Academic Alchemy is where higher ed meets the elements of transformation. These are periodic reflections designed to catalyze change, reduce the activation energy needed for progress, and distill complexity and noise into clarity. Rooted in curiosity and sparked by real campus experiences, from advising to pedagogy to student belonging—this space lives at the intersection of curiosity and combustion. No smoke, no mirrors, just honest reactions to the volatile, pressurized ecosystem we call higher education.
(Caught the chemistry references? Don’t worry, no goggles required, you’re already part of the experiment.)
This blog is an independent venture, and the views and opinions expressed here are mine or ones I have shared. It does not in any way reflect the views or opinions of my current or previous employers.
Author’s Note on 2026 Fault LInes Series Each year brings its share of predictions about higher education. New tools. New threats. New promises. Most of them focus on what is arriving next. The next several blog posts take a different
Reflections on a Keynote That Reframed How I See Data, Storytelling, and the Work We Do in Higher Ed Every now and then at a conference, you hear a speaker and think: How have I never encountered this person before
There are moments in academic life that stay with you long after the program ends and the degrees are conferred. Last week’s Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Induction at Gardner-Webb University was one of those moments. Alpha Sigma Lambda has
This is the second post in a short series inspired by the recent visit and talk I attended by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the famed astrophysicist. His two-hour conversation on The Search for Life in the Universe left me thinking not
Last night I listened to Neil deGrasse Tyson hold a sold-out audience for two hours with a mix of humor, data, and wonder. As a scientist myself, I’ve always admired his ability to make complex ideas feel both rigorous and
As I settle into my second semester at Gardner-Webb University, having arrived last January after an incredible 18½ years at Queens University of Charlotte, I’m still pinching myself at how quickly this place has started to feel like home. This
Today marked the official start of the 2025–26 faculty contract year. We began with new faculty orientation. Ten new colleagues joined us. They bring new ideas, energy, and skills to our community. Tomorrow we hold the faculty assembly. It is
Every University needs a Director of B.S. I’ve been in higher ed long enough to see my share of head-scratching policies, processes, and practices — the kind that make life harder for students, cost them more money, delay graduation, or
Because the countdown to the fall semester might not have fireworks, but it definitely has stress. It’s early August, which in higher ed can only mean one thing: the real show is about to begin. While most people are savoring
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