The LearningMate Podcast

Meet Our Guests
Stuart Vanorny, VP Learning Design Group, Straive LearningMate
As the VP of Learning Design at Straive LearningMate, Stuart oversees all learning design for the largest learning design services and digital enablement company in the world. Over his 28 years of ideating and building learning design solutions, he has seen and done it all. He has built thousands of online courses and learning solutions, and has been witness to incredible change in the industry over the years, with AI being the latest plot twist. Stu is at the forefront of AI. Where others might be talking about integrating AI into course developments and workflows, Stu and his team of 100+ learning designers are actually doing it. Despite all of this change, he always puts the learner at the center of the learning design solution, and, when it comes to the world of work, he is a passionate advocate for creating a culture of care and continuous improvement.
Dan Klosterman, Ed. M, Sr. Director of Learning Design, Straive LearningMate
Dan Klosterman is the Senior Director of Learning Design at LearningMate where he leads strategic design solutions clients in Higher Education and Workforce Development. Over a 20 year career Dan has worked with organizations across higher education, healthcare, financial services, and professional associations. His focus has been on developing the systems that enable effective learning experiences to drive better learning outcomes. He is currently focused on the intersection of AI and learning, advocating for AI as a powerful “co-pilot” that empowers learning professionals to build once impossible solutions. He is an enthusiastic champion of new learning technologies but tempers that enthusiasm with a pragmatic, evidence-first approach to adoption, rather than hype.

Meet Our Guest
David Ferreira, Ed.D, Provost, Charter Oak State College
Dr. David Ferreira is Provost of Charter Oak State College, where he drives academic innovation and workforce development through industry-aligned curriculum and stackable credentials. In 2025, he launched the Connecticut Online AI Academy, a statewide initiative advancing AI literacy and practitioner training for Connecticut residents. He also chaired Charter Oak’s AI Advisory Group, shaping academic policy around emerging technologies. Widely recognized for his leadership in higher education and workforce transformation, Dr. Ferreira brings expertise in integrating cutting-edge technology into learning environments and creating scalable pathways that align with the needs of the evolving economy.

Meet Our Guest
Andrew Lippert, Independent Technology Executive and Consultant
Andrew Lippert is an independent technology executive and consultant with deep experience leading digital transformation in education and enterprise SaaS. Most recently, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Edmentum, where he led technology strategy, platform modernization, software delivery, and global operations in support of digital learning at scale. Previously, he served as Chief Technology Officer at McGraw Hill and held senior leadership roles at Redbird Advanced Learning, Ednovate, Apex Learning, and ZooKazoo. Across a career spanning product strategy, systems architecture, and executive leadership, Andrew has helped education and technology organizations modernize platforms, improve operating leverage, and translate innovation into meaningful learner impact.

Meet Our Guest
Dr. Andrew Shean, Chief Academic Officer | Los Angeles Pacific University
Dr. Andrew Shean is a higher education leader and innovator, currently serving as Chief Academic OfficerLos Angeles Pacific University. With a career spanning K–12 and online higher education, he has led large-scale academic transformation initiatives focused on improving student outcomes, expanding access, and advancing innovative delivery models. A former District Teacher of the Year, Dr. Shean brings a practitioner’s perspective to his work, combining deep experience in teaching, leadership, and system-wide change. He remains actively engaged in research, doctoral education, and advisory work across the education landscape.

Meet Our Guest
Robert MacAuslan, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence | Southern New Hampshire University
Dr. Robert MacAuslan is Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Southern New Hampshire University, where he works on institutional strategy for AI adoption, governance, and implementation. His work focuses on responsible deployment of AI across higher education, including policy, ethics, literacy, and emerging applications that support teaching, learning, and operations. He holds a PhD in Sociology, an MA in Economics, and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Mandarin Chinese, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to questions of technology, culture, and organizational change.