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THREE in 30

Embracing "Adaptitude": Dr. Rachelle Keck on Enrollment, AI, and Adaptive Leadership 

Episode 06 | February 2026

Three Conversation Topics:

  • Leading From the Enrollment Chair to the President's Office
  • Future-Proofing the University With AI and Curriculum Innovation 
  • Advice for Higher Education Leaders

Summary

Dr. Rachelle Keck, President of Grand View University, offers a rare perspective in higher education, having practiced law and led enrollment prior to assuming her current role. In this conversation, she reveals how serving as an acting Vice President of Enrollment gave her a "pilot seat view of the dashboard" that fundamentally influenced her presidential leadership approach. She champions AI as "collaborative intelligence" rather than a threat, explaining why Grand View integrates AI across all disciplines while emphasizing that education in the humanities helps students "outthink the machines." 

Drawing on her diverse background, Dr. Keck shares powerful frameworks for leading in higher education: flipping VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) to become versatile, unstoppable, curious, and adaptable; separating evidence from emotion in decision making; and maintaining a rookie mindset that values curiosity over entrenched expertise. All leaders need to hear her concept of "adaptitude," which means adopting an attitude that you have the aptitude to adapt to anything. 

TOPICS: Undergraduate — AI

Key Moments in This Episode

Topic 1 | Leading From the Enrollment Chair to the President's Office

[03:00] The Pilot Seat View of Enrollment 
Dr. Keck reflects on serving as Interim Vice President for Enrollment at Briar Cliff University. This role gave her a "pilot seat view of the dashboard," revealing enrollment complexities, compliance requirements, and daily pressures.  

[05:58] Partnership Over Hierarchy: Everyone is a Recruiter 
Dr. Keck's enrollment experience transforms her leadership approach. She now sees enrollment as a true partnership. 

 

Topic 2 | Future-Proofing the University With AI and Curriculum Innovation

[10:22] Collaborative Intelligence and Preparing for Careers That Don't Exist 
Dr. Keck introduces "collaborative intelligence" which brings together human and artificial intelligence rather than viewing them as competitors. She argues presidents must set the institutional tone around AI. The New Work Mindset report posits that today's graduates will have over 17 different careers across five industries, many of which have not yet been invented.  

[14:18] "Adaptitude": Humanities Meet Professional Programs 
Dr. Keck introduces her coined term "adaptitude" which means adopting an attitude that you have the aptitude to adapt to anything. She explains how Grand View combines humanities with technical proficiency. While technical knowledge becomes obsolete quickly, humanities teach love of learning and critical thinking.

 

Topic 3 | Advice for Higher Education Leaders 

[25:28] Flipping VUCA and Evidence Over Emotion 
Dr. Keck introduces VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) from the Army War College, noting it perfectly describes higher education. Her advice is to flip it to "VUCA you" and say "I am versatile, unstoppable, curious, and adaptable." Control your mindset, not external forces. Her approach is to separate evidence from emotion when examining problems.  

[29:08] Maintaining a Rookie Mindset 
Dr. Keck warns against becoming entrenched in common higher education thinking. She advocates maintaining a "rookie mindset" to stay curious rather than assuming you know everything. She recommends Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work by Liz Wiseman, which explores how organizations benefit from bringing rookies onto teams with their fresh perspectives. 

Check out more resources to improve your enrollment management strategy.

AI is Redefining Graduate Holistic Review

Our 5 Powerful Ways AI is Redefining Holistic Review eBook covers both graduate and medical enrollment, helping institutions find and admit students with diverse perspectives.

Featuring

Three in 30 Episode 6 Specific_Headshot Todd Abbott

Todd Abbott
Vice President, Liaison

Todd Abbott is a higher education leader with 28 years of experience. As a Vice President at Liaison, he partners with colleges and universities to strengthen their enrollment operations and achieve their strategic goals. His expertise spans enrollment, marketing, and student retention, including leadership roles on campus and in the industry. A former Dean of Enrollment, Todd champions data-informed strategies that prioritize student success and institutional growth. 

Three in 30 Episode 6_Headshot Dr. Keck

Rachelle Keck, Ph.D., J.D. 
President, Grand View University

Dr. Rachelle Keck is the 14th and first female president of Grand View University. A first generation college graduate, she holds a B.A. from Wartburg College, a J.D. from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. from Drake University. Her career spans law, philanthropy, and higher education leadership - including presidencies at both Briar Cliff and Grand View. Dr. Keck serves on multiple national, state, and local boards and is a sought-after speaker on leadership, philanthropy, and the future of education. She currently chairs the Tax Policy Committee for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In 2024, she served as the American keynote speaker at Denmark’s historic Rebildfesten celebration. She has been recognized as a Pioneering President, Woman of Influence, and Woman on Fire, among other honors. Her upcoming book, SelfQ™: The Intelligence of You, will be released in late 2025/early 2026. She and her husband, Jim, are the proud parents of four children.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed by the participants of 'Three in 30' are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Liaison.