For more than a century, American higher education has operated on a simple premise: growth is good. More institutions, more students, more degrees -- all signals of progress. But what happens when that growth slows? In this episode, host Michelle Apuzzio is joined by futurist, researcher, and author Bryan Alexander to discuss his latest book, Peak Higher Ed. Together, they examine whether higher education has reached its high-water mark and what institutions must do to adapt in a fundamentally different era.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Degrees of Impact, where we explore innovative ideas and the people behind them in higher education. To learn more about NACU and our programs, visit nacu.edu.

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Student mental health has emerged as one of the defining leadership challenges in higher education. In this episode, Seán Creighton speaks with Sarah Doherty, Vice President of Collegiate Solutions at Alera Group, a national leader at the intersection of student wellness, health insurance, and institutional strategy. Drawing on her work with campuses across the country, Sarah offers insight into today’s evolving mental health landscape, including what has changed, where institutions face pressure, and where progress is emerging. The conversation examines barriers to care and highlights how campus leaders are strengthening coordination and connection to ensure students feel supported and able to thrive.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Degrees of Impact, where we explore innovative ideas and the people behind them in higher education. To learn more about NACU and our programs, visit nacu.edu.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: NACU

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share it with your network.

In this episode, we take a hard look at what real peer connection actually requires and why it’s so difficult to sustain. We're joined by Jackson Boyar, co-founder and CEO of RallyBoard, to explore a model that prioritizes intentional peer groups, shared responsibility, and human interaction over algorithm-driven noise. Together, we unpack what meaningful connection really looks like, how technology can help scale our efforts, and how leaders and participants should rethink engagement, value, and return on time. Hosted by Michelle Apuzzio.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Degrees of Impact, where we explore innovative ideas and the people behind them in higher education. To learn more about NACU and our programs, visit nacu.edu.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: NACU

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share it with your network.