Dr. Mariët Westermann Vice-Chancellor of New York University Abu Dhabi

Dr. Mariët Westermann, who recently accepted the position of  Director and CEO of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation based in New York City, is completing her tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of New York University, Abu Dhabi, located in the United Arab Emirates. Mariët was interviewed in September 2022 by Nathan and Hoke about her career at NYUAD, overseeing all its academic and administrative affairs. NYUAD is a world-class research university with a liberal arts and science college at its core. We spoke to Dr. Westermann about her work at NYU Abu Dhabi from its formation to the current day and her experience serving as Executive Vice President of the US-based Mellon Foundation.

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