Welcome to Small College America!

Videos

Nov. 10, 2026

The Impact of Athletics at Small Colleges Webinar

Welcome to this live edition of Small College America and our Consequential Conversations series. I’m Dean Hoke, joined by my co-host Kent Barnds. Today we’re discussing “The Impact of Athletics at Small Colleges.” Athletics can shape enrollment, campus identity, the student experience, and the finances of smaller institutions. We’ll look…

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Nov. 3, 2026

Lee Fisher From Public Service to the College Presidency

Welcome to @SmallCollegeAmerica , a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College, and I'm joined by my co-host Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group. Dean: Today, we're joined by Lee Fisher,…

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Oct. 27, 2026

Kate M Video final version

Today, we're joined by Dr. Kate Morris, the 19th president of St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Kate became president in 2021 after a long career at Butler University, where she taught psychology and later served as provost and vice president for academic affairs. She earned her bachelor's degree…

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Oct. 20, 2026

The Changing Role of the Small College Provost

Today on Small College America, Kent and I are joined by Dr. Greg Piller, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina. Greg joined Pfeiffer in August and his career has unfolded largely within small, private higher education, progressing from professor and department chair to…

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Oct. 12, 2026

The Shrinking Pipeline: International Students and the Small College

Dean: Welcome to this live edition of Small College America and our Consequential Conversations series. I’m Dean Hoke, joined by my co-host Kent Barnds. Today we’re discussing “The Shrinking Pipeline: International Students and the Small College.” We’ll examine the current environment, what it means for smaller institutions, and the choices…

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Sept. 29, 2026

Small College America: Matt Lindsey President KICA

Today, we’re joined by Matt Lindsey, President of the Kansas Independent College Association, a role he has held since 2012. Matt represents 21 nonprofit colleges and universities across Kansas, advocating for the independent sector at both the state and federal levels and helping member institutions collaborate on issues including affordability,…

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Sept. 22, 2026

Small College America: Accreditation in a Time of Change Heather Perfetti

We’re joined by Dr. Heather F. Perfetti, President of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Heather has served as a faculty member, chief academic officer, accreditation peer evaluator, and in several leadership roles at Middle States before becoming President in 2020. She has also been actively involved in national…

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Sept. 15, 2026

Mergers, Acquisitions and Reinvention: What Small Colleges Need to Know

Welcome everyone to this special edition of Small College America and the first of our Consequential Conversations series. I’m Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host Kent Barnds. Today’s conversation is “Mergers, Acquisitions and Reinvention: What Small Colleges Need to Know.”Mergers and partnerships are no longer subjects that small…

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May 5, 2026

Inside the Crisis Facing Small Colleges with Jon Marcus

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College, and I’m joined by my co-host Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group. Today, we’re joined by Jon Marcus,…

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April 28, 2026

Inside the Provost’s Office: Leading Small Colleges Through Change

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I’m Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Joining us today is Leamor Kahanov, who serves as Provost and Senior…

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April 20, 2026

Inside Financial Aid: Strategy, Access, and the Future for Small Colleges

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College. Kent: Joining us today is Maximo…

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April 14, 2026

Cybersecurity, AI, and the Future of Small Colleges with Irv Bruckstein

Joining us today is Irving “Irv” Bruckstein, a transformational technology executive with more than three decades of experience across higher education, enterprise IT, and cybersecurity. He most recently served as Chief Information Officer at Washington College, where he rebuilt IT operations following a ransomware incident, modernized infrastructure, and led major…

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April 7, 2026

Rooted in Mission, Reaching the World: Rebecca Stoltzfus at Goshen College

Our guest today is Dr. Rebecca J. (STOL – FUS), Stoltzfus, the 13th president of Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. Rebecca became president in 2017 after serving as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Human Nutrition at Cornell University. Earlier in her career, she taught at the Johns…

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March 31, 2026

Dr. Michael Sorrell and The Reinvention of Paul Quinn College

Our guest today is Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, which has an enrollment of about 650 students. Michael is the longest-serving leader in the institution’s history. Since taking office in 2007, he has led one of higher education’s most remarkable turnarounds—transforming Paul Quinn into a…

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March 24, 2026

Faith, Mission, and the Future of Lutheran Higher Education with Rev Lamont Wells

Our guest today is Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells, Executive Director of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities, an association representing 28 institutions connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In this role, he works with presidents and campus leaders across the network to strengthen collaboration and support the…

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March 17, 2026

Inside the Presidential Search Process: Jay Lemons President of Academic Search

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Kent: Joining us today is Dr. L. Jay Lemons, President of Academic Search since 2017, following 25…

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March 10, 2026

Wes Brooks, VP for Student Life at Augustana College — Inside the Work of Student Life Leaders

Dean Hoke: “Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Kent: We have joining us today, Dr. Wes Brooks, who serves as Vice President and…

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March 3, 2026

John Gotanda, President of Hawaii Pacific University Leading a Global, Military-Connected University

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, and I’m joined by my co-host, Dean Hoke. John Gotanda is President of Hawaii Pacific University, the largest private university in Hawai'i, where he leads…

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Feb. 24, 2026

Why Small Colleges Struggle with Enrollment — and How to Fix It (with Carnegie’s Eric Page)

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in higher education. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Eric Page is Chief Client Officer at Carnegie—Higher Ed Marketing & Enrollment, where he leads strategy and solutions that…

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Feb. 15, 2026

Small College America - Dr.Elizabeth Rider, President of Elizabethtown College

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in higher education. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Kent Barnds: Our guest today is Elizabeth A. Rider, President of Elizabethtown College. Elizabeth brings more than 30 years…

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Feb. 10, 2026

Small College America Robert Kelchen

Robert Kelchen is a professor of higher education and head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research interests include higher education finance, accountability policies, and student financial aid. Kelchen is the author of Higher Education Accountability and regularly publishes in…

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Dec. 16, 2025

Small College America Jeff Selingo - Author and Podcast Co-Host Future U

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds. Kent Barnds: Joining us today is Jeff Selingo who has written about colleges and universities for more…

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Dec. 9, 2025

Small College America Webinar Navigating Higher Education's Existential Challenges

Welcome everyone to this special edition of Small College America. On December 3rd we held a live webinar titled “Navigating Higher Education’s Existential Challenges: From Partnerships and Mergers to Reinvention,” brings together four seasoned leaders deeply involved in higher education strategy, governance, law, and finance. The issues of partnerships, mergers,…

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Dec. 2, 2025

Small College America - Karen Petersen President, Hendrix College

Joining us today Dr. Karen Petersen is the 13th President of Hendrix College, taking office on June 1, 2023. A native of northwest Arkansas, she joined the Hendrix community from the University of Tulsa, where she served as Dean of the Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences and was…

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