Filling Seats: The State of Enrollment Marketing in Higher Ed

In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues talks with Jeff Kallay, Senior Vice President at Echo Delta , about the evolution of the campus visit and why it remains one of the most important moments in the enrollment journey. Jeff has spent nearly two decades helping colleges and universities rethink the campus visit experience. In this conversation, he explains why the visit still matters d...

In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues talks with Scott Novak, Founder and Partner at Small College Consulting , about the challenges and opportunities facing small colleges today. Scott has worked with hundreds of small colleges throughout his career and brings a clear perspective on what makes these institutions special, where they often struggle, and why they need to think differentl...

In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues talks with Amber Fitzgerald, Director of Enrollment Visitor Services at Suffolk University , about how the campus visit has evolved from a single on-campus moment into a much broader student journey. Amber shares how Suffolk thinks about the visit before, during, and after a student arrives on campus, and why digital engagement now plays such an im...

In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues talks with Jason Simon, CEO of SimpsonScarborough , about one of the biggest forces shaping higher education marketing right now: trust . Drawing from Jason’s recent writing on branding, public perception, and the changing college decision journey, this conversation explores why higher ed has lost the benefit of the doubt with many students and fam...

Higher ed teams are producing more video content than ever, but most institutions are still treating it like a series of one-off projects. In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues and Gil Rogers dig into a challenge that feels increasingly familiar across enrollment and marketing teams: colleges and universities have a growing library of raw footage, finished videos, social clips, and cam...

Higher education is facing one of the most challenging and transformative periods in its history. In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues sits down with Mallory Willsea to explore what she calls the “innovation imperative” — and why institutions must rethink how they communicate, engage, and evolve to remain relevant. Together, they discuss how changing student expectations, shifting dem...

AI is rapidly reshaping how students search for, evaluate, and engage with colleges. But what does that actually mean for enrollment teams? In this episode of Filling Seats , host Jonathan Clues is joined by Mia Charette, Vice President of Marketing at Capture Higher Ed, to unpack insights from a recent study on student engagement and artificial intelligence. Together, they explore how AI is influ...

In a higher ed landscape where many institutions sound and look the same, standing out has never been more important — or more difficult. In this episode of Filling Seats , host Jonathan Clues sits down with Beth Wolfe, Vice President of Enrollment at the University of Charleston, for a candid conversation about institutional differentiation and what it really takes to cut through the noise. Beth...

Today’s students expect clarity, speed, and seamless experiences — and they’re far less tolerant of friction in the enrollment journey. In this episode of Filling Seats , Jonathan Clues is joined by Catie Clark from Niche to explore how institutions can modernize student engagement by removing unnecessary complexity and designing more intuitive pathways from discovery to enrollment. Together, they...

🎓 Learn more about StudentBridge 💻 Schedule a meeting with our team 🔗 Be a guest + connect with a guest

🎓 Learn more about StudentBridge 💻 Schedule a meeting with our team 🔗 Be a guest + connect with a guest

On this episode of Filling Seats , host and StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Dr. Luke Schultheis to explore the real reasons why students choose the schools they attend. From the role of gut instinct to the growing influence of AI in the enrollment process, they uncover what truly drives student decisions. The conversation emphasizes one undeniable truth: the most powerful voice for...

On this episode of Filling Seats , StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Dr. Curt Merlau to unpack how colleges can transform raw data into meaningful student success. From shifting away from “data overload” to building actionable insights, Dr. Merlau highlights strategies that empower institutions to make smarter decisions, improve student outcomes, and drive measurable enrollment growt...

In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of technology and student success with Mark Barden of CourseKey. Mark shares how real-time data and automation are reshaping the student journey—from classroom engagement to retention strategies. Together, we dig into how Gen Z’s digital expectations are influencing everything from campus communication to academic behavior, and why modern insti...

In this special episode, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with four esteemed marketing professors—Dr. Jen Riley, Dr. Amy Watson, Dr. Kate Scott, and Dr. Mona Bryant—to explore the growing challenges facing higher education today. 🎓 Learn more about StudentBridge 💻 Schedule a meeting with our team 🔗 Be a guest + connect with a guest

How do prospective students actually search for colleges online? In this episode of Filling Seats , we explore how students navigate university websites, why many never click on the official .edu page, and how institutions can optimize their digital presence. Key Topics Covered: The role of Google search and brand queries in the college selection process Why 8 out of 10 students don’t click on a u...

In this episode of Filling Seats , StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Paula French, Director at Search Influence, to explore the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing in higher education. Paula shares expert insights on how AI-driven search, social media, and evolving student behaviors are reshaping digital marketing strategies for colleges and u...

In this special 50th episode, Jonathan Cluse , CEO and founder of StudentBridge, is joined by Mark Forehand , a seasoned higher ed professional and longtime StudentBridge partner, for a lively discussion about the evolving role of video in student recruitment. 📹 Why video matters more than ever: How short-form videos are influencing Gen Z’s college decisions. Strategies to stand out in a content-...

In this episode of Filling Seats , we sit down with John Azoni, a seasoned video production expert with over 15 years of experience. John shares key insights from his journey in creating compelling video content for higher education institutions. Together, we explore the analytics behind video engagement, the importance of aligning content with audience intent, and practical tips for producing sho...

In this episode of Filling Seats , we tackle the growing "staff morale crisis" in college admissions offices. What’s driving burnout and dissatisfaction among admissions professionals? Joining us is Teege Mettille, author of The Admissions Counselor Malaise and Director of Enrollment Success at EnrollML. Drawing on years of campus leadership experience, Teege shares his unique perspectiv...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Carey Dukes, who brings a wealth of experience from 25 years in supply chain management and a passion for teaching the next generation. After earning his doctorate degree, he joined academia to help students become day-one-ready employees. Dr. Dukes dives into the critical issues of: Student retention within smaller universities Challenges presented when fresh...

Host Jonathan Clues discusses the impact of international recruitment and study abroad programs on U.S. higher education with guest Dr. John Neiser, Vice President for International Operations at Fairleigh Dickinson University. They delve into how international recruitment has shifted from being a symbolic effort to a critical revenue source, with Dr. Neiser highlighting that international operati...

Our latest episode of “Filling Seats” features StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues alongside Vanessa Didyk from ZeeMee and Dave Becker from CampusESP to discuss innovative strategies and technologies to boost enrollment, enhance student experiences, and maintain continuity despite staff changes. Jonathan, Vanessa, and Dave also tackle key questions: How can institutions leverage technology to retain...

In the third installment of our series on the 2023 RNL Trend Report, once again, we peel back layers of data to offer actionable insights on what motivates students to opt in to receive emails, text messages, and telephone calls. From their unique vantage points, Dr. Raquel Bermejo, Associate Vice President of Market Research and Planning for RNL and StudentBridge CEO and founder Jonathan Clues di...

In this episode, we explore the busy summer travel season and the opportunity it presents for visitor services teams. Preparing for these crowds can be key, especially if your institution is located in a high-interest city, like Boston.  In 2023, 22% of students visited campuses in a stealth, unannounced visit (Source: Niche). Amber Fitzgerald, director of enrollment visitor services at Suffolk Un...