The Weekly VineDown with Emily Smith

In this episode, Emily sits down with Sean Whitten, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SMU in Dallas, to explore workplace psychology, emotional wellbeing, and managing stress in higher education. They dive into the neuroscience behind our stress responses, tactics for maintaining emotional health during workplace conflicts, and practical strategies for avoiding burnout. Throughout their conver...

Higher Ed expert Jeff Selingo (former Chronicle of Higher Education editor) joins The Vinedown to discuss the future of colleges in 2025 and beyond. Will two dozen colleges close this year? What separates surviving institutions from truly thriving ones? In this episode, we dive deep into: - Which colleges are just "limping along" vs innovating for the future - How AI might transform coll...

For years, colleges have been navigating technological change. Many institutions today KNOW they need to embrace new technology, but they remain tightly gripped to familiar processes. In this conversation, Adam Park, the CEO of Softdoc, gives candid insight into why this happens. It's not just about resistance to change – it's deeper than that. It's about institutional trauma from past...

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form. During our recent conversation on The Vinedown, PJ shared insights into the role of swag (yes, swag!) in creating memorable and lasting connections with prospective students. From thoughtful giveaways to bridging...

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form. During our recent conversation on The Vinedown, PJ shared insights into the role of swag (yes, swag!) in creating memorable and lasting connections with prospective students. From thoughtful giveaways to bridging...

In this week’s episode of VineDown, I am joined by Gene Chao, a leader in digital transformation and the founder of GenReventures. Our discussion spans AI's evolving role, the importance of human-machine collaboration, and how organizations can embrace technology without losing the human touch.

Sometimes, leadership means stepping into your team’s shoes to see how you can improve your team from the bottom-up. Dr. Brent Gage, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Strategy at the University of Iowa, recently returned to the recruitment trail after a decade-long break. When unexpected staffing changes left his team short-handed this fall, Brent hit the road, attending colleg...

Modern admissions offices are facing a paradox. As processes become more automated, how do they hold onto authentic human connection? Rick Clark, Executive Director of Strategic Student Access at Georgia Tech, isn’t just asking that question—he’s answering it. With over two decades of experience in admissions and a reputation as a truth-teller in higher ed, Rick is finding ways to embrace AI while...

Traditional college counseling isn’t keeping up with today’s digital-first students. Jeff Neill , Director of College Counseling at Graded - The American School in São Paulo, is using AI to make counseling more effective. By handling routine tasks, AI frees up Jeff’s time to connect more deeply with his students. And for Jeff, it’s not just about saving time; it’s about giving students a new kind...

Higher education marketing has reached a crossroads, and Jenny Petty knows it well. In her second appearance on *The VineDown*, Jenny, VP of Marketing Communications at the University of Montana, dives into the “perfect storm” facing higher ed—a series of shifts reshaping how colleges recruit, engage, and retain students. From demographic changes to consumer expectations, Jenny unpacks what these...

You’ve heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder,” but what are the actual steps to make this happen? This week I was joined by Jay Jacobs, Ed. D. , Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont . We chatted about how to measure work in innovative ways to truly “work smarter”, and Jay expanded on three key projects his university started: the Vendor Scorecard, Emerging Leader...

This week, I was joined by Erika Pepmeyer, MCIS , Director of Admissions at the University of Northern Colorado to chat about leading in a tech-driven world, balancing automation with human touch, and ensuring personalization and equity in AI systems. Erika, drawing from her experience as a college athlete and her work in admissions, shared how coaching behaviors continue to shape her leadership i...

This week, I invited Teege Mettille , Director of Enrollment Success at enroll ml and author of " The Admissions Counselor Malaise ", to share insights from his book and discuss how AI is transforming the admissions process. We were able to chat about the challenges faced by admissions professionals, the evolving landscape of higher education, and practical solutions for improving staff morale and...

This week I was joined by David Hatami , CEO and Founder of EduPolicy.ai , where we chatted about how AI is reshaping enrollment and institutional decisions. We covered the vital role of rules and ethics in AI and explored strategic preparations institutions must consider as the need for consistency in AI ethics across higher education continues to grow.

This week I was joined by Rakin “Rock” Hall, M.Ed. , Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ithaca College, where he shared his expertise on how to succeed in the current state of higher ed enrollment. From pivoting strategies to being an excellent goal setter for your team, Rock offered a roadmap to success in today's unpredictable landscape, providing actionable insights on turning obstacle...

This week, I was joined by Carlos O. Cano where we discussed the importance of recruiting LatinX and first-gen students and the cultural nuances that influence their educational journeys. Carlos was able to share expert insights on why it's increasingly crucial to excel in recruiting LatinX and first-gen students, especially as demographic shifts create significant challenges in student recruitmen...

This week, I was joined by Cindy Haney, Ed. D. of Lehigh Carbon Community College where we unpacked winning strategies for mastering enrollment, brand, and recruitment in your local market. This episode is all about the magic of making meaningful local connections and how partnerships with high schools and community organizations can supercharge recruitment efforts. Don't miss this chance to get t...

This week, Emily welcomed CollegeVine co-founder Vinay Bhaskara to discuss our latest innovation: the CollegeVine Brand Index . Leveraging feedback and behaviors from the 2.2 Million students and parents on our platform, this FREE tool offers colleges a unique lens on brand perception and competitor peer analysis across numerous dimensions. It's a groundbreaking resource for all colleges aiming to...

We are battling on so many fronts and enrollment is in trouble. We should be turning our attention to yield and next year’s cycle, but we can’t even package this year’s aid. This week, Geoff Baird from EnrollML joined me on the VineDown to talk about ruthlessly evaluating, breaking, and rebuilding the business process of enrollment in order to work smarter-not-harder.

Last week, our host Emily Smith explored the balance in enrollment's wild, wild west with Ericka Jackson from Wayne State University. Discover how to stay calm and collected above the surface while navigating the chaos below. Don't miss Ericka's powerful insights on managing both the visible and unseen aspects of our work.

This week on the VineDown, we dove deep into the heart of Student Search with none other than John Laverty from the University of Iowa. Tune in for an episode packed with insight about what it takes to run your Search effort in-house using the right mix of art and science.

Data informs a lot of things we do in admissions and enrollment, and it's especially important to consider data when formulating your message and positioning. This week, Ashley Miller of Old Dominion University joined the VineDown to give us some valuable insights into some simple ways you and your team can use data to drive your institutional story.

This week's show is all about transitioning to new roles both within enrollment and elsewhere. On this iteration of our Higher Ed Leaders Series, our host Emily Smith was joined by DJ Menifee to chat about the tactical strategies that people should follow as they take on a new roles. The pair also dove into the less tangible (but equally important) things like building culture as a leader, fosteri...

In this week's VineDown featuring Jennifer Lonchar, co-founder of AmbioEdu, she and our host Emily Smith will explore the power of streaming TV ads in institutional marketing. Learn how targeted advertising on streaming platforms can boost awareness and engagement for colleges and universities. In this episode the pair shared insights on implementing targeted streaming ads for higher education, st...

In this week's VineDown, Emily Smith delves into the world of higher education marketing with Jenny Petty, VP of Marketing, Comms Experience, and Engagement at the University of Montana. Petty's career journey from corporate marketing to a pivotal role in higher education underscores her pioneering approach to marketing, which emphasizes serving the community and adopting a human-centered strategy...