Conversations with Mark Becker: Recent Episodes
Georgia State University
Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.
Sally Wallace, dean of Georgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and an expert on the economics of public policy, talks about the funding and tax implications of the coronavirus crisis in a conversation with Georgia State President Mark Becker.
This week, Georgia State University President talks with a highly regarded researcher who is at the center of coronavirus testing in Georgia. Dr. Julia Hilliard, professor of biology and director of Georgia State’s Viral Immunology Center, is leading a team whose testing has had a major impact on the number of people being checked for COVID-19. She’ll talk about her team’s work in support of the state and its people as well as the challenges associated with performing quick, reliable and accurate tests.
Rajeev Dhawan, director of Georgia State’s Economic Forecasting Center, shares his perspectives on the obstacles facing an economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and looks at a possible timetable for business and industry around the world in his conversation with Georgia State President Mark Becker.
Georgia State University President Mark Becker talks with Harry Heiman, a medical doctor and clinical associate professor in the university’s School of Public Health, about the issues and problems government officials are facing in addressing the coronavirus crisis. Heiman, one of the nation’s most widely quoted coronavirus experts, discusses the need to ensure that policies and programs protect all sectors of society equally.
Georgia State University President Mark Becker talks with internationally renowned infectious disease expert Gerardo Chowell about what we can learn from mathematical models he and others around the world are using to track the spread of the coronavirus. Chowell, an epidemiologist in Georgia State’s School of Public Health, has been widely quoted in news media across the country.
In episode 12 of “Conversations with Mark Becker,” the Georgia State University president talks with Bill Moses, managing director of education programs at the Kresge Foundation, about the foundation’s work in South Africa to overcome the legacy of apartheid and foster success in colleges and universities for students from all backgrounds.
In episode 11 of “Conversations with Mark Becker” the Georgia State University president talks with Kamau Bobb, senior director of the Constellations Center at Georgia Tech and global lead for diversity, strategy and research for Google, about his work to advance equity, fairness and justice in computing education and other technical fields. Bobb says education and knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM fields, are key to opening the doors of power to minority students.
The president of Georgia State University talks with Cole Clark, managing director of the Higher Education Group at the international consulting firm, Deloitte, about the obstacles, challenges and issues confronting change in management of higher education institutions. Clark, whose group focuses on making administrative operations at colleges and universities more effective and efficient, discusses trends in organizational changes and the potential of technology to improve administrative processes and services.
In this episode, President Becker talks with DuBois Bowman, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, about the value and impact of mentoring in opening opportunities for minorities and women in technical fields. Bowman shares examples of how mentoring shaped his future and how he has made it an important part of his professional career.
Guest host Tim Renick, Georgia State University’s senior vice president for student success, talks with the University of Wisconsin’s Maury Cotter, who is a nationally recognized expert on strategic planning for colleges and universities. Renick and Cotter discuss the keys to developing and implementing a successful strategic plan that can inspire a college or university community and get its members committed to working together to pursue a common vision. Cotter is the co-founder and past-president of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation in Higher Education (www.ncci-cu.org ), an organization that fosters collaboration among academic institutions.
Becker talks with Tina Fernandez, executive director of Achieve Atlanta, about her organization’s remarkable success in helping Atlanta Public School students move on and have success in post-secondary education. Through dynamic community partnerships, the use of data analytics, and programming and services to address students’ individual needs, Achieve Atlanta has significantly increased the number of public school students who are attending college.
The president of Georgia State University talks with Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, about how to foster innovation in a college or university. Crow, widely recognized as one of the most bold and influential leaders in higher education, also discusses the importance of collaboration among academic institutions to enable the widespread adoption of ideas and programs that are changing colleges and universities.
About this Episode:Dr. Becker talks with Dr. Bridget Burns, founding executive director of the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), a coalition of 11 public research universities who are working together to develop new initiatives, projects and programs to increase the number and diversity of college graduates. The UIA is spotlighted in an award-winning film, “Unlikely,” which debuts Sept. 26 in Los Angeles and will open in New York and other cities in October and November.
About this Series:Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In This Episode:
President Becker talks with Rafael Bras, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology, who led Tech’s Commission on Creating the Next In Education, an institute-wide initiative that has recommended alternative educational models aimed at reducing costs, improving the effectiveness and responsiveness of its educational of programs and increasing accessibility and opportunities for future generations of students. Georgia Tech, one of the nation’s premier technological institutions, has long been known as an innovator in higher education, and Bras talks about how Tech’s innovative culture is at the heart of its plans for the future.
About Conversations With Mark Becker:
Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In This Episode:
President Becker talks with Risa Palm, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Georgia State, who discusses her career-long commitment to breaking down barriers to leadership in higher education for women.
About Conversations With Mark Becker:
Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In This Episode:
Becker sits down with Bridget Burns, executive director of the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), to talk about the work of the UIA, a partnership among 11 top public universities focused on student success. Burns talks about the impact of some of the UIA’s initiatives and the value and importance of collaboration among universities.
About Conversations With Mark Becker:
Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.
In This Episode:
Becker talks with Dr. Tim Renick, the driving force behind Georgia State’s success initiatives and an internationally recognized leader for introducing innovative programs that help students get to graduation.
About Conversations With Mark Becker:
Georgia State President Mark Becker, one of the most innovative leaders in higher education, sits down with other visionaries who are shaping the future of their fields. Becker has built his reputation on exploring new ideas to challenge the status quo.