This week on the Adventures in Advising podcast, Matt and Ryan sit down with Michael Zaborowski, Director of Academic Advising at Ferris State University!

Michael shares how Ferris State is transforming advising through a $500,000 grant, a groundbreaking collaboration with NACADA, and launching the new Center for Advising Excellence and Advising Fellows Program, designed to strengthen professional development, enhance student support, and build a unified advising community across Ferris State.

Plus: Back to the Future, family adventures, and an on campus wedding!

Tune in to hear how strategic partnerships and innovative leadership are shaping the future of academic advising, as well as a dash of pop culture nostalgia!

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It’s a milestone moment for Adventures in Advising! Matt and Ryan celebrate 150 episodes by taking you on a two-city advising adventure—first to Las Vegas for the NACADA Annual Conference, then straight to Chicago for the Gardner Institute Symposium.

In this jam-packed episode, you’ll hear in order:

🌟 Dr. Cecilia Santiago-González: The NACADA keynote speaker shares how she overcame imposter syndrome to take the stage, and how Cal Poly Pomona’s Billy Chat (an AI-powered chatbot) is transforming student support.

🧠 Alexander Bowie: Talks about his research on predictive analytics and the ethical questions behind using machine-learning models in advising.

💬 Dr. Sara Stein Koch: Reflects on her 14-year journey with the Gardner Institute and explains how purpose-driven advising and symposium-style learning are reshaping professional development.

🎓 Dr. John N. Gardner: Shares the origin story of the Gardner Institute and the importance of innovation and intentional design in student success.

🌈 Dr. Quentin Alexander: Discusses his NACADA pre-conference workshop on supporting inclusive leadership, transforming advising practice through new perspectives, and his college connection to Michael Jordan!

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The Instagram, and Facebook handle for the podcast is @AdvisingPodcast

Also, subscribe to our Adventures in Advising YouTube Channel!

Connect with Matt and Ryan on LinkedIn.

What does the future of academic advising look like as we approach NACADA’s 50th anniversary? In this special edition of Adventures in Advising, hosts Matt Markin and Ryan Scheckel take a stroll down memory lane with Dr. Charlie Nutt about NACADA and where the organization has led. Then, Matt and guest co-host Dr. Cheri Souza sit down with Dr. Melinda Anderson and Dr. Kyle Ross for a lively, thought-provoking panel.

From tackling the enrollment cliff and advisor burnout to the promise (and pitfalls) of AI in higher ed, this conversation dives deep into the challenges shaping our field—and the innovations lighting the way forward. Whether you’re a seasoned advisor, an administrator, or just curious about the future of student success, you won’t want to miss this dynamic exchange of ideas, stories, and inspiration.

👉 Tune in and discover how advising isn’t just student support—it’s a driver of institutional transformation.

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform!

The Instagram, and Facebook handle for the podcast is @AdvisingPodcast

Also, subscribe to our Adventures in Advising YouTube Channel!

Connect with Matt and Ryan on LinkedIn.