real-world pathways, and a student-centered approach that honors each learner’s goals. She also opens up about her own journey from being placed in a truancy program to becoming a first-generation college graduate and national education leader. This conversation is for higher education leaders, K-12 educators, nonprofit leaders, student success professionals, funders, advisors, and anyone working to close equity gaps and help students persist, graduate, and thrive. If you care about college completion, career pathways, education equity, student engagement, chronic absenteeism, leadership, or building systems that actually work for young people, this conversation offers a practical and deeply human look at what needs to change. Highlights: → Melissa Connolly explains why students need multiple pathways after high school, not a narrow “bachelor’s degree or bust” model, and how OneGoal is helping schools and districts build stronger advising systems. → The conversation explores how students define success for themselves, why higher education must listen more closely to student goals, and how career preparation, credentials, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and workforce pathways can work together. → Melissa shares her personal story as a first-generation college graduate who began high school in a truancy program, and how one social worker helped her see a future worth fighting for. → You’ll also hear Melissa’s leadership philosophy, including how motherhood shaped her values of being kind, being honest, and working hard, and why simple, human-centered leadership can transform organizations. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Online college has been around for years, but too many students still struggle to finish, transfer, or earn a degree without taking on debt. In this episode of Start the Week With Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Kuster sit down live at the ASU GSV Summit with Tade Oyerinde, Chancellor of Campus, to talk about a new model for community college, online learning, student success, and higher education innovation. Tade explains how Campus is inspired by the CUNY ASAP model, which helped improve graduation rates by giving students wraparound support, full-time enrollment, success coaching, and fewer financial barriers. Instead of relying on self-paced online courses, Campus uses live online classes, faculty from top universities, coaching, tutoring, laptops, and transfer pathways to help students move toward a bachelor’s degree with little to no debt. This conversation is for higher education leaders, edtech founders, student success teams, community college advocates, and anyone asking how AI, online college, and flexible credentials are reshaping the future of higher education. You’ll learn  → Why live online learning can create more motivation and accountability for 17-to-27-year-old students → How Campus supports working learners and students who may not have followed a traditional college path → Why CUNY ASAP remains one of the strongest models for community college completion → How AI is changing the way colleges think about degrees, credentials, transfer, and career readiness. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

AI in higher education is moving fast, but the real question is not whether colleges should use AI. The real question is how higher ed leaders can use AI, edtech, and innovation to help students learn well, finish strong, and build better futures. In this live episode from the ASU GSV Summit, we sit down with Mark Milliron, President and CEO of National University, to explore how colleges can move new ideas from “novel” to normal. Mark shares why higher education must avoid AI hype, focus on real student outcomes, and design learning for today’s actual learners: working adults, parents, military students, veterans, and people balancing school with life. This conversation is for higher ed leaders, faculty, ed-tech founders, student success teams, policymakers, and anyone asking how AI will change college, online learning, adult education, workforce learning, and student support. You’ll hear a practical, human-centered view of AI adoption, change management, collective intelligence, and the future of higher education. What you’ll learn: how leaders can evaluate new technology without falling for hype, why AI should be seen as part of collective intelligence, how colleges can better serve nontraditional students, and why higher education needs to help shape the ed-tech products it may one day use. Highlights: → Mark explains how strong higher ed leaders guide institutions from “novel” to normal by scouting new technology, talent, policy, and learning models that can improve student success. → The conversation breaks down why AI in higher education should not be driven by fear or hype, but by thoughtful adoption, evidence, policy, practice, and human-centered change management. → You’ll hear why the “typical college student” mental model is outdated, and why working adults, military learners, parents, and career changers need flexible learning designed around their real lives. → Mark also shares why higher ed, venture capital, philanthropy, K-12, and ed-tech need to align around shared problems, even when each group speaks a different language or has different goals. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Choosing a college, career, major, or post secondary pathway can feel overwhelming for students and families, especially when young people are asked to make life-shaping decisions before they have had real career exposure. In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sara Custer sit down with Julie Lammers, President and CEO of Britebound , live from the ASU GSV Summit, to talk about why career exploration should start in middle school and high school, not after students arrive on a college campus. Julie explains how Britebound, formerly American Student Assistance, is helping students build a longer runway toward life after high school through work-based learning, career-connected learning, non-degree pathway data, post secondary navigation, and practical tools for families, counselors, and higher education leaders. This conversation matters for anyone working in student success, college access, career readiness, workforce development, K-12 partnerships, or higher education strategy. You’ll hear: → Why asking students “What do you want to be?” can be the wrong question → How early internships and hands-on learning help students discover what they like and do not like → Why higher education has often become an expensive career exploration tool → How new platforms like Go Zing are helping students compare college, credential, and career pathways with better information Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

College leadership can look powerful from the outside, but behind the title is often a lonely, high-pressure role with no true peers on campus. In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College, to talk about higher education leadership, mentorship, women leaders, HBCU leadership, innovation, and the real emotional weight of leading a college today. Dr. Artis shares what it means to be an informed and decisive leader, why college presidents need trusted communities, and how mentorship can shape the next generation of higher ed leaders. This conversation is for aspiring college presidents, current campus leaders, women in higher education, HBCU leaders, provosts, cabinet members, and anyone trying to lead through change with wisdom, humility, and courage. From ASU GSV reflections to the power of sisterhood, this episode offers an honest look at what leadership requires now: deep connection, better decision-making, strong peer networks, and the courage to admit that even the most accomplished leaders need support. You’ll learn: → Why the college presidency can feel isolating, even on a busy campus → How Dr. Artis approaches decision-making as both informed and decisive → Why mentorship and peer networks matter for women leaders and HBCU presidents → How programs, cohorts, and leadership communities can prepare future presidents for the realities of higher education leadership. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Higher education is facing a leadership crisis, and this conversation explains why.  In this live episode of Weekly Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Donna Lederman break down what makes the college presidency one of the hardest jobs in America, why so many presidents leave after just a few years, and what that instability is doing to colleges, universities, and students. If you work in higher education leadership, student success, university administration, academic affairs, or institutional strategy, this episode will help you better understand the pressures shaping college presidents today.  From governing boards and faculty politics to media scrutiny, innovation, public trust, and the future of student-centered leadership, this is an honest conversation about what higher ed leaders are really up against and what must change next. If you care about college leadership, higher education innovation, presidential turnover, student outcomes, and the future of universities, this episode gives you a rare inside look at what’s broken and what gives experienced leaders hope. You’ll Learn: → Why the average college president’s tenure is shrinking and how constant turnover can set institutions back for years.  → What most people misunderstand about presidential power and why many leaders have far less control than the public assumes.  → What separates innovative presidents from ineffective ones, including vision, culture, risk tolerance, and the ability to keep students at the center.  → Bridget and Donna also discuss nontraditional leadership pipelines, media relationships, public trust, and why this difficult moment may finally push higher education toward real change. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it really take to lead with purpose, rise through multiple sectors, and keep going when people underestimate you?  In this inspiring episode of Start the Week With Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace to talk about leadership, service, resilience, career growth, and the journey behind her new book Made for This.  From higher education leadership to state government, diplomacy, philanthropy, and national impact, Dr. Burns-Wallace shares the values, lessons, and personal experiences that shaped her path. This conversation is for anyone interested in leadership development, women in leadership, higher education, personal growth, career advancement, overcoming adversity, and building a legacy of service.  If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded while stepping into bigger opportunities, how to turn being underestimated into fuel, or how to lead people with empathy, intention, and courage, this episode is for you. Packed with wisdom on mentorship, purpose-driven leadership, storytelling, career transitions, and the power of sharing your journey, this is a motivating conversation for leaders at every stage. You’ll Hear: → Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace share how her early leadership training came from family, church, community, and a deep belief in service. → How writing Made for This began as a leadership book and evolved into a leadership memoir after she realized that her personal story was just as important as the lessons she wanted to teach.  → The conversation explores how Dr. Burns-Wallace navigated roles across higher education, the Foreign Service, state government, and philanthropy while staying rooted in access, opportunity, and economic mobility.  → Dr. Burns-Wallace also opens up about what it means to be underestimated, how to keep that from becoming internalized, and how great leaders create policies, cultures, and opportunities that prevent others from being limited in the same way.  → You’ll also hear a memorable discussion about the music behind each chapter of her book, how songs can capture seasons of life, and why storytelling matters so much in leadership. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work? In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what’s changed, what he’s proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change. From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi’s tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he’s looking forward to most after stepping down. Key Takeaways: → Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB’s medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission. → Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all. → Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition. → Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began. → Great leadership isn’t about the next job, it’s about doing the current one with excellence. “If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish Tripathi If this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today? Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work? In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what’s changed, what he’s proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change. From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi’s tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he’s looking forward to most after stepping down. Key Takeaways: Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB’s medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission. Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all. Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition. Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began. Great leadership isn’t about the next job, it’s about doing the current one with excellence. “If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish Tripathi If this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today? Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead with both strategy and soul? In this moving and powerful episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, host Bridget Burns sits down with Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs for a conversation that redefines leadership in higher education. With a background in business and strategic planning, Jennifer brings a refreshingly different perspective to the chancellorship, one rooted not just in data and efficiency, but in deep compassion and human resilience. This episode dives into Jennifer’s unconventional path to leadership, the profound personal and professional experiences that shaped her approach, and the vital role of executive coaching in navigating the complexities of higher ed. Jennifer shares the unimaginable weight of leading through campus tragedies, and how leaning into both vulnerability and resilience has become her compass for serving students, faculty, and community. In this episode, you'll learn: Why nontraditional paths to leadership can be an asset in higher education. The role executive coaching has played in Jennifer’s 20-year leadership journey. How to lead through crisis with humanity, courage, and compassion. The power of interdisciplinary undergraduate experiences in shaping career success. Why “more curious than convinced” is a leadership mindset for the future. "Without courage, the wisdom and experiences we have bear no fruit."  Subscribe to Start the Week with Wisdom, share this episode with a colleague, or reflect in your journal: What leadership lessons are you learning right now, and how are you growing through them? Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What if college wasn’t built for the very students who need it most? In this episode of Pathbreakers, we talk to Dr. Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), about her deeply personal journey from first-generation college student to national higher education reformer. Bridget opens up about the systemic gaps that left her, and students like her, under-supported and misunderstood, and how that experience lit a fire that fuels her work today. We explore how Bridget and the UIA are rewriting the playbook for higher education, one collaboration at a time. She shares how she’s brought together 19 university presidents, often former first-gen students themselves, to put competition aside and share not just their success stories, but their failures. Why? Because vulnerable students can’t wait for every school to reinvent the wheel. Bridget also takes us inside UIA’s Listening Lab, a powerful innovation that puts student voices at the center of decision-making, and offers a candid look at the pressures facing college leaders today. Key Takeaways: Radical collaboration can drive real student success outcomes. Scaling innovation means adapting, not copying, solutions. Listening to students isn’t optional, it’s transformational. Empathy and improv can change how institutions lead. The classroom isn’t the only path to career readiness. “We just need good ideas to not be a trade secret.” - Dr. Bridget Burns If you believe higher education should work for everyone, not just the privileged few, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Subscribe to Pathbreakers, share this episode with an educator or student in your life, and journal about how your own education shaped your path. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

How do you lead when the rules keep changing, and you’re not even on the field? That’s the question this week as Start the Week with Wisdom welcomes Rob Anderson, President of SHEEO (State Higher Education Executive Officers Association). In a moment where campus leaders face overwhelming complexity, Rob opens a window into the headspace of the often-misunderstood university system leader, those working behind the scenes to bridge policy, politics, and student outcomes. Hosts Bridget Burns (University Innovation Alliance) and Sarah Custer (Inside Higher Ed) sit down with Rob for a deeply human and surprisingly personal conversation. From his time at a military college to pursuing seminary, serving at a small faith-based college, and ultimately stepping into state policy leadership, Rob shares what drew him into a life of service and leadership, and how he's managed to stay grounded through it all. They talk about: The disconnect between campus and system leaders, and how to close the gap What most people get wrong about higher ed policy work How empathy and humility shape real leadership Why taking things personally is a fast track to burnout How system leaders protect campuses more than they’re given credit for Takeaways: Seminary training can shape policy leadership in powerful, unexpected ways. System leaders are not “the cops”, they’re often the shield. Collaboration between campus and system is essential for student success. Don’t underestimate the quiet strength in not taking yourself too seriously. Today’s leaders must “collabicate”, collaborate + communicate with empathy. “I try not to take myself too seriously, but understand what I do contribute.” - Rob Anderson  If this conversation reshaped how you see higher ed leadership, share this episode with a colleague, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a dose of wisdom. Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.