In this episode of Gettin' Stuff Done in Higher Education, Kelvin, Fritz, and Kevin sit down with Darin Francis, Managing Partner and CEO of Harbinger Lane Consulting [https://www.harbingerlane.com/], to discuss how colleges and universities can strengthen connections between education and vendors. Darin shares his humanistic approach to help start-up vendors become trusted thought partners by thoroughly understanding institutional needs.

GSD Episode 18: Darin Francis

In this episode, Fritz, Kelvin, and Kevin sit down with one of the sharpest voices in education technology: Phil Hill [https://wcet.wiche.edu/people/phil-hill/], market analyst, consultant, and founder of Phil Hill & Associates. For more than two decades, Phil has helped universities, vendors, and investors cut through the hype and understand where higher ed is really heading — work you've likely seen in his widely read On EdTech newsletter [https://onedtech.philhillaa.com/] or in those famous LMS market-share graphics that turn up in conference decks everywhere. We talk with Phil about what's actually working (and what isn't) across the edtech landscape, the real impact of AI on campus, and how institutions can make smarter decisions in an era of constant change.

GSD Episode 17: Phil Hill

Kelvin, Kevin, and Friz speak with Nick Beadle, CEO of Jobs That Work Solutions [https://jobsthat.work/], a Washington, D.C.-based consultancy focused on jobs policy and workforce development funding. Join us for a lively discussion about workforce development efforts at the federal level such as Workforce Pell and the apoprenticeship models higher education is exploring to help its learners be better prepared to transition into an evolving world of work.

GSD Episode 16: Nick Beadle

Kelvin, Kevin, and Fritz talk in-depth about their experiences with the Fulbright Specialist Program [https://fulbrightspecialist.worldlearning.org/]. This unique program offers experts and practitioners in a wide variety of fields in and beyond higher education the opportunity to travel abroad to exchange knowledge and practices with institutions and organizations outside of the United States during a two- to six-week engagement. We provide insights about navigating the application process as well as locating and securing engagements.

GSD Episode 15: Fulbright Specialist Program

In this episode of Gettin’ Stuff Done in Higher Education, the GSD crew sits down with Dr. Scott Dolan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-dolan-79369745/], Executive Dean at Excelsior University. Scott walks us through the history of Excelsior and its long-standing focus on serving adult learners. The conversation explores how institutions designed for working adults think about access, flexibility, and innovation. We also discuss what “hybrid” education might realistically look like in the coming years and why partnerships and strategic locations still matter, even for institutions that are primarily online.

GSD Episode 14: Dr. Scott Dolan

In this episode, we dig into Competency-Based Education with Grace Fowler, Senior Director of Client Success for the Competency-Based Education Network [https://www.c-ben.org/] (C-BEN) to discuss the role that Competency-Based Education is playing in a rapidly changing career and employment landscape.

GSD Episode 13: Grace Fowler

Kelvin and Fritz welcome Dr. Rob Gibson, Dean of Academic Services and Director of Instructional Technology at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (aka WSU Tech). We talk about how WSU Tech is thriving in the difficult enrollment environment, how AI is making its way into higher education, and have a few laughs along the way.

GSD Episode 12: Dr. Rob Gibson

We kick off 2026 with Friso Kuiper, Lead Senior Analyst, Market Research and Business Analysis at Tufts University. The discussion gets into the weeds of using IPEDS data to analyze program opportunities. We also talk about Higher Education Data Labs [https://hedatalab.com/], Friso's upcoming venture to create a data platform that provides enhanced IPEDS to higher education market research and institutional research professionals.

GSD Episode 11: Friso Kuiper

Dr. Erin Crisp from the University of Tennessee System joins us to describe her efforts to support improving educator pipelines in her state through the use of apprenticeships that benefit educator paraprofessionals. This discussion highlights the nuances of working within the learn-work ecosystem.

GSD Episode 10: Dr. Erin Crisp

Dr. Maya Evans joins us to unpack her path from tenure-track faculty to institutional research to strategic leadership and why higher education often mistakes analysis for actual strategy. We explore the moments that shaped her work and the questions she believes leaders need to start asking. A focused, honest look at what it really takes to move institutions forward.

GSD Episode 9: Dr. Maya Evans

There are plenty of higher ed podcasts out there, but most focus on broad trends, big headlines, or surface-level commentary. What’s often missing are the authentic voices of the people who actually move things forward on campus every day. 

That’s why Fritz Vandover, Kelvin Bentley, and Kevin Shriner created the GSD Podcast. Collectively, we bring more than 80 years of lived experience across teaching, administration, policy, technology, and leadership. We’ve built programs, sat in cabinet meetings, navigated layoffs, and wrestled with the realities of enrollment cliffs, accreditation, and innovation fatigue.

Gettin' Stuff Done in Higher Education

Join Fritz Vandover, Kelvin Bentley, and Kevin Shriner [https://gsdhighered.com/] to talk all things higher education with the people who make it work.

GSD in Higher Education

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