Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager

Jenny sits down with Melanie Gonick, the senior video producer at MIT. Having managed MIT's YouTube channel since 2008, Melanie provides a unique historical perspective on the platform’s evolution from an early repository of raw video into the powerful search and entertainment engine it is today. Melanie shares actionable strategies for capturing viewer attention, emphasizing that successful produ...

In this episode, Shuchita Poddar discusses her experience managing three distinct student content teams at the University of Iowa and reveals how her team successfully leverages authentic, student-driven content to engage prospective students. Guest Name: Shuchita Poddar, Communications Specialist in the University of Iowa's Office of Admissions Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Shuchita Poddar is...

Higher ed professionals have more conference options than ever before—but with limited budgets, packed calendars, and countless acronyms to navigate, how do you know which events are actually worth your time? On this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager , host Jenny Li Fowler welcomes back Dr. Josie Ahlquist, higher education consultant, researcher, and longtime conference en...

On this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager , host Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Aubrey Ugorowski, communications specialist for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, to unpack how social listening can completely reshape a higher ed content strategy. Working as a communications team of one, Aubrey shares how she balances...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Erica Colaianne, Director of Content Strategy and Audience Development at the University of Michigan, and Kellen Manning, Director of Digital and Social Media Content at Penn State University, for an honest conversation about how social media in higher education has evolved over the last decade. From the early days of Twitter and live tweeting to today’s algorithm-dr...

This episode featuring Carissa Estreller explores a powerful shift in higher education content marketing: the rise of the comment section as a strategic asset. What used to be an afterthought is now a core driver of engagement, insight, and even content ideation. Carissa introduces the concept of a “comment strategy” and explains why social media managers—especially in higher ed—can no longer affo...

Instagram Reel Guest Name: Cam Sleeper, Senior. Social Media Video Producer, Northeastern University Guest Socials: LinkedIn Instagram   Guest Bio:  Cam Sleeper is an award-winning Senior Social Media Video Producer for Northeastern University. Over six years, he has built the university’s TikTok presence from the ground up and produced platform-spanning content whose videos have earned tens of mi...

In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager hosted by Jenny Li Fowler, guest Wilsar Johnson delivers a masterclass on misinformation strategy and its growing impact on higher education institutions. Drawing from experience in political communications and narrative strategy, Wilsar explains how misinformation has evolved from a political issue into a major brand and instituti...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Stephanie Ramirez, Director of Social and New Media at Amherst College, to unpack how she built one of the most engaged student content teams in higher education. Stephanie shares how her team of student creators produces authentic social media content while gaining real professional experience along the way. From weekly rituals and collaborative ideation to strategi...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Hillary Smith of Clemson University to unpack a bold move: bringing paid social media in-house—and outperforming an agency in the process. What started as a learning opportunity evolved into a powerful case study in smarter enrollment marketing and stronger cross-team collaboration. Hillary shares how Clemson’s centralized marketing structure, internal audience insig...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Rachael Hagerstrom of the University of Massachusetts Amherst to explore an often-overlooked yet critical area of institutional communications: issues management. In this conversation, Rachael shares how her journalism and social media background uniquely prepared her for a role focused on monitoring, anticipating, and mitigating potential reputation threats before t...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with podcast strategist and former Enrollify team member Erin Fields to dive deep into how to successfully promote a podcast within the higher ed landscape. They unpack why podcasting isn’t just a trendy add-on—it’s a full-fledged marketing channel that demands strategy, consistency, and creativity. From turning podcast episodes into content engines to nailing promotion w...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Maree Jones, Director of Social Media Strategy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to dive into a topic that's all too familiar for social pros — burnout. In this powerful conversation, Maree shares her personal experiences, how burnout manifests for social media professionals, and what institutions can do to foster healthier workplace cultures. If you’re man...

In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager, Erin Supinka, Associate Director of Digital Engagement at Dartmouth College, shares the behind-the-scenes story of how she scaled Dartmouth’s social media team from a party of one to a high-performing team of four. Erin unpacks the practical steps, persistent challenges, and powerful advocacy it took to build a team that’s reshapi...

In Episode 56 of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager , host Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Jon-Stephen Stansel — seasoned social media strategist and author of The 10 Principles of Effective Social Media Marketing . Jon shares his journey from burned-out higher ed manager to freelance success, offering up survival strategies, productivity hacks, and hot takes on AI, memes, and the myth...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Rochelle Reed, Social Media Manager at James Madison University (JMU), to unpack how Instagram Stories evolved from an overlooked feature into a strategic powerhouse for campus engagement. Rochelle shares how JMU has built a data-driven Instagram Stories strategy that prioritizes interaction, authenticity, and smart storytelling. This episode is a goldmine for anyone...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Matt Gerrish from Quid to uncover how the Rival IQ + Quid 2024 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report comes to life. From understanding what drives rankings to exploring why some schools dominate year after year, Matt gives listeners a peek behind the data curtain. This episode is packed with insights on engagement strategy, platform prioritization, and cont...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Emma Dorman, the first-ever social media manager at the University of Montana, to explore what it takes to build a university’s digital personality from the ground up. In this vibrant conversation, Emma shares how embracing the unique culture, lifestyle, and geography of Montana has become the secret sauce behind their skyrocketing engagement and retention rates. Fro...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Jaime Hunt, host of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO , for a no-holds-barred conversation packed with hot takes on higher education marketing, leadership dysfunction, and the systemic cultural habits holding institutions back. Drawing from decades of experience, Jaime and Jenny bring a sharp, refreshingly honest lens to some of higher ed’s most persistent challenges—fr...

- - - - Connect With Our Host: Jenny Li Fowler https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylifowler/ https://twitter.com/TheJennyLi About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for...

In Episode #50 of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager , host Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Eve Gaciarz, Assistant Director of Communications at the Yale MacMillan Center, to discuss the transition from a social media-specific role to a broader communications position within the same institution. As a former Associate Director of Social Media at Yale School of Management, Eve shares ho...

In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager , host Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Ted Harrison, Founder and CEO of neuemotion and former Head of Advertiser Production at Twitter (yes, real Twitter). Ted brings a refreshing take on creativity in social media, debunking the myth that inspiration strikes like lightning. Instead, he shares how creative consistency is a skill—one...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Joe Teo, CEO of HeyOrca, for a candid conversation about the underestimated brilliance of higher ed social media teams. From crisis communication mastery to culture-shaping content creation, Joe shares why higher ed marketers are the unsung heroes of the digital age. Tune into this episode for an energizing take on how resourceful, adaptive, and strategic these teams...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Amanda Natividad — marketer, podcaster, and former trained chef — to tackle a challenge every social media manager and content creator eventually faces: handling negative comments and trolls online. From understanding the difference between criticism and trolling to learning when to clap back and when to scroll on, Amanda shares real-life stories, personal missteps,...

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Chelsey Holts, Director of Content Strategy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chelsey recounts her firsthand experience managing campus communications during not one—but two—active shooter incidents at UNC. This powerful conversation explores the evolving role of social media in emergency communications, the need for cross-functional collaboration,...