End of Semester Reflections

As the industry faces political pressure and policy upheaval, the Trusted Voices podcast ends its third season with a rallying cry: lead boldly, rest fiercely, and never stop fighting for higher ed.

43 minutes
By: Trusted Voices

 

Trusted Voices S3 Finale: Finding Our Stride, Holding the Line

In the last episode of their third season of the Trusted Voices podcast, hosts Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot unpack the implications of the “big, beautiful bill” making its way through Congress, highlighting threats to Pell eligibility, student loan access, and endowment policies. 

In the last episode before the summer break, Teresa and Erin explore what has been a wild ride of a year that has featured rising pressure on college leaders to speak out — or stay silent — in a volatile political environment where, as Erin puts it, “regulation by headline” is the new normal. 

Teresa also details a personal highlight and a genuine fangirl moment for her: meeting Ruth Simmons, former president at Prairie View A&M and Brown University, who Teresa calls a “hero.” 

In typical Trusted Voices fashion, the wonk is balanced by the warm: a viral commencement moment at Clemson and their own summer reading goals (spoiler: Simmons narrating her own memoir makes Teresa’s list).

Season 3 ends not with a mic drop, but with an invitation: to keep reading, keep asking questions, and keep fighting for higher education.

Show Notes

Podcasts

Newsletters

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Discussion

Summer readings

Bonus

Promo code: UNIVERSITY

Trusted Voices

Trusted Voices

Podcast

Trusted Voices explores the complex intersection of leadership and communication in higher education. Each episode, hosts Teresa Valerio Parrot and Erin Hennessy chat with university presidents, industry thought leaders—and each other—about the latest news in the industry and the challenges and opportunities facing those in the most visible roles in higher ed.

Newsletter Sign up!

Stay current in digital strategy, brand amplification, design thinking and more.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Also in Podcasts

Trusted Voices Will This Dumpster Fire Burn Itself Out? podcast episode image with Ted Mitchell

Will This Dumpster Fire Burn Itself Out?

When the sector’s on fire, real leadership means staying calm, not compliant.

By: Trusted Voices
A graphic design with the title 'Trusted Voices' and the words 'with hosts Teresa Valerio Parrot, Erin Hennessy,' and showing the pictures of two women, both with light skin and light brown hair, one of whom is wearing glasses. All of this is set against a black background that gets orangeish around the images of the two women.

‘Solving’ Governance in Less Than 20 Minutes

Teresa and Erin look at Michigan State, WVU and how ‘leakiness’ in an administration can be the result of poor governance.

By: Trusted Voices
A split screen with an orange background on the left with a logo that says Higher Voltage; on the right is a blackish-orange screen with a logo that says Trusted Voices.

You Can Only Tell a Story That Already Exists

Erin and Teresa welcome Higher Voltage’s Kevin Tyler to discuss institutional culture and climate as they explore the pivotal role of two-way communications in creating a sense of belonging.

By: Trusted Voices
A graphic design with the title 'Trusted Voices' and the words 'with hosts Teresa Valerio Parrot, Erin Hennessy,' and showing the pictures of two women, both with light skin and light brown hair, one of whom is wearing glasses. All of this is set against a black background that gets orangeish around the images of the two women.

A Fall Semester of Institutional Resilience

Erin and Teresa talk about coping with hurricanes, resources for navigating election season and the importance of leadership vulnerability.

By: Trusted Voices