In this episode, Dr. John Comerford, President of Otterbein University, joins host Matt Roche for a candid, forward-looking conversation about how institutions can reclaim the true value of higher education beyond rankings and prestige. Drawing on his student affairs roots and presidential experience, Comerford unpacks the ROI debate, making a compelling case for the breadth and adaptability of liberal arts degrees, especially in the social sciences and humanities.

He details Otterbein’s innovative responses to rising costs and demographic pressures, including debt-free tuition for Pell-eligible students, the Otterbein Advantage Partnership that links employers, scholarships, and internships, and the Otterbein Ready program that embeds internships, professional development, and “adulting 101” into the student experience. Comerford also intr ...