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Alumni relationships are often treated as transactional, a newsletter, a donation ask, a quiet fade after graduation. But as higher education faces enrollment pressure, rising costs, and shifting expectations, the deeper question is how institutions build alumni relationships that are genuinely sustaining and long-term.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Ellen Helms, Jana Johnston, and Saajan Bhakta about what meaningful alumni connection actually looks like over time. Drawing from their experiences as trustees, researchers, faculty leaders, and practitioners, they explore why personal outreach matters more than mass communication, how institutions without traditional campuses or sports can reimagine “homecoming,” and why trust and belonging must be cultivated well before students graduate.

Listen to Episode 17 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Technological change is accelerating faster than most institutions can adapt. As artificial intelligence reshapes work, learning, and leadership, higher education faces a deeper question: what human skills truly endure when information becomes instant and automation becomes ubiquitous?

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Rishi Jaitly, Founder and Professor at the Virginia Tech Institute for Leadership in Technology. Together, they explore why the humanities, often dismissed as “soft skills”, may be the most critical foundation for leadership in an AI-driven world. Drawing on Rishi’s experience across Silicon Valley, global technology platforms, and higher education, the conversation reframes empathy, curiosity, storytelling, and ethical judgment as essential forms of leadership capacity.

From the concept of the “full-stack human” to the limits of content-based education, this discussion examines how institutions can prepare leaders not just to use technology, but to steward it with clarity, humility, and purpose.

Listen to Episode 16 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Distinctiveness in higher education isn’t created by accident. It takes clarity, discipline, and the willingness to make strategic choices, especially as colleges face shrinking enrollments, rising costs, and pressure to prove their value.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Mary Marcy, Ph.D., President Emerita of Dominican University of California, and Lucie Lapovsky, Ph.D., Former President of Mercy College and current College Management Consultant. Together, they explore what truly sets successful colleges apart, how retention and mission clarity drive both academic and financial health, and why collaboration, not isolation, is becoming essential for survival.

From redefining student pathways to rethinking resource models and shared infrastructure, Mary and Lucie offer a grounded look at the decisions that help institutions stay strong in an era of rapid change

Listen to Episode 15 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Higher education is entering a new era of digital responsibility. As campuses adopt AI tools, expand online learning, and rely on data to improve the student experience, the pressure to protect that information has never been greater.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Jeanne Eicks, Rick Merrick, and Pegah Parsi about how universities can build a culture of privacy that strengthens trust, reduces risk, and supports innovation. Together, they explore why privacy is no longer just a legal requirement, how student expectations are evolving across generations, and what it takes to lead responsibly in a world shaped by constant technological change.

Listen to Episode 14 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Higher education is under financial pressure like never before. Rising costs, shrinking enrollments, and tuition-dependent models are forcing leaders to make hard choices about what to cut and what to protect.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Jennifer Gantz, Chief Financial Officer of the Community Solution Education System, about how strategic investment, not austerity, is the key to institutional resilience. Together, they unpack why you can’t cut your way to greatness, how shared governance complicates financial decisions, and what it really takes to align money with mission in today’s higher ed landscape.

Listen to Episode 13 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Shrinking enrollments and financial strain are pressuring colleges nationwide, but survival isn’t about cutting to the bone. It’s about rethinking how institutions scale, collaborate, and innovate.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Dr. Jeremy Moreland, president of Saybrook University, about how bold leadership and radical cooperation can transform higher education. From boosting doctoral completion rates to building trust with faculty and embracing calculated risk, Dr. Moreland shares lessons from leading institutions through challenge and change.

Listen to Episode 12 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce—but most colleges and universities are still figuring out what it means for teaching, learning, and leadership.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz is joined by Dale Pike, Associate Provost for Technology-enhanced Learning at Virginia Tech, to unpack what AI literacy really requires in higher education—and why faculty readiness may be the biggest barrier to progress. Drawing from years of work in instructional design, emerging technologies, and generative AI research, Dale shares a clear-eyed view of what it will take for institutions to move beyond novelty and toward real integration.

From the ethical foundations of AI use to the gaps between STEM and non-STEM learners, this conversation explores how higher ed can embed AI fluency without starting from scratch—and why the real work ahead isn’t technical, but cultural.

Listen to Episode 11 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Bold ideas alone don’t drive change in higher education. They need structure, support, and shared commitment to take root.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Dr. Nadege Dady, Dean of Student Affairs at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem Campus about what it takes to lead boldly within complex systems.

From expanding student access to healthcare careers, to navigating institutional risk and building lasting partnerships, Dr. Dady shares how strong leadership balances courage with clarity. Together, they explore why collaboration, communication, and planning are essential to making bold decisions that actually move institutions forward

Listen to Episode 10 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

What does it mean for a university to truly be of the community and not just in it? Dive into this transformative conversation about civic engagement and how higher education can shape a better future for all.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, host Dr. Michael Horowitz sits down with Dr. Matthew Nehmer, president of The Colleges of Law, to explore how universities can foster civic engagement and connect meaningfully with their communities. From debates on ballot propositions to free legal clinics, Dr. Niemer shares practical insights and inspiring stories of how institutions can lead the way in creating engaged citizens and meaningful societal change. Together, they uncover the power of collaboration in transforming education and empowering students to make a difference

Listen to Episode 9 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.

Online education has become essential, but the bar keeps rising. Today’s students expect flexibility, relevance, and connection. Can small colleges lead the next chapter of online learning?

In this roundtable episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz is joined by three bold leaders from The Community Solution Education System: Dr. Cherron Hoppes, Chief Academic Officer; Dr. Sean Nufer, Senior Director of Teaching and Learning; and Dr. Ruben Cortez, Professor at Pacific Oaks College.

Together, they explore what it takes to deliver truly high-quality, student-centered online learning. From instructional design and faculty development to student belonging and cross-campus collaboration, this conversation reveals how small colleges—when grounded in purpose and supported by systems—can lead innovation at scale.

Listen to Episode 8 of Radical Cooperation on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation about bold ideas and collaborative leadership in higher education.