Dr. Jim Henderson President Louisiana Tech University

In this July 2022 interview, Dr. Jim Henderson was serving as President of the University of Louisiana System.  As of January 2024, Dr. Henderson joined Louisiana Tech University as President. Dr. Senthil Nathan and Dean Hoke spoke with Dr. Henderson about the University of Louisiana System, a multi-university campus system with an enrollment of approximately 90,000 students. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jim discussed the university system, his and the university system’s commitment to lifelong learning, and the critical role of higher education.

What is HigherEd PodCon?

For years, higher education professionals involved in podcasting have asked the same question: Why isn’t there a podcast conference just for our community? My colleagues and I decided it was time to do something about it and take the leap to create a conference just for higher ed podcasters.

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, we invite all higher ed podcasters to attend the inaugural HigherEd PodCon, the first national conference exclusively for podcasting and digital media creators in higher education. Located at the University of Illinois, Chicago, this one-day event brings together faculty, staff, tech specialists, and communicators who are shaping the future of audio storytelling on campus.

With 15 sessions, 40+ presenters, and participation from over 25 institutions throughout the United States—including Purdue, Stanford, Brigham Young, Penn State, and Austin Community College—this is the perfect opportunity to explore how colleges are using podcasts to engage students, alumni, and the broader community. Please go to www.higheredpodcon.com