Higher education IT leaders from a variety of institutions discuss professional and organizational development, best practices, careers, challenges, and opportunities. Hosted by EDUCAUSE community leaders Cynthia Golden and Jack Suess.
Season 4
How CIOs Plan Succession in a Time of Change
Episode 2 | February 26, 2026
How should CIOs prepare their institutions and future leaders for rapid technological, cultural, and organizational change? This episode explores succession planning, leadership development, and evolving campus systems that are reshaping how higher education IT organizations build continuity.
The Higher Ed Talent Reckoning: Retirements, AI, and Retention
Episode 1 | January 22, 2026
Higher education faces a workforce crisis driven by converging forces: retirements, role changes driven by artificial intelligence, and shifting employee expectations. This discussion brings together insights from workforce data and executive search experience.
Season 3
A Canadian Lens on Higher Ed Technology
Episode 8 | May 15, 2025
In this episode, Jack and Cynthia welcome campus technology leaders from Canada. They discuss how Canadian institutions are navigating challenges around aligning data, AI, and cybersecurity.
Pilots, Principles, and Pop-Ins: A Practical Path to Campus AI
Episode 7 | April 17, 2025
Smaller institutions are finding creative, values-driven ways to explore artificial intelligence tools. This conversation unpacks how grassroots experimentation can guide responsible innovation.
From Tradition to Transition: Rethinking the Student Experience
Episode 6 | April 3, 2025
Higher education has deeply ingrained structures that make institutional change difficult. But student success demands a shift in strategic approach. In this conversation, we discuss the historical roots of faculty governance and the need for a reoriented, modernized student-centered model.
Lessons Learned Moving Between Higher Education and Industry
Episode 5 | March 20, 2025
Higher education leadership can gain valuable insights from outside the academy. This conversation explores how experiences in higher education and the private sector shape strategic thinking and offers a healthy perspective on the challenges leaders face.
The Power of Building Your Personal Brand
Episode 4 | March 6, 2025
This episode explores how higher education technology professionals can craft an authentic presence that aligns with their values, career goals, and expertise. We discuss the relationship between personal brand and reputation, the value of networking, and strategies for increasing visibility.
Next Leaders Fellowship: Building Community and Careers
Episode 3 | February 20, 2025
This episode explores the Next Leaders Fellowship and its role in creating community and fostering leadership development for higher education technology professionals.
Reimagining Vendor Relations in Higher Ed
Episode 2 | February 6, 2025
In this episode, we discuss improving collaboration between higher education and corporate partners by addressing issues like unsolicited vendor emails, streamlining procurement processes, and fostering trust through strategic engagement.
A Culture of Curiosity and Collaboration at the University of Notre Dame
Episode 1 | January 23, 2025
In this episode, the hosts and guests discuss strategies for supporting faculty as they bring new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into the classroom. They also talk about how to keep the human aspects of curiosity and community alive.
Season 2
Celeste Schwartz on the Evolution of Higher Ed IT
Episode 8 | November 21, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Celeste Schwartz, vice president for information technology and chief digital officer for Montgomery County Community College. She talks about her long career and the changes she has observed in higher education technology strategies over the years.
Michael Berman on Meeting Today's Higher Ed Challenges
Episode 7 | October 19, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Michael Berman, executive strategic consultant with Vantage Technology Consulting Group and former chief information officer for the California State University System. (Recorded live at the EDUCAUSE 2023 Annual Conference.)
Joanne Kossuth on Expanding the Executive Role Beyond IT
Episode 6 | September 28, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack welcome Lesley University COO Joanne Kossuth to discuss building trust and relationships across campus.
David Lassner & Garret Yoshimi on Working With Your President
Episode 5 | September 7, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack welcome University of Hawaii President David Lassner, as well as his Chief Information Officer, Garret Yoshimi. They discuss the relationship between President and CIO.
Vince Kellen on Leading with Evidence
Episode 4 | August 24, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Vince Kellen, CIO at the University of California, San Diego.
Lois Brooks on Leveraging University Relationships
Episode 3 | August 10, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Lois Brooks, CIO and Vice Provost for Information Technology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison about using professional relationships to accomplish more goals.
Jackie Malcolm Bailey on Communicating for ERP Implementations
Episode 2 | July 27, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Jackie Malcolm Bailey, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities about what she learned from overseeing an ERP implementation at her institution.
Introduction to Season 2
Episode 1 | July 20, 2023
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk about the guests and themes coming up in season two of the podcast.
Season 1
Next Generation Leadership Partners on Building a Career in Higher Ed Technology
Episode 15 | December 12, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Mary Beth Baker and Phil Goldstein from Next Generation Learning Partners about the best way to approach approach, interview for, and attain a leadership position in higher ed technology.
Sharon Blanton on Change Leadership
Episode 14 | November 28, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Sharon Blanton, Vice President of Operations at the College of New Jersey.
Tracy Schroeder on Leveraging Frameworks
Episode 13 | November 10, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Tracy Schroeder, Vice President for Information Services & Technology at Boston University.
EDUCAUSE Young Professionals Part 2
Episode 12 | October 27, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with another two members of EDUCAUSE Young Professionals Advisory Committee: Wesam Helou, Interim CIO at Cleveland State University, and Luke VanWingerden, CIO for Tri-County Technical College. They discuss how YPAC has been a great resource for young higher ed professionals to find community at EDUCAUSE.
David Seidl on Meaningful Mentorship
Episode 11 | October 13, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with David Seidl, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at Miami University about mentoring and leadership.
Amelia Parnell on Data as a Conversation Starter
Episode 10 | September 29, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Amelia Parnell, Vice President for Research and Policy at NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. They discuss her role at NASPA as well as her new book, "You Are a Data Person: Strategies for Using Analytics on Campus".
EDUCAUSE Young Professionals on Career Development
Episode 9 | September 15, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with two members of the EDUCAUSE Young Professionals Advisory Committee: Tara Hughes, Interim Chief Information Officer for California State University Maritime Academy, and Sandeep Sidhu, Chief Information Officer for Emily Carr University of Art & Design.
Klara Jelinkova on the Pursuit of Efficiency
Episode 8 | September 1, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Klara Jelinkova, Vice President and University CIO for Harvard University.
Tom Andriola on the Role of Trust in Leadership
Episode 7 | July 11, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Tom Andriola, vice chancellor for Information Technology at UC Irvine, about building teams and implementing solutions based on mutual trust.
Keith McIntosh on Leading with Intention
Episode 6 | March 9, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Keith McIntosh, Vice President and CIO for the University of Richmond, about his leadership journey and philosophy.
Mark Roman on Creating a Seamless IT Organization
Episode 5 | March 2, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Mark Roman, former CIO for Simon Fraser University, about shaping staff and processes to create seamless technology service.
Paige Francis on Breaking Gender Roles
Episode 4 | February 10, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Paige Francis, former CIO at the University of Tulsa, about being a woman in a traditionally male leadership role and about thinking strategically.
Barron Koralesky on Strategizing
Episode 3 | February 10, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Barron Koralesky, CIO at Williams College, about how strategizing and collaborating play such an important role in his job.
Melissa Woo on Communicating
Episode 2 | February 10, 2022
Hosts Cynthia and Jack talk with Melissa Woo, CIO at Michigan State University, who has been recognized for her staff development, change leadership, and talent for communicating with diverse groups of people.
An Introduction to The Integrative CIO Podcast
Episode 1 | February 10, 2022
In this inaugural episode, podcast hosts Cynthia Golden and Jack Suess talk about the goals and subject matter for this new podcast series.