In this episode, I talk about how to get a faster and more effective start to coaching this year. 

How do institutions move Universal Design for Learning (UDL) beyond compliance and into campus culture? In this episode, Bryan Dean talks with Paul Miller about Montgomery College's UDL journey, the development of the CLEAR Framework, and what it takes to create lasting institutional change.   Paul shares practical advice for higher education leaders, explores emerging opportunities and challenges for UDL, and highlights innovative practices shaping the future of learning.   Whether you're a faculty member, administrator, instructional designer, or accessibility professional, this conversation offers inspiration and actionable ideas for advancing inclusion across higher education. Transcript Resources:The CLEAR Framework: Digital Accessibility 

The first 30 days of school can make everything feel urgent, but effective leadership starts with knowing what matters first. In this episode, we’ll focus on the foundations that need your attention right away: clear behavior expectations, clarity for new teachers, and making sure staff understand the curriculum they are expected to teach.  We’ll also talk about what can wait, including interventions, MTSS, and other systems that may be better introduced once the school year is underway. Leadership by Subtraction isn’t about ignoring important work—it’s about sequencing the work so you can build a strong foundation without overwhelming yourself or your staff.

In this episode, host Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Valerie Lee, Dr. Marjorie Madden, and Dr. Susan Browne — longtime colleagues and co-authors from Rowan University — to discuss their book Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming, Reading, and Living the Story. The three educators share how their RISP framework (Read, Interpret, Script, Perform) invites students of all ages to go beyond surface-level comprehension by embodying literary and historical characters through collaborative writing and performance. The conversation explores how life histories cultivate deep empathy (not just sympathy), support ELA and social studies standards, and create space for meaningful discussion around complex and provocative themes. The episode also touches on the power of collaborative reading, the importance of building background knowledge, and practical advice for teachers looking to reclaim authentic reading experiences in their classrooms. About the guests: Valarie Lee is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With 28 years in high school and university teaching, Valarie researches adolescent literacy and lesson study. She is a co-founder of The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Early Childhood Advisory Board. Connect with her at leev@rowan.edu  Susan Browne is Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. Susan teaches reading courses and advises graduate thesis research. A former Philadelphia teacher, she researches critical pedagogies, urban education, and diverse youth literature. She co-founded the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Middle School Family Literacy Initiative Advisory Board. Connect with her at brownes@rowan.edu  Marjorie Madden is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With over 40 years of experience in education, Marjories’s researches underserved students, inclusive literacy practices, and critical pedagogy. She co-founded The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Early Childhood Advisory Board. Connect with her at madden@rowan.edu  Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming Reading and Living the Story: Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming Reading and Living the Story | Springer Nature Link RIF blog: From Reading to Performance: Reimagining Literacy with Life Histories

In this episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Sarah Lanier, a trial attorney at the Lanier Law Firm, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing legal research, trial preparation, professional judgment, and the skills young lawyers will need moving forward. Sarah shares how she has used AI in surprisingly practical ways—from simulating jury selection to accelerating massive document reviews—and why those use cases work best when AI is treated as an ideation and synthesis partner rather than the final decision-maker. The conversation also digs into the legal risks of hallucinated citations, unverified quotes, and over-reliance on generated content. A central theme throughout the episode is the growing value of original human thought. Sarah explains that AI can generate options, organize evidence, and speed up preparation, but it cannot stand before a judge, exercise real professional judgment, or take responsibility for an argument. For legal educators and institutional leaders, the episode makes a strong case for teaching AI proficiency and ethics together. The conversation ultimately offers a practical framework for responsible adoption: experiment actively, build clear review protocols, preserve independent thinking, and prepare students to use AI without surrendering the human judgment that defines the profession.