A university can hand you a diploma, but can it hand you a future? From a brand new podcast studio at Arkansas State University, we talk with Chancellor Todd Shields about a builder’s approach to higher education and why he believes students deserve a direct line from learning to a real career.
We get into the engine behind that promise: industry partnerships that tell the truth about today’s skills gap. Shields explains how A-State listens to employers, pressure-tests what students still need, and then updates programs without losing the rigor of accreditation. That can mean reworking curriculum, adding hands-on experiences, or embedding micro-credentials and industry certifications, such as IBM or Microsoft certificates so graduates stand out in hiring.
Along the way, we explore what makes A-State and Northeast Arkansas bigger than most people realize, including major regional industries and distinctive pathways that connect students to advanced health careers. If you care about workforce development, career-ready education, and talent pipelines that actually work, this conversation lays out a practical blueprint built around feedback, flexibility, and outcomes.
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More About this Episode
Built with A-State: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Industry
The landscape of higher education is undergoing a fundamental shift at Arkansas State University. In a recent session at the university's brand-new podcasting studios, Parker Dodson sat down with Chancellor Todd Shields to discuss the launch of the Arkansas State Media Network and the Chancellor's new featured program, Built with A-State.
The conversation revealed a leadership philosophy centered on moving beyond traditional metrics to focus on tangible student impacts and aggressive workforce development.
A Vision for Growth and Impact
Shields, a self-described military kid who moved every few years growing up, found his calling in the stability and energy of the university environment. After a long tenure at the University of Arkansas, he joined Arkansas State in 2022 with a specific desire to build.
Shields noted that while incremental improvements in university metrics are common, he was drawn to Jonesboro by the opportunity to create something substantial. He credited his daughter, Savvy Shields, a former Miss America who frequently visited the area, with encouraging him to take the role.
Upon arrival, he found a campus ready for transformation, from the drone-delivery robots navigating the sidewalks to the massive construction projects defining the campus skyline.
Creating Careers, Not Just Diplomas
The centerpiece of the Chancellor's vision is his new show, Built with A-State. The program focuses on the critical intersection between academic curriculum and industrial needs. Shields argues that a university’s responsibility does not end with the delivery of a diploma; rather, it should culminate in a successful career.
To achieve this, Shields is actively engaging with regional industry leaders to identify skills gaps. This "co-creation" model allows the university to tweak its curriculum in real time, often integrating micro-credentials from partners like IBM and Microsoft.
By aligning education with industry demands, Arkansas State ensures its graduates are not just qualified, but "A-State kids," a moniker increasingly synonymous with being better trained than their peers.
Strategic Partnerships in the Steel Capital
A key highlight of the conversation was the unexpected depth of industry partnerships in Northeast Arkansas. Shields pointed out that while the region is the steel capital of America, the needs of these companies go far beyond engineering.
Through in-depth dialogue, the university discovered demands for:
- Accounting and Supply Chain Management: To handle the complex logistics of global steel production.
- Nursing and Healthcare: To provide immediate on-site medical care for the thousands of employees and subcontractors working on projects like the Big River Steel expansion.
By identifying these needs, the university has created unique pipelines that allow students to gain experiences and career outcomes that are uniquely available at Arkansas State.
A Campus of National Distinction
As the university prepares to open its veterinary school in June and welcomes its first class this fall, Shields is focused on telling the story of a campus that houses both a medical school and a vet school. This dual presence allows for a "Freshman to Physician" or "Freshman to Veterinarian" pathway that streamlines the journey for high-achieving students.
The Built with A-State podcast will serve as the primary vehicle for these stories, utilizing the long-form conversational format to dive deep into how Arkansas State is shaping the regional economy. As Dodson observed, the new studio—complete with professional lighting and a custom backdrop—provides a comfortable, conversational environment for these important dialogues to take place.
For Chancellor Shields, the goal is simple: to transform the lives of students and their families by standing behind the quality and relevance of an Arkansas State education. As the Media Network begins its full rollout of content, Built with A-State is poised to show the region exactly how Jonesboro is building the workforce of the future.