In Your Element

In this episode of In Your Element , host Daniella connects with Dr. Shelley Greene, VP of Advancement and Enrollment at Chowan University, to discuss how foundational changes in strategy, communication, and tech adoption led to a 13% increase in enrollment and a 4% bump in retention. Dr. Greene shares how Chowan’s small size became a strategic advantage in fostering collaboration, reducing silos,...

In this episode of In Your Element , host Daniella sits down with Jason Houlihan, Executive Director of Marketing and Events at Del Mar College, to unpack how his team transformed student recruitment and engagement through process mapping, breaking down silos, and strategic use of Element451’s platform. From the Freedom to Dream tuition waiver to massive community events like One Stop Saturday and...

Daniella and  Brendan sit down with Hannah Wilson, Knowledge Management and CRM Coordinator Project Manager at Forsyth Technical Community College. Known for her “AI-first, human-in-the-loop” approach, Hannah unpacks how her team is using Element451 to build a strategic, humanized, and data-driven knowledge base. If you’re trying to harness AI in higher education without sacrificing the student ex...

In this third and final installment of In Your Element’s Durham Tech series, hosts Daniella and Brendan dive into the measurable impact of Element451 at Durham Technical Community College. This episode explores how strategic CRM implementation is enhancing student success, driving engagement, and reshaping internal processes. Guests Jessica Vaughan and Dr. Abe Dones reveal how data, feedback, and...

In this high-energy follow-up episode, Brendan Henkel sits back down with Abe Dones, VP of Student Services, and Jessica Vaughan, Director of Enrollment Management and CRM Strategy at Durham Tech, to unpack how their team is transforming student success from a one-time alert into a continuous, high-touch strategy. The duo shares how they’ve implemented the “Early Success System” using Element451 t...

In this dynamic episode of In Your Element, co-hosts Daniella Nordin and Brendan Henkel sit down with Jessica Vaughan, Director of Enrollment Management and CRM Strategy, and Dr. Abe Dones, Vice President and Chief Student Officer at Durham Tech. This is the first installment of a three-part series chronicling Durham Tech’s transformational journey with Element451. From disjointed systems and pape...

It’s been a full year since In Your Element launched, and hosts Daniella and Brendan Henkel are celebrating with a special recap episode! They revisit their top three favorite episodes, breaking down the most impactful conversations, game-changing insights, and jaw-dropping results from some of Element 451’s most innovative partners. From application overhauls to strategic change management, this...

On this episode of In Your Element , we sit down with Emily Banks, an admissions representative from Faith Baptist Bible College, to discuss the game-changing improvements they made to their online degree application process. Emily shares how her team streamlined course selection, automated key communications, and integrated workflows to enhance the student experience. By leveraging Element’s auto...

In this episode of In Your Element , we dive into the transformative work happening at Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) with Tori Brady, CRM Data Manager, and Tom Rainey, Associate VP for Enrollment. They share how their team successfully centralized admissions, implemented automated workflows, and leveraged microsites to create a personalized and seamless student experience. From a 18% incre...

Daniella sits down with Tyler Albright, CRM Content Coordinator at Johnston Community College (JCC), to explore how the institution revolutionized its student check-in process using Element451. Tyler shares how JCC creatively leveraged the platform’s task module to streamline student services, improve data tracking, and enhance student engagement. From trial and error to impactful insights, this e...

In this episode of In Your Element , Brendan and Daniella sit down with Brittany Meinssen, Director of Admissions and Recruitment at College of the Albemarle (COA), to uncover how her team is reshaping recruitment strategies for community colleges. Brittany shares how implementing Element451 helped COA streamline processes, engage adult learners, and deliver standout results. From targeted messagi...

In this episode of In Your Element , Daniella and Brendan from Element 451 sit down with Daniela Botello-Hernandez of Paul Quinn College to dive into the transformative power of a CRM in higher education admissions. They discuss how Paul Quinn’s decision to bring their application process in-house revolutionized their admissions workflow, improved completion rates, and created more personalized ap...

Guest Name:  Abigail Petrosky, Director of Marketing and Public Relations,Northern Pennsylvania Regional College  Kelsey Angove, Assistant Director of Recruitment, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College Guest Bios: Abbi Petrosky is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. She's spent her career in higher education, with the last six years serving a...

In this AI-focused episode, hosts Daniella and Brendan sit down with Claire Skelton, Assistant Director of Content Marketing at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), to unpack the transformative role AI plays in streamlining student engagement and application processes. Claire shares SEMO’s journey from launching “Sadie,” an AI-powered bot, to creating custom AI teams tailored to unique stud...

In this episode, Brendan and Daniella welcome Matt Bodenschatz, Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Penn Highlands Community College. Matt discusses the impactful journey of implementing Element451 and how its powerful CRM tools have streamlined the college’s admissions process, enabled quicker student responses, and significantly boosted enrollment rates. By leveraging features like task aut...

In this episode of In Your Element , recorded live at AMA in Las Vegas, Brendan reconnects with Michael Bettersworth, CMO at Texas State Technical College (TSTC), to delve into critical trends and challenges impacting higher education. They discuss the concerning decline in student enrollment, the importance of aligning educational offerings with workforce demands, and how institutions can adopt a...

In this episode of In Your Element , recorded live at AMA in Las Vegas, Brendan sits down with Mike Margolies, CEO of NextGrad, and Ryan Barbauld, VP of College Partnerships at NextGrad, to explore the innovative ways they’re transforming out-of-home advertising in higher education. They discuss the value of partnerships in higher ed, how NextGrad leverages billboards in high schools to enhance st...

In this episode of In Your Element, hosts Daniella and Brendan are joined by Brandi Hess, Director of University Web and Digital Content at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Brandi shares USI’s journey as the first-ever "Bolt-only" partner with Element451, implementing the AI-powered chatbot Archie. She discusses how this tool transformed the student experience by answering key questions,...

In this episode, Brian Emerson, Executive VP of Enrollment Management at Villa Maria College, shares how the small, Buffalo-based college achieved record-breaking enrollment growth (15% in 2023 and 14% in 2024). From struggling with disappearing students in 2020 to hosting over 1,500 campus visits and increasing applications by over 300 in 2023, Brian breaks down the hands-on tactics and tech-driv...

In this episode of In Your Element, recorded live at the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) Conference, Daniella interviews Kelly Sinacola, VP of Solutions Engineering and Integrations at Element451, and Jennifer Mayo, Director of Admissions and Records at Wayne Community College. They discuss the benefits of integrating the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) application with...

In this episode of In Your Element , co-hosts Daniella Nordin and Brendan Henkel sit down with Lenell Hahn, Director of Admissions at Southeast Missouri State University, to explore the transformative power of direct admissions. Lenell shares the journey from the initial concept to implementation, revealing the challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. The conversation delves into...

In this special live episode from the North Carolina Community College System Conference, Daniella sits down with Kris Burris, Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management at College of the Albemarle (COA). Kris shares how COA leverages Element451 to address enrollment challenges, foster student success, and reach underserved communities. From tackling resistance to new technology t...

In this episode of In Your Element , Brendan Henkel talks with Luis Caloca, Dean of Student Access at the College of Western Idaho (CWI) and winner of the 2024 Student Centric Institution Award. Luis shares how CWI has transformed its approach to student access and engagement using Element451. From fostering buy-in for new technology to leveraging AI for improved efficiency, Luis offers actionable...

In this episode of In Your Element, Cherron R. Hoppes, EdD, Chief Experience Officer at Notre Dame de Namur University, shares her extensive experience in higher education leadership, focusing on change management and technology adoption. With a background spanning student affairs, enrollment management, and academic program development, Cherron discusses the importance of empathy, strategic think...

In this episode of In Your Element , we sit down with Ryan Hogan, VP of Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Communication at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), and the 2024 Boltie Award winner for Student Engagement. Ryan shares how ABAC is setting new standards for personalized student engagement using strategic communication and technology. He emphasizes the importance of making ever...