Advertise on podcast: Leaders on Leadership

Dr. Brian Hemphill, President of Old Dominion University, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by growing up the youngest of thirteen children in a farming community in eastern North Carolina, and by an early lesson from a mentor that has stayed with him since: "This is not about me, this is about what's in the best interest of our students." In this episode, Dr. Hemphill discusses his belief that good leaders must be mission-focused and selfless, his practice of taking the blame when things go wrong and giving away the credit when they go well, and how he builds his teams around "truth tellers" who tell him what he needs to hear. He also shares his vision of Old Dominion as a gritty, entrepreneurial institution reshaping itself around today's students. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded May 2026.

Dr. Suzanne Smith, President of SUNY Potsdam, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by influential mentors and more than two decades at Washington State University Vancouver, where she arrived as the campus was being built from the ground up and rose from faculty member to academic director. A chance meeting with a textbook author at an undergraduate research conference led to a research lab invitation and, eventually, a call to fill in for her own departing professor at Erskine College—the moment she discovered a love of teaching she'd never expected. In this episode, Dr. Smith discusses how she uses CliftonStrengths and Winnie the Pooh personality types to build teams that complement rather than mirror each other, how she coaches "Eeyores," and why authenticity and emotional leadership matter more to her than projecting confidence.Dr. Suzanne Smith, President of SUNY Potsdam, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by influential mentors and more than two decades at Washington State University Vancouver, where she arrived as the campus was being built from the ground up and rose from faculty member to academic director. A chance meeting with a textbook author at an undergraduate research conference led to a research lab invitation and, eventually, a call to fill in for her own departing professor at Erskine College—the moment she discovered a love of teaching she'd never expected. In this episode, Dr. Smith discusses how she uses CliftonStrengths and Winnie the Pooh personality types to build teams that complement rather than mirror each other, how she coaches "Eeyores," and why authenticity and emotional leadership matter more to her than projecting confidence. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded June 2026.

Dr. Mun Choi, President of the University of Missouri System, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by his family’s immigration from South Korea, a deep belief in the power of education, and mentors who encouraged him. In this episode, Dr. Choi discusses why curiosity and lifelong learning are essential for leaders, and why strategic vision must be matched by the ability to execute, communicate, and build a team capable of sustaining progress. He also speaks candidly about leading through periods of disruption, making difficult decisions in service of an institution’s long-term strength, and identifying leaders whose motivations are grounded in mission rather than personal advancement. Dr. Choi offers advice for aspiring leaders on taking thoughtful risks and reflects on higher education’s resilience amid demographic shifts, public skepticism, research uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded June 2026.

Randy Boyd, President of the University of Tennessee System, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by entrepreneurship, public service, and a lifelong commitment to expanding educational opportunity. A first-generation college graduate who began at the University of Tennessee at age 16, Boyd shares how early lessons in affordability, persistence, and failure informed his path from building PetSafe Brands to leading statewide initiatives such as Knox Achieves, Tennessee Promise, and UT Promise. In this episode, he discusses what nontraditional leaders can bring to higher education, the importance of listening deeply to the people an institution serves, and why access, affordability, and public value remain central to the future of higher education. He also reflects on building a One UT culture across campuses, leading with humility and transparency, and why higher education must more clearly demonstrate its value to individuals, communities, and society. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded April 2026.

Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, current President of Michigan State University and soon-to-be President of Clemson University, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by formative mentors, scientific inquiry, servant leadership, and an enduring commitment to students. A nationally recognized neuroscientist whose groundbreaking concussion research transformed safety standards across sport, Dr. Guskiewicz shares how a researcher’s mindset continues to shape the way he leads: asking good questions, testing assumptions, building strong teams, and communicating with clarity. In this episode, he reflects on early encouragement to lean into leadership, the pivotal moments that guided his path from faculty member to university president, and the lessons learned from mentors who challenged him to make only new mistakes. He also discusses the power of listening tours, why transparency matters during difficult decisions, and higher education’s growing responsibility to tell a stronger story about its public value. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded April 2026.

Dr. Susan Hasseler, President of Muskingum University, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by generations of educators, an early commitment to students on the margins, and a career that bridged K–12 and higher education. In this episode, she shares how formative experiences, from graduate study in Chicago to international work in South Africa and the encouragement of mentors who saw presidential potential in her, helped define her approach to transformational leadership. As she nears the close of her presidency, Dr. Hasseler offers thoughtful insight on what makes a good higher education leader: curiosity, integrity, humor, and an unwavering focus on students. She also speaks candidly about building trust-centered teams, preparing future leaders through broad institutional learning, and higher education’s urgent need to demonstrate its value through meaningful action rather than rhetoric. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded March 2026.

Dr. Jonathan D. Green, President of Susquehanna University, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by music, scholarship, and a deep commitment to the liberal arts. As a first-year college student, he was unexpectedly asked to manage the college choir—an early leadership experience that opened his eyes to the inner workings of academic life and set him on a path toward higher education leadership. In this episode, Dr. Green discusses how experiences across liberal arts institutions shaped his perspective on mission-driven leadership and draws thoughtful parallels between conducting an orchestra and leading a university. He also offers insight for aspiring leaders on recognizing where their values and institutional purpose align. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded February 2026.

Dr. S. Georgia Nugent shares a leadership story shaped by an itinerant childhood, moving several times a year as the daughter of a thoroughbred racehorse trainer, and by the experience of being a first-generation college student entering Princeton University in its first class of women. Her path into higher education leadership unfolded through unexpected invitations, formative mentors, and moments when values had to guide difficult decisions. In this episode, Dr. Nugent reflects candidly on how leaders come to know themselves, why institutional clarity matters, and what it means to uphold academic values when free speech, community well-being, and moral responsibility collide. Now serving as President-in-Residence at the American Academic Leadership Institute, she brings decades of lived experience as a scholar and president to her reflections on the human weight of leadership in higher education. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded December 2025.

Dr. Paul Pribbenow, President of Augsburg University, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by vocation, ethical grounding, and the power of listening for life-changing calls. Now in his twentieth year as president, Dr. Pribbenow shares how pivotal mentors, brief but formative conversations, and a background in social ethics and advancement guided his path to the presidency. In this episode, he discusses the virtues at the heart of good leadership—integrity, humility, and emotional intelligence—alongside the human-centered responsibilities of the presidency. Dr. Pribbenow also reflects on leading Augsburg through decades of change, building leadership teams rooted in trust, and guiding the university’s evolution as a deeply engaged urban institution transformed by a richly diverse student body. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded July 2025.

Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System, traces a leadership path shaped by purpose, pragmatism, and saying “yes” to meaningful work. Drawing on experiences from Bloomsburg University and Bethany College to her system role in Vermont, she reflects on how her mother’s insistence on opportunity and her own training as a mathematician inform a steady focus on access, affordability, and student success. In this episode, Dr. Mauch discusses the system’s ongoing transformation of bringing legacy campuses together as Vermont State University alongside the Community College of Vermont, while meeting the realities of today’s learners. She offers a candid view of risk-taking and learning from failure, partnering with legislators, and aligning institutional assets to serve every corner of a rural state. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded July 2025.

Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, President of Oakland University, has built a career at the intersection of medicine, industry, and higher education. A renowned pediatric endocrinologist and member of the National Academy of Medicine, her journey has been shaped by a remarkable upbringing in a family deeply engaged in civil rights and public service. In this episode, Dr. Pescovitz reflects on the values instilled by her parents, the resilience forged through personal loss, and the leadership philosophy she frames around her “eight C’s.” She also shares practical wisdom for aspiring leaders, from setting aspirational goals and embracing “moon landings” to cultivating creativity, compassion, and community on her teams. Interview recorded June 2025. Read the full episode transcript.

Dr. Luis Pedraja’s path to the presidency began in Little Havana and wound through ministry, classrooms, and accrediting agencies before leading to Quinsigamond Community College. A first-generation college student and Cuban immigrant, he brings a lived understanding of higher education’s power to transform lives. In this episode, Dr. Pedraja reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the values that ground him, and the urgency of leadership centered on equity, humility, and student success. With insight from both national accreditation and local community impact, his story speaks to what it means to lead with conviction in times of rapid change. Read the full episode transcript. Interview recorded July 2025.

Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes leads with a steady hand and an open heart, a necessity in a presidency shaped by disruption, challenge, and change. As President of Cal State LA and Chair of the Academic Search Board, she shares what it means to lead through volatility while staying rooted in purpose and guided by student success. From early experiences in residence life to her reflections on building authentic teams and redefining campus culture post-COVID, Dr. Eanes brings clarity and candor to the realities of higher education leadership. Her story is one of resilience, mentorship, and the daily choice to lead with intention, even when the path for higher education is uncertain. Interview recorded June 2025. Read the full episode transcript.

Dr. Richard Helldobler, President of William Paterson University, brings a unique blend of artistry and strategy to his leadership. After earning a business degree and turning down a lucrative corporate offer, he pursued a career in dance, which led him to become a higher education leader. A first-generation college student with immigrant roots, Dr. Helldobler shares how his background in the arts influences his approach to building teams and navigating complexity. He also reflects on his time as an ACE Fellow, the mentors who guided his path, and the importance of finding opportunity in the midst of challenge. Interview recorded May 2025. Read the full episode transcript.

Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, President of the University of Nebraska System, reflects on his journey from Brooklyn public schools to academic medicine and higher education leadership. A first-generation student with a background in engineering and cardiac surgery, Dr. Gold shares how trust, transparency, and service have shaped his leadership philosophy. He speaks candidly about the challenges facing higher education today, including shifting public perceptions, and highlights the cultural strengths that make Nebraska a distinctive place to lead. Interview recorded March 2025. Read full podcast transcript.