Education

Dr. Janice Thorpe, communications professor and researcher from the University of Colorado, joins us to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in higher education and the architecture of effective communication. In this episode she talks about how to overcome public speaking fears, online vs. traditional classes, as well as AI guardrails in college, policy and society. As a professor, her career has been devoted to understanding how meaning is created, transmitted, and sustained through conversation, body language, cultural understanding and much more.

Michelle “Sonic” Ruehl, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, Colonel, and White House Fellow with over two decades of leadership experience as an instructor at the Air Force Academy, leadership coach, youth mentor, and nonprofit founder. In this episode she talks about business, education, technology, parenting, equity, and more. She brings an unshakable belief that every child deserves to learn in an environment that challenges them, empowers them, and prepares them for the world ahead.

Dr. Tom Francis is a seasoned psychologist, educator, and executive coach whose career bridges the academic, corporate, and creative worlds. Holding a Psy.D. in Organizational Leadership and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of the Rockies, he has spent over a decade teaching undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at institutions such as Pikes Peak Community College and CSU-Pueblo. Known for his engaging, inclusive teaching style and consistently high student evaluations, Dr. Francis brings humor, empathy, and intellectual depth to subjects ranging from Abnormal Psychology to Leadership Ethics. Outside the classroom, Dr. Francis is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and a longtime facilitator for the Center for Creative Leadership, where he has guided hundreds of senior leaders through transformative coaching engagements.

Nicole Weis is a licensed professional counselor and licensed addiction counselor. She manages the Milestones mental health clinic, a resource center located within the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Nicole is also the founder of the Greater Resilience Toolkit, or GRIT program, an online course that she describes as basic first aid for social support.