The Charlotte Ledger Podcast21 Nov 2025

Reinventing college for a changing Charlotte, with Rick Mathieu of Johnson & Wales

Higher education is in the midst of a transformation — from rising costs and enrollment declines to new questions about the value of a degree. But in the middle of uptown Charlotte, Johnson & Wales University is carving out a different path, one rooted in affordability, career readiness and a unique strength in food, wellness and hospitality.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, managing editor Ashley Fahey talks with Richard “Rick” Mathieu, president of Johnson & Wales’ Charlotte campus, about how the university is adapting to a shifting higher-ed landscape.

Matthews explains how JWU is boosting access with its “JWU Pledge,” expanding programs tied to workforce needs, adding new pathways in hospitality, health and nursing — and how the school’s culinary footprint continues to shape Charlotte’s growing food scene.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Rick Mathieu. For more information on Johnson & Wales University's Charlotte campus, please visit Experience.JWU.edu.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Metro Blinds of Charlotte — delivering high-quality window fashions and professional installation while saving you up to 30% compared to big box stores. Transform your space with stylish, affordable blinds and shades. Schedule your appointment online at metroblinds.net or call 704-396-9153.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thecharlotteledger.com/subscribe

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(204)

Charlotte's new political era

Charlotte's political landscape is shifting.Mayor Vi Lyles is preparing to leave office after nearly nine years, a new mayor is stepping in and City Council is wrestling with some of the biggest issue...

26 Jun 22min

Everybody's moving to Charlotte, with filmmaker Duvale Murchison

The Charlotte region adds roughly 150 new residents every day, but beyond the statistic are thousands of individual stories about why people choose to make the region home.In this episode of The Charl...

19 Jun 33min

Charlotte's moment at the table, with Kristen Wile of Unpretentious Palate

Kristen Wile has spent more than a decade documenting Charlotte’s restaurant scene, and in that time she’s watched the city transform from a place searching for its culinary identity into one drawing ...

12 Jun 36min

Charlotte through a developer’s eyes, with Adam McMichael and Paul Zarian

Charlotte’s growth has made it one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. But what does the city look like through the eyes of the developers betting millions of dollars on its future?In t...

5 Jun 37min

Reporters Roundtable: Charlotte's month of May in review

May was one of the busiest months Charlotte has seen in recent memory. Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation, city leaders reversed course on the controversial I-77 toll lane expansion, data center...

29 Mai 35min

Turning tragedy into support for Charlotte families, with Meg McElwain

After losing her 2-year-old son Mitchell to leukemia, Meg McElwain found herself navigating unimaginable grief while also trying to help her surviving son process the trauma that had reshaped their fa...

22 Mai 37min

The story behind Charlotte’s most talked-about restaurants, with Jamie Brown

Charlotte’s restaurant scene has changed dramatically over the past two decades, and few people have helped shape it more than Jamie Brown. Alongside her husband, Jeff Tonidandel, Brown has built some...

15 Mai 35min

Redefining the New South in Charlotte, with Richard Cooper

The Levine Museum of the New South is preparing for a major new chapter — one that museum leaders hope will help redefine how Charlotte engages with history, community and public conversation. After y...

8 Mai 24min