$18 Million Deficit. 4 Years to Close It. Here's How - with Dr. Jesse M. Bernal, President at Western Connecticut State University

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Jesse M. Bernal, President, Western Connecticut State UniversityIn this episode, President Series #478, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does Connecticut's largest public Hispanic serving institution with 40% Pell students & families making under $75,000 become #1 in the state for social mobility?Why does closing an $18 million structural deficit in 4 years require an infinite mindset focused on what still matters 20 years from now?What makes WestConn not the backup plan but THE plan for thousands of students pushed out of New York who get in state tuition at 1/3 the price of SUNY?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed? Well, we have an app for that! Join EdUp Leadership!

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Dale Nesbary, Interim Executive Director, University System of MarylandIn this episode, President Series #477, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a university center 7 miles from the world's largest naval test air station bring programs from 12 universities to 500,000 underserved residents of Southern Maryland?Why did he come out of 3 years of retirement to lead a center that doesn't confer degrees but brings your institution to you?What makes engineering students building organ delivery drones for last mile delivery the kind of community embedded work that restores higher ed's relevance?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed? Well, we have an app for that! Join EdUp Leadership!

It's YOUR time to #EdUp! And the HigherEd PodCon Awards finalists are... Outstanding Podcast Series“Where What If Becomes What’s Next” (Carnegie Mellon University) - Randy Scott“Lab Coat Optional” (Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise) - Pete Zrioka“Policy and Governance Perspectives” (George Mason University) -  David RamadanEpisode of the Year“Individual Choices, Challenges, and Social Changes” Series: Good Is In The Details - Gwendolyn Dolske (Cal Poly Pomona) and Rudy Salo (Chapman University)“Sounds of College Life with Stage Left” Series: Sounds of College Life Podcast, (Miami University) - Maggie Snee“Rest Matters” (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) - Colleen Wamback featuring Stacy Shaw.Outstanding Student-Led Podcast“Major Insight” (Miami University) - Submitted by James Loy“The Bridge” (University College London) - Submitted by Indianna Dimmer“Madison Science Mystery Tour” (WSUM, University of Wisconsin–Madison) Submitted by Nalina Cherr“Curing the Curriculum: Students’ Take on Medical Education” (University of Groningen, Netherlands) - Submitted by Ulf EbelingPodcaster of the YearGarret Castleberry, (Mid-America Christian University) - Host of “Special Topics in Media”Kimberlé Crenshaw, (Columbia Law School and UCLA School of Law) - Host of “Intersectionality Matters!”Lolita Cummings, (Eastern Michigan University) - Host of “Enlighten U”Kate Young, (Purdue University) - Host of “This Is Purdue”Outstanding Institutional Podcast NetworkDragon Podcasts (Howard Community College)This Is UIC Podcast Network (University of Illinois Chicago)Wharton Podcast Network (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)LCC Connect — (Lansing Community College)Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?Well, we have an app for that! Join ⁠EdUp Leadership⁠!

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Shawn Powell, President, Eastern New Mexico University - RoswellIn this episode, President Series #476, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a community college on a former SAC bomber base where the Enola Gay stopped serve rural southeastern New Mexico with nursing, aviation maintenance & workforce credentials?Why do students in their 40s, 50s & 60s with Airframe & Powerplant licenses come back for 15 credit hours to get associate degrees so they can move into management?What makes the mission to enrich lives through learning win over meeting student & community needs when the president's vote was 1 of only 2 for his preferred option?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?Well, we have an app for that! Join EdUp Leadership!

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Kevin Halle, VP for Enrollment Management, Wayne State CollegeIn this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Jodi BlincoHow does a campus of 4,500 students with 50% first generation & 40% Pell eligible create an environment where even the newest employee feels it's conducive to welcoming new students?Why do Wildcat Chats at Starbucks & meetups in the community matter when families don't know what they don't know & need someone to walk them through that financial aid offer?What makes speed to lead so critical when the time from inquiry to engagement determines whether that student who raised their hand ever hears back?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Charles R. Modica, Chancellor, St. George's UniversityIn this episode, President Series #475, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a self-appointed chancellor who founded a medical school in Grenada at 25 celebrate 50 years leading the same institution?Why did writing Harvard, Yale & Stanford for curriculum bulletins & inviting textbook authors as visiting professors build a world class faculty?What makes an idyllic island where the Jewish & Muslim Student Associations met together the night after 9/11 a model for international education?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Zev Eleff, President, Gratz CollegeIn this episode, President Series #474, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does the oldest Jewishly sponsored college in North America grow from 400 to 700 graduate students as the field leader in Holocaust & Antisemitism Studies?Why does a 40 year old president who started at 35 stay close to SEO & marketing when most presidents come from student services or academia?What makes online education require full depth rather than facsimile of in person when students span California to Israel to Slovakia?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Alisa White, President, Sam Houston State UniversityIn this episode, President Series #473, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does the only Texas university with polytechnic authority stack credentials from certificates to doctoral degrees all in 1 institution? Why does meeting students where they are matter when 50% are first gen, many work & the traditional 120 hour student no longer exists? What makes launching a medical school, increasing nursing 70% & adding PT & PA programs reflect a steward of place obligation? Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Chris Vitelli, President, Merced CollegeIn this episode, President Series #472, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR cohost is Christi Segal, Vice President Managed Services & Executive Business Engagement, EllucianYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a Hispanic serving institution in the gateway to Yosemite serve 21,000+ students while striving to be the most innovative community college in the country?Why did studying the neuroscience of happiness lead to adding wellbeing to core values when what you want for your kid is simply to be happy?What makes the metrics match the energy when less bureaucracy & testing limits transforms a community college into the Disney World of community colleges?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Maura Flaschner, Assistant Vice President Undergraduate Admissions & Student Success, Florida Atlantic UniversityIn this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe SallustioHow does combining undergraduate admissions & student success under one leader ensure that the students who enroll are best fit students who are going to retain & graduate?Why are students saying they found you on Instagram & TikTok when you thought that fantastic email or the text message or the billboard was what brought them in?What makes enrollment a team sport & a competitive sport in Florida when performance based metrics literally measure 12 state universities & that's how you get funding?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?