Higher Ed Pulse

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check Series, guest Dr. Thom Chesney, President of Southwest College, talks about taking a step back to recenter his why and embarking on a year-long journey of discernment. Key points/takeaways include: Check in with yourself regularly to ensure you are still aligned with your why Have open conversations with your circle of trust within your network  Know what it is you do...

In this bonus edition of the Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory is joined by Dayana Kibilds, host of Talking Tactics and VP at Ologie, and Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University, to discuss their new book, "Mailed It!" They explore the vital role of email marketing in higher education, share practical insights on building trust and empathy with subscribers, and provide actionable tips...

Hosts Seth and Mallory discuss untraditional strategies to enhance traditional undergraduate recruitment and enrollment marketing. As the new recruitment cycle kicks off, they explore innovative approaches that go beyond the basics of list buying and email marketing. From using paid social media to drive campus visit RSVPs to creating shareable milestones in the admissions process, Seth and Mallor...

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Kin is joined by W. Kent Barnds, who has 33 years of experience in higher ed and shares his why and the importance of working at a college campus. Key points/takeaways include: The need for leaders to stay at institutions to fight the good fight. The comfort level of employees with a delayed sense of gratification that often is part and parcel of working in hi...

Join hosts Seth and Mallory as they share invaluable career advice for rising leaders in higher education. From building a strong network to developing financial savvy, this episode is packed with practical tips and personal anecdotes to help you advance in your career. Whether you're aiming for a director title or aspiring to join the C-suite, this conversation will provide you with the tools and...

In this debut episode of our new Pulse Check on seeking purpose in the world of Higher Ed, guest Carrie Phillips joins guest host Kin Sejpal to discuss her purpose as higher ed leader, and what keeps her - and her team - going.  Insightful takeaways include: Personal and professional experiences can shape one’s purpose. Making space in the day-to-day grind to soak in the environment can be invigor...

Mallory and Seth dive into the pressing issue of higher education's reputation for lagging behind other industries. They discuss why higher ed institutions often struggle with innovation and explore practical strategies for overcoming these challenges. Drawing insights from their experiences and industry trends, they highlight the importance of embracing technology, fostering a culture of change,...

Welcome to the 5th and final part of this Pulse Check series hosted by Dr. Cody Nielsen and Dr. Tomika Ferguson. In this episode, key takeaways include: To serve as an authentic and talented leader, self-love is essential. Involving practitioners in more search can benefit the field of higher education, particularly the impact of the work to prepare future and current educational leaders. In highe...

Mallory and Seth dive headfirst into a lively discussion about their biggest pet peeves in higher ed marketing. From websites serving too many audiences to overused mascots, they vent about the common pitfalls that institutions fall into and share their frustrations with generic taglines, fake diversity, and ineffective content strategies. Tune in for a candid and humorous rant session filled with...

In Part 4 of this Pulse Check series, Tomika and Cody explores the essence of intentional leadership and its role in fostering inclusivity in decision-making processes with special guest Jaunelle White.  Key takeaways include: Intentional leadership fosters inclusivity in decision-making and strengthens relationships with your team. Overcoming others' assumptions about you as a leader requires sus...

Live from eduWeb Summit, Mallory interviews Maureen Stokes, the Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Worcester State University. They discuss the impact of AI on making dense research accessible, the power of visual student-centered storytelling in marketing, and how AI can enhance productivity and creativity. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea  https://www....

Seth and Mallory jump into the latest trends and conversations from recent higher education conferences — the 2024 Engage Summit and eduWeb Summit. They discuss the impact of AI, budget uncertainties, and the current state of the industry.  Key Takeaways: Conference Insights: Key themes and discussions from the Engage Summit and eduWeb, including the increasing focus on AI. Budget Uncertainties: H...

Live from eduWeb, Mallory interviews Alyssa Green, the University Photography Manager at the University of Montevallo. Alyssa shares her experiences and insights on blending creativity with marketing, leveraging AI in her workflow, and attending workshops like "Turning Discontent into Empowerment." Tune in to discover practical tips for higher ed photographers and the power of stepping out of your...

Counseling and Psychological Services has taken significant steps forward in recent years, yet there remains a “mental health crisis” in higher education.  What is what we needed was a reforming of the services and the system itself.  This episode explores with Dr. Peter Cornish the ways in which holistic mental health services is of the most important DEI imperatives in higher education.  As well...

Join us as Mallory chats with Anthony Machcinski, Assistant Director of Marketing Communications at Manor College and EduWeb's official event photographer. Anthony shares his experiences at EduWeb, highlighting the collaborative nature of the event and the unique challenges faced by smaller institutions. They discuss key takeaways from a student panel on admissions processes and dive into Anthony'...

Seth and Mallory candidly share some of their most memorable professional failures and the invaluable lessons they learned from them. From a pricey launch party oversight to a marketing and enrollment coordination mishap, they discuss how these blunders have shaped their approach to work and leadership. Tune in for an honest and humorous look at how embracing and learning from mistakes can lead to...

In this episode, Mallory sits down with Kittie Payne, the Director of Graduate Admissions at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, live from the eduWeb Summit. They discuss Kittie's important summer project — rewriting her entire prospect campaign to be more engaging and effective. Kitty shares insights on adapting to audience needs, the importance of visual-first comms, and the role of listening i...

In part 2 of this Pulse Check series, hosts Dr. Cody Nielsen and Dr. Tomika Ferguson are joined by Kevin McDonald of University of Virginia to discuss: Your effectiveness as a leader is negatively impacted when you neglect self-care. Leaders must be confident in their abilities without being intoxicated by the authority and influence of their position, especially in the face of personal fear, camp...

In this episode of The Pulse, Mallory chats with Mike Morland, Director of Communications and Marketing in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. Mike shares insights about his role, the impact of the innovative Wolverine Pathways program, and the importance of storytelling and data in advancing DEI initiatives. Learn how U of M’s efforts are making higher ed...

Live from eduWeb, Mallory sits down with Sara Wallace, VP of Strategy at Simpson Scarborough. They dive into Sara's presentation on balancing higher ed brands amidst today's dynamic media landscape. Key points include the rising competition, the evolving media landscape, and shifting audience expectations. Sarah also shares a compelling case study on Chico State's successful marketing strategies....

Live from the EduWeb Summit, Mallory chats with Christina Inge, founder of ThoughtLight and an instructor at Brandei University and Harvard University. Christina shares her insights on the growing sophistication of AI in marketing, the importance of embracing this technology, and how it can enhance productivity and creativity. She also discusses her upcoming course on AI and marketing at Harvard,...

In this episode of The Pulse, Mallory speaks with Rebecka Hall, Director of Web Innovation and Strategy at ODUGlobal, live from the eduWeb Summit. Rebecka shares her expertise on creating compelling and effective program pages for higher education institutions. They explore the critical elements of program pages, strategies for SEO optimization, and the importance of cross-campus collaboration. Ke...

Join Mallory and Seth as they channel their betting spirit into predicting the future winners of higher education. This episode highlights standout institutions and leaders poised to shape the future, including Lincoln Education Services, Forsyth Tech Community College, Dr. Michael Thomas, and CMO Michael Bettersworth. Get ready for an inspiring discussion on innovative strategies and bold leaders...

Welcome to the debut episode of this new Pulse Check series, "After Further Consideration," a DEI-focused series where hosts Dr. Cody Nielsen and Dr. Tomika Ferguson invite experienced change leaders both within and beyond higher education into conversations focused on responsive leadership, addressing campus crises, navigating institutional shifts, and fostering sustainable change all through the...

Mallory and Seth discuss the critical topic of doing more with less in higher education marketing. Seth breaks his recommendations down into three buckets: Build bottom of the funnel up, Best practices, and Velocity not Volume – with a focus on practical strategies for optimizing marketing efforts and where artificial intelligence can have a massive impact. Key Takeaways: Effective Marketing Strat...