About This Episode
In this episode of EDU Unlocked, Ashish Fernando sits down with Heather Herrera, Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at San Francisco Bay University, to explore what it truly takes to drive meaningful change in higher education.
With over 25 years of experience across teaching, accreditation, institutional research, and program development, Heather brings a deeply grounded perspective on how transformation actually happens inside universities.
She challenges the idea that change can be driven through top-down mandates, emphasizing that real progress happens through people, not policies, memos, or systems alone. The conversation explores how institutions must identify the right enablers and remove structural obstacles to truly support student success.
Heather also shares a nuanced perspective on AI adoption in higher education. She explains why many leaders approach AI as a procurement decision, rather than as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. Instead, she advocates for a more intentional approach- one that involves building, training, and governing AI systems with strong attention to data access, privacy, and closed-loop accountability.
The discussion also highlights the importance of human-centered AI, where technology amplifies human effort rather than replacing it. Heather underscores the need to equip students with the skills to use AI responsibly and ethically in an evolving academic landscape.
This episode offers a thoughtful, practical perspective on leadership, innovation, and the future of higher education in an AI-driven world.
Host & Guest
Heather Herrera
GuestHeather Herrera is a higher education leader, strategist, and innovator with extensive experience in academic affairs, institutional transformation, accreditation, curriculum development, and student success initiatives. She currently serves as Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at San Francisco Bay University, where she helps lead institutional growth, innovation, and student-centered transformation efforts designed to better serve today’s diverse and career-focused learners.
Dr. Herrera brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in higher education administration, with expertise spanning academic program development, assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, and digital transformation. Prior to joining San Francisco Bay University, she served as Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation at the University of San Diego. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade as Executive Director of Academic Affairs at New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, overseeing academic operations and supporting institutional initiatives across a wide range of programs.
A first-generation college graduate and San Francisco native, Dr. Herrera began her career as an educator and has more than 20 years of experience teaching English composition and supporting student success. Her work has consistently focused on expanding educational access, improving outcomes for underserved students, and helping institutions adapt to the changing needs of modern learners.
She earned a Ph.D. in English Education from New York University, along with a Master of Arts in Language and Literacy from City College of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Mills College.
Key Highlights:
1. Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, San Francisco Bay University
2. 15+ years of leadership experience in higher education administration and institutional transformation
3. Former Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation, University of San Diego
4. Former Executive Director of Academic Affairs, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
5. Expertise in academic affairs, accreditation, curriculum design, assessment, and strategic innovation
6. Strong advocate for student-centered higher education, accessibility, and career-connected learning
7. First-generation college graduate with a long-standing commitment to supporting underserved student populations
8. Ph.D. in English Education from New York University
Ashish Fernando Founder & CEO, EDMO
HostAshish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives
Show Notes
- 1 0:00 – Why sustainable change in higher education starts with people
- 2 0:38 – Welcome to Edu Unlocked & introducing Dr. Heather Herrera
- 3 2:45 – From educator to higher education transformation leader
- 4 6:47 – Solving student attrition through systems thinking
- 5 8:34 – Leadership lessons from mentorship, values, and growth mindset
- 6 11:04 – How policy changes can transform entire families
- 7 14:03 – Why lasting institutional change is never top-down
- 8 15:55 – Human-centered AI and the future of higher education
- 9 18:35 – Why AI integration is more than a technology purchase
- 10 21:23 – Building responsible AI governance for students and faculty
- 11 25:40 – Early outcomes from SFBU's AI initiatives
- 12 27:19 – Using AI to improve teaching and faculty effectiveness
- 13 30:56 – Freeing educators to focus on mentorship and student success
- 14 38:37 – Why human connection will become more valuable in the age of AI
- 15 41:23 – Final reflections on innovation, leadership, and student success
Key Quotes
"Change doesn't happen because you sent an email. Change doesn't happen because you wrote a memo. Change happens through people."
"Sustainable, enduring change is never top-down. The most successful change happens when it is relational."
"AI enhances the work. It doesn't define the work. Humans define the work."
Resources
Supercharge Your University CRM