Posted on October 8, 2025October 8, 2025 by Jon PizzoMaking the Case for Open Education: Community and Policy In this episode of Open-Ed Mic, hosts Zach, Brittany, and Kevin engage with Jonathan Lashley, an advocate for open education. Jonathan shares his journey from being a student to becoming an academic technology program manager, emphasizing the importance of open educational resources (OER) and practices. The conversation explores the evolution of open education, the significance of community building, and the challenges of navigating educational policies. Jonathan also discusses the intersection of AI and open education, highlighting the need for responsible integration of technology in teaching and learning. https://media.blubrry.com/3954992/https://ucfcdl-wp.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/openEd-mic/openedmic-003.mp3Podcast (opened-mic): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:57 — 48.8MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podcast Index | Deezer | Youtube Music | RSS About our Guest Dr. Jonathan Lashley is an accomplished educator, strategist, and national leader in the open education community. He currently serves as the Associate Chief Academic Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education, where he advances initiatives that promote equitable access to learning through open educational resources and innovative teaching practices. With a professional background spanning instructional design, faculty development, and systems-level leadership, Dr. Lashley has collaborated with colleges and universities across the United States to strengthen institutional capacity for open education. His work emphasizes the thoughtful integration of open resources and practices to expand opportunity, support diverse student needs, and align with a wide range of institutional missions. Dr. Lashley brings a nuanced perspective on how open education can foster collaboration, drive innovation, and ensure long-term sustainability across higher education systems. Dr. Jonathan Lashley Senior Director of Student Success and P20 Alignment Idaho State Board of Education About Open-Ed Mic Explore our Open-Ed Mic podcast for practical guidance and inspiring stories about open education. Discover how to incorporate OER materials into your course while connecting with a community dedicated to transforming teaching and learning through openness. Meet Your Hosts Your hosts—Kevin Corcoran, Zach Claybaugh, Brittany Dudek, and Dr. Michael A. Mills—bring decades of combined expertise as prominent thought leaders in open educational resources (OER) within higher education. With extensive backgrounds spanning digital learning, library science, student success initiatives, and strategic leadership at state and national levels, they have collectively shaped policies, driven impactful initiatives, and advocated passionately for increased access to education. Their collaborative approach highlights their deep commitment to advancing open education practices, ensuring quality, affordability, and accessibility for learners everywhere.
