Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond is President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). She has been a member of the higher education community for over 30 years and has held tenured and administrative positions in universities throughout various regions of the United States. 

 

Prior to joining CHEA as President, Dr. Jackson Hammond served as President of Central State University in Ohio. She is a sought-after thought leader on accreditation, multicultural diversity, and inclusion. Her academic discipline is Education and Higher Education Administration. She is an ardent advocate for quality assurances and transparency in higher education and is committed to the advancement of college success, equity, and integrity in postsecondary education.  

 

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Louisiana in Monroe, and her Doctorate in Education from Grambling State University. 

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