Ben Sterling

Preparing Students for the AI Future with Jeff Riley (Day of AI)

January 12th, 2026  |  30 mins 20 secs

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Former Massachusetts education commissioner Jeff Riley, now leading Day of AI, joins At Scale hosts Ben Sterling and Graham Thomas to discuss how schools, teachers, and students can responsibly integrate artificial intelligence. A must-listen for K–12 administrators, educators, and postsecondary leaders, this episode explores how AI can reduce administrative burdens, personalize learning, and prepare students for the future of work—all while keeping ethics and equity at the forefront.

Revolutionizing Manufacturing Careers with The Ohio State University's HAMMER

December 29th, 2025  |  35 mins 33 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

In this episode of tnAchieves At Scale, we sit down with Dr. Glenn Daehn and Dr. Samantha Trzinski from The Ohio State University to discuss HAMMER – Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing, Moving from Evolution to Revolution. They share how HAMMER is advancing cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and creating new pathways for careers in automated and hybrid manufacturing. Tune in to hear how innovation, education, and workforce development are coming together to shape the future of high-tech manufacturing.

From Exposure to Career: Healthcare in East Tennessee with UT Medical Center

December 15th, 2025  |  38 mins 43 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

Dr. Keith Gray and Craig Pickett from UT Medical Center join the tnAchieves At Scale Podcast to discuss workforce needs in East Tennessee, preparing for allied health careers, and how UT Medical and tnAchieves partner to provide students with job shadowing and career exploration opportunities inside the hospital.

Exploring Tennessee's College Pathways with Dr. Flora Tydings

November 17th, 2025  |  38 mins 52 secs

access mentoring, at scale podcast, career pathways, career readiness, coaching students, college access, college completion, college mentoring, college to career, community college, community partnerships, economic mobility, education innovation, education podcast, educational equity, employability skills, first-generation students, future of work, graduation success, higher education podcast, industry partnerships, mentor engagement, mentor stories, mentoring impact, nonprofit leadership, postsecondary education, postsecondary success, program outcomes, rural education, scaling success, skilled workforce, statewide collaboration, student impact, student mentoring, student persistence, student success, technical college, tennessee education, tennessee employers, tennessee higher education, tennessee podcast, tennessee promise, tennessee students, tennessee workforce, tn promise, tnachieves, volunteer mentors, work-based learning, workforce development, workforce mentoring, workforce podcast

The TN Promise scholarship offers every high school senior in the state of Tennessee the chance to go to community college or technical school tuition and mandatory fee free. As a partnering organization to the TN Promise scholarship, tnAchieves could not do the work we do without the partnership and support of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with TBR’s Chancellor, Dr. Flora Tydings. Tune in to hear how TBR is creating a bridge between students, higher education, the community and businesses across the state.

Rural Opportunity Grows in West Tennessee with Lindsey Theobald & Dr. Yancy Freeman

November 3rd, 2025  |  38 mins 39 secs

college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

At tnAchieves, we believe that Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce begins with ensuring that every community—especially our rural ones—as a seat at the table. That means making a commitment to making sure students are skilled, educated and prepared to meet the needs of businesses once they graduate and enter the workforce. In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with the CEO of Obion County’s Joint Economic Development Corporation (JEDC), Lindsay Theobald, and UT Martin’s Chancellor, Dr. Yancy Freeman. They talk about their deep love for living and working in rural West Tennessee and ensuring this part of our state is thriving.

Training Tennessee's Workforce with TCAT Presidents Melody Edmonds and Cliff Wightman

October 6th, 2025  |  46 mins 38 secs

college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

At tnAchieves, we like to put a big tent around the word college. College is not just four-year universities. It also includes community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs). While many may think of TCATs as being separate, they DO belong under the college umbrella; the word college is right there in the name! In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with TCAT McMinnville President Melody Edmonds and TCAT Upper Cumberland President Cliff Wightman. They talk about their journeys to leading a TCAT and the privilege of training Tennessee’s workforce. They’re also sharing the advantages of enrolling at a TCAT and also clearing up some misconceptions about the future careers available to their students; it’s not just for welding!

Building a Better Future For All of Austin's Youth with Austin 2030 Network

August 25th, 2025  |  40 mins 28 secs

austin, austin texas, college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, texas, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

Austin 2030 describes itself as a network of school, higher education, non-profit, business, civic and community leaders who are committed to improving education outcomes for children and youth in Austin, Texas. Their current focus: establish a college promise for Austin’s youth. In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, tnAchieves sits down with Stacey Oliver and Geronimo Rodriguez to talk about the work it takes to make this pathway to an Austin Promise and why it will take a community-wide effort.

Clearing Pathways for Students with THEC's Dr. Steven Gentile

August 11th, 2025  |  41 mins 20 secs

college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

Did you know Tennessee leads the nation in 2025-2026 FAFSA filing? Each year, tnAchieves partners with THEC/TSAC, colleges and local school systems to provide FAFSA filing support. It’s just one of the ways THEC works to reduce the barriers to higher education. In this episode of the At Scale podcast, THEC’s Executive Director, Dr. Steven Gentile, explains how they’re clearing pathways to make sure every student in Tennessee can pursue a high-quality education and high-value credentials that will serve them as they enter the workforce.

The Season of Value and The Great Admissions Redesign with Lumina's Melanie Heath

July 28th, 2025  |  48 mins 9 secs

college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

In this episode of At Scale, The tnAchieves Podcast, Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling chat with Melanie Heath from The Lumina Foundation. Heath is Lumina’s Strategy Director for Access and discusses the next big goal Lumina is setting for the year 2040 and how it will empower America’s workforce, which aligns directly with tnAchieves taking a human approach to Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce. Heath also discusses Lumina’s new partnership in Tennessee to redesign the college admissions process. She explains the concept of Direct Admissions and how it will eliminate another barrier to post-secondary education.

Get Your Money Right™ with SoFi's Brian Walsh

July 14th, 2025  |  35 mins 43 secs

banking, college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, financial literacy, higher ed, investing, personal finance, post-secondary attainment, sofi, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

In this episode of At Scale, tnAchieves sits down with SoFi’s head of advice and planning Brian Walsh—aka Dr. Money. This year, SoFi is teaming up with tnAchieves and five-time Grammy nominee Kelsea Ballerini to launch the Rising Stars Program. This partnership will help jump start a student’s financial literacy journey by covering topics like budgeting, investing and saving for the future. Dr. Money shares insights into what financial independence means for students as they enter the workforce and how planning for the future financially is crucial at the start of a student’s career.

Pioneering Wraparound Supports with Donna Linderman

June 30th, 2025  |  39 mins 46 secs

college access, college affordability, college promise, community building, higher ed, post-secondary attainment, technical education, tennessee, tuition-free college, workforce, workforce development

In this At Scale episode, tnAchieves chats with Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the State University of New York (SUNY). Donna Linderman is a pioneer in creating programs for college coaching. These programs are centered around customized, student-focused support that will help students through college completions. Donna shares insights into how these groundbreaking programs came to be, how they continued to scale until becoming statewide and the data it takes to tell the story of these programs’ success.

Harvard's Project on Workforce with Nathalie Gazzaneo

June 16th, 2025  |  49 mins 15 secs

In this episode of At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling of tnAchieves, sit down with Nathalie Gazzaneo, Co-Director of the Harvard Project on Workforce, to tackle bridging the college-to-career gap. Nathalie introduces the Workforce Almanac, a practical open-source tool mapping U.S. workforce training providers, and shares research on how technology and skill demands are reshaping tomorrow’s job market. She provides clear, actionable strategies for non-profits to align education with industry needs and boost economic mobility. A must-listen for students, educators, and policymakers, this episode delivers straightforward insights to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce. Tune in to gain practical solutions for a stronger Tennessee.