Most students aren’t dropping out because they’re disengaged—they’re falling behind because your tech isn’t meeting their needs. In this energizing episode, Dustin chats with Shana Holman, Head of Strategic Engagement and Alliances at Pathify, about the results of Pathify’s 2025 Student Digital Experience Survey. They unpack why digital friction is far more than an IT problem—it's a barrier to academic success, mental health, and student belonging.

From the mounting demand for unified platforms to the hidden equity issues plaguing your tech stack, this episode makes a compelling case for why the student experience must be reimagined—and what institutions can do today to make real progress.

Guest Name: Shana Holman, Head of Strategic Engagements & Alliances, Pathify

Guest Social: LinkedIn

Guest Bio: As Pathify’s Head of Strategic Engagement and Alliances, Shana Holman partners with university leadership teams and Pathify’s customer advisory board to navigate the complex challenges facing higher education today.

With extensive experience in both higher education and EdTech partnerships, she brings practical insights on how universities can leverage integrated technology solutions to create more connected campus experiences while maximizing their existing technology investments.

Shana lives in Denver, Colorado and enjoys the Colorado mountains with her family and 2 yellow labradors. She is also a parent to two students navigating higher education.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do Montenegro, Gen Z protests, and open educational resources have in common? According to Julia Sherwin, everything. In this episode, Dustin Ramsdell sits down with Julia—Executive Director of the Global Education Initiative at Global Post Media—to explore why global literacy isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore. They unpack how free access to high-quality international journalism can transform classrooms, inspire student activism, and better prepare learners for a truly interconnected world.

This conversation is a must-listen for faculty who want to level up their teaching, institutions looking to champion open resources, and anyone passionate about empowering the next generation of globally competent citizens.

Guest Name: Julia Sherwin, Executive Director of the Global Education Initiative, GlobalPost Media

Guest Social: LinkedIn

Guest Bio: Julia Sherwin is a communications professional and storyteller at heart, with experience across journalism, public relations and higher education. She is a former Philadelphia-area radio host, where she developed two highly engaging interview-style shows that each ran for five years. Julia was also an adjunct instructor in Temple University's Department of Journalism. Today, she is a PR consultant and the executive director of GlobalPost's Global Education Initiative. She loves connecting with like-minded professionals, students and educators, so please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this premiere episode of the 2026 season, Dustin welcomes back Taran Lent, now CTO of the soon to be rebranded Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD), for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in higher ed. They dig into the rationale behind the rebrand, the creation of the Higher Ed Innovation Index report, and how institutions can sustainably modernize their operations while staying student-centric.

From embracing AI to fostering digital upskilling, Taran offers grounded advice from the frontlines of transformation—advice shaped by both internal change and direct collaboration with campuses nationwide.

Listen to Taran’s previous episode on the podcast here!

Guest Name: Taran Lent - CTO at Transact + CBORD

Guest Social: LinkedIn

Guest Bio: Taran Lent has been building and operating payment technology companies his entire professional career. He is an accomplished entrepreneurial leader with experience in start-up, growth and public organizations. His specialty is forming and motivating high-performance teams to focus and execute on major new product ideas. Taran currently serves as CTO at Transact + CBORD.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.