Step-By-Step: New Season of At the Center Takes a Deep Dive into the Collaborative Process
The Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation (GCCI) is excited to announce the launch of our third season of the At the Center podcast.
At the Center podcast is hosted by GCCI Executive Director Dr. Tamara Sniad, the podcast features dynamic conversations with YCP faculty, students, and community members exploring the transformative power of cross-disciplinary and cross-sector partnerships.
This season, At the Center is taking a close look at what it takes to plan, engage in, sustain, and make difficult decisions in collaborations that effectively move bold ideas from conversation to real-world application. Tapping local expertise, episodes will offer strategies and insights into the mechanics and mindsets of effective teamwork and showcase the breakthroughs that happen when diverse minds assemble around a shared purpose.
In the first episode of the new season, Collaboration 101: What It Is, What It Isn't, Why It Matters, Dr. Sniad sits down with Dr. Mohammed Raja (Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management), Dr. Laura Steck (Associate Professor of Sociology) and Allan Lehman (Director of Graham Center for Innovation and Collaboration, Penn State York) to unpack a crucial question: What is the real difference between a team that genuinely collaborates and one that merely cooperates? Through personal examples, mnemonics, and research-backed frameworks, this panel offers strategies listeners can apply immediately in their daily lives.
At the Center has more exciting content to share with the community this year, all of which York College of Pennsylvania students produce under the mentorship of Renae Wolter, CEO and Founder of Clout Podcasting. The students have found a variety of ways to get involved and help promote future content, such as Graphic Design major, Jet Seminars, designing a new logo this past summer for the series, and Mass Communications major, Geoff Daniels, working as the podcast's sound engineer. Forthcoming episodes will tackle topics such as building solid teams, redefining what project success looks like, knowing when to pivot, and proving that failure is actually an opportunity for growth. Each episode is a stepping stone to understanding effective collaboration, ensuring that listeners are prepared to navigate complex group dynamics and build stronger, more resilient partnerships.
Through the GCCI, all episodes are paired with an in-person event that the public is welcome to attend. Upcoming events include the Collaboration 101 Listener Lunch on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and Curiosity as a Collaboration Superpower, Live Recording and Networking Event on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
To learn more and register, check out our GCCI Events Linktree! We hope to see you there!
