Higher Ed Conversations

What are the barriers that keep students from finishing an application or from completing their degree? Emily Coleman , CEO & Co-founder of HAI Analytics (now part of Encoura ),  joins GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom to discuss her company’s work in building predictive models for higher education institutions. These models help predict student behavior to optimize critical processes like the allocat...

In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom speaks with Elaine Gosden , CEO of Blue Gnu Consulting , about what true leadership looks like—and how to build a culture where leaders thrive. With 89% of managers lacking formal leadership training, this conversation explores the critical need for intentional development across organizations. Gosden shares her company’s approach to building stronger tea...

The worst time to plan a response to a crisis is in the middle of one. In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom speaks with Stephanie Craig , President of the crisis management firm Kith , about how institutions can better prepare for the unexpected. Craig explains why building a plan in advance and practicing it regularly is essential for handling emergencies effectively. The conversation cover...

In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Nick Martin , Co-Founder of Direqt , to explore how AI is transforming the student experience. Martin and his team have built conversational AI chatbots trained on a college’s website, data, and social media content—allowing students to get real-time answers to common questions like “How do I apply for financial aid?” or “Where can I change...

In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Beth Noel , Director of Communications & Creative Services at Middlesex Community College , to talk about accessibility and inclusive design in higher education. What started with a compliance letter about inaccessible PDFs became a turning point in Noel’s journey toward building a culture of belonging for students with disabilities. Sh...

In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations , GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom talks with Christine Rose , Regional Senior Marketing Director at Outfront , about the fast-evolving world of out-of-home (OOH) media. Rose shares how she oversees marketing strategy across ten Western U.S. markets and explains why OOH is one of the most effective and underutilized tools in a college’s media mix. The conversati...

On this Higher Ed Conversations episode, I host a conversation with an Al expert and, more impressively, my sister-in-law, Suzi Boynton! Suzi is the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees for the San Marcos Unified School District, where she utilizes the tool of Al in her day-to-day work for the school system. In our conversation, we discussed Suzi's journey with AI a...

In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom talks with Keith Goodman , a direct mail marketing expert, about the renewed power of direct mail in today’s digital-first world, especially for education marketers. Goodman explains how direct mail allows for precise, personalized outreach by using rich demographic and psychographic data, including household makeup, interests, and behaviors. The conversa...

In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom hosts her first solo conversation to celebrate the release of her new ebook, "Why Your Community CollegeMarketing is Failing: Lessons From Online Dating, " which quickly became a #1 bestseller in multiple online categories. Cheryl shares a behind-the-scenes look at the book and breaks down three core themes that have helped hundreds of colleges...

Many students cannot enroll in traditional two- or four-year college programs, but they still want access to professional skills that lead to higher-paying jobs. In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom speaks with Linda Kurokawa , Executive Director of Community Education & Workforce Development at MiraCosta College , about how noncredit workforce programs are helping to fill that gap. Kuro...

As higher education continues to evolve and expand, the presidency of its institutions has become an increasingly demanding role. GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Jeff Julian , Chief of Staff at Harper College and President of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations , to discuss the shifting landscape of higher ed leadership. In this episode, Julian shares insights from h...

It’s undeniable that social media has transformed into an essential platform for both cultivating a presence and nurturing community connections. With platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook becoming key spaces for interaction and staying informed, colleges and universities must have a strong and consistent social presence to stay relevant. In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom discuss...

In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations , GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom discusses the realities of balancing motherhood and a demanding career with Letitia Clark , Chief Communications Officer at South Orange County Community College District , elected official, and author. Balancing children and a career may seem unachievable, but Letitia Clark unveils the secrets to harmonizing professional life...

In this month's episode, we sit down for a fascinating conversation with Jeff Bunch, a seasoned professional with a diverse background in journalism, marketing, and higher education. From being a storyteller at a young age to his pivotal role in managing the digital presence of Gonzaga University's basketball team, his journey and insights on integrating storytelling into marketing are s...

What's the best way to find a vendor vetted by other higher education organizations? Jeff Dillon, a former higher education professional turned entrepreneur, joins us on Higher Education Conversations to help answer that question. Jeff shares his journey from working in higher ed for over two decades to founding EdTech Connect, a crowd-sourced technology database designed to help colleges and...

"Be a resource, not just a request, and then build a relationship." says our guest, Mark Bayer, on connecting with elected officials and press members. Mark is an international keynote speaker, consultant, former Chief of Staff, and podcast host. His podcast, "When Science Speaks," aims to help scientists, engineers, and executives communicate their complex ideas effectively. I...

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Piper, a digital and content marketing expert who shares his transformative journey and explains how to leverage content marketing effectively. Brian emphasizes that content marketing is a strategy to cultivate lasting relationships with your audience rather than a quick sales pitch. We dive into the pivotal role of social media, with Brian urging marketers t...

In this episode of Higher Education Coffee and Conversation, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Kyle Dalpe, the president of Western Nevada College. With a fascinating background as a journalist, chief of staff, and vice president of instruction at various community colleges, Dr. Dalpe brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. We delve into topics such as college promotion, reaching rural co...

On this episode of Higher Education Coffee and Conversation, I am thrilled to have a close friend and esteemed colleague as my guest, Dr. Mark Browning. Currently serving as the CEO and President at Blue Mountain Community College in Oregon, Mark brings a wealth of experience to the table. Before taking on his current role, Mark made significant contributions in marketing and communications at pre...

We have an incredibly exciting guest on this episode of the podcast: Alex Wedderburn, a senior leader at Hootsuite, shares his expertise on this indispensable platform for social media management. For those unfamiliar, Hootsuite is our go-to tool at GradComm for efficiently managing and measuring the impact of our clients' social media accounts. The focus of today's discussion is Hootsui...

It’s an advice-packed episode as Lisa Takami joins me to discuss her new book , Women in the Higher Education C-Suite: Diverse Executive Profiles .  Lisa has helped organizations, both private and public, to build brand messaging by leveraging partnerships that foster learner and organizational success.  Her book is such a valuable resource for both women and men to learn from the stories of other...

It’s an exciting episode of Higher Ed Coffee and Conversation as we welcome our first-ever College President on the podcast!  Dr. Annebelle Nery is the President of Santa Ana College, where her strategic marketing approach has had an extremely impactful result.  In our conversation, we’ll learn how Dr. Nery has used a data-based approach to marketing to increase enrollment by double digits semeste...

Sometimes the most exciting opportunities can happen when you least expect them…and my guest today can certainly attest to that notion! Emily Zimmer, Marketing & Events Coordinator for DCTC, was enjoying her Thanksgiving when she found out that the President of the United States would be visiting Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) to promote the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bil...

In today’s world where seemingly everything has gone digital, the concept of a printed class schedule may sound like a relic of the past. However, my guests today are here to debunk this myth through the lens of a project we did right here at GradComm with our partners at North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE). Here to discuss the project is Jennifer Perez, Director of Campus Communications at N...

On this special episode of the podcast, I am joined by some of our amazing GradComm team members for a 2022 Year-in-Review.  I’ll speak to one of our Client Service Managers, Rocco, to learn what Mechatronics is and how our team utilized it to get impactful results for one of our clients.  Then I’ll catch up with our Creative Director, Michael, to hear why great spontaneity requires great preparat...