“My goal with this entire series is to expose students to the best and the brightest this industry has to offer — to listen to them, to interact with them, to ask questions of them, to learn from them,” said Pietruszkiewicz. “Dr. Hardin, as a new president, as someone with a communications background, as someone who has been so influential in the study of sports, made perfect sense for the first guest of the second season.”

In front of a standing-room-only audience, the live Open Air studio event featured humor, candor and plenty of student interaction as Hardin spoke about her unexpected path into academia and the values that guide her leadership.

“I love higher education because I think it unlocks the potential in all of us, and I believe deeply in the mission of higher education,” said Hardin. “I also have a philosophy I developed very early in my life: if I had the chance to take on a new challenge, even if it wasn’t one I felt I had fully mastered — if someone gave me the opportunity — then I would say yes. As president … I understand the importance, the weight, the challenges, and I strongly believe this is the kind of position that has a huge impact on many lives."

Pietruszkiewicz launched the “What’s Your Story?” series last year as an opportunity for professionals to share their expertise about the art of storytelling, the state of journalism and much more.

The conversation flowed effortlessly from hot sauce and career advice to marathons and legacy building, with Hardin sharing personal and professional stories, including the moment that set her on the path to higher education: a newspaper ad for a journalism adviser that required a master’s degree.

“I was working as a freelance journalist, and I saw an ad in the paper … for a journalism adviser at a local college. I had just gotten my bachelor’s degree, and I saw that (ad) and thought … there was something about it that drew me in and excited me,” she recalled, telling the audience that she taped “that little ad” to her computer monitor as a daily reminder.

That job description sparked a realization that she needed to pursue a master’s, and eventually a PhD, to follow the career she wanted. It was a defining step in her journey into higher education and the leadership role she holds today.

After Pietruszkiewicz’s interview, students eagerly stepped forward for a lively Q&A that covered a wide variety of interests.

When asked by a student how she planned to distinguish her presidency from that of her predecessors, Hardin framed her vision as a continuation, not a break, and expansion of past accomplishments.

“I want to build on those strengths,” said Hardin. “I'm bringing a different background: my passions, my disciplines. I think that matters, the disciplines you come from. So, my goal is not a break from the past. It’s to build upon it. Not abandon but add to it.”

Students kept the conversation flowing with thoughtful questions that touched on athletics, TikTok trends, professional advice, the rise of AI and the challenges facing higher education. For Pietruszkiewicz, the high point of the event came when the students took charge and began to lead the discussion.

“While I started the conversation, this was more about that moment when the microphone is turned over to the students,” he said. “As one of the people standing in front of their classrooms, it makes me feel good about the work we are doing and so excited to see what these students do next.”

Enjoy the full conversation with President Marie Hardin on YouTube. Click here.
Past guests of “What’s Your Story?” include Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, NBC Sports reporter Jimmy Roberts and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Matt Barrie.