In this special episode of the Higher Ed Geek Podcast, recorded on site at the 2025 SXSW EDU, Host Dustin Ramsdell speaks with Diego Arambula, vice president for Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation.

Diego discusses how higher education must evolve to remain a powerful engine for economic opportunity — especially for students who are furthest from it. He unpacks the need to rethink degree structures, the role of digital transformation, and how institutions can better prepare students for career success. Tune in to hear how the Carnegie Foundation is leading efforts to reshape college classifications and workforce connections for the next generation of learners.