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Leading with Purpose in a Hailstorm: Harrison Keller on Higher Ed’s Hardest Questions
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Is higher ed still worth it, and who decides what’s valuable? In an era of AI disruption, value skepticism, and demographic cliffhangers, college leaders face mounting pressure from every angle. In this week’s episode of The Innovating Together Podcast, President Harrison Keller of the University of North Texas brings grounded, energizing clarity to the whirlwind. With roots in philosophy, public policy, and military intelligence, Keller offers a rare and practical kind of wisdom, one rooted in action, trust, and long-term vision.
We dive into Keller’s leadership journey from commissioner of higher ed in Texas to university president, uncovering how his undergraduate studies in philosophy still shape his leadership. From debating the ROI of liberal arts to building actionable intelligence networks between campuses and employers, Keller shares how he's staying focused on delivering value, no matter how chaotic the moment gets.
This conversation is packed with practical leadership insights, reminders of what really matters, and a hopeful perspective for anyone feeling the headwinds of change.
Key Takeaways:
Liberal arts degrees, while slower to pay off, still offer high long-term value, especially when paired with career-focused experiences.
True leadership requires offering people something they can be for, not just resisting what's wrong.
Intelligence work taught Keller how to turn data into actionable insights, and why dashboards alone don’t drive change.
Institutions must collaborate across sectors to keep pace with AI’s rapid evolution.
Joy is non-negotiable: whether it’s time with students or marching band rehearsals, leaders must schedule moments that renew them.
"You’ve got to give people something they can be for." - Harrison Keller
Don’t miss this one.Subscribe to Start the Week with Wisdom, share it with a fellow leader, or take five minutes to journal your own “North Star”, what keeps you grounded when everything feels like it’s coming from all directions?
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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.
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