In this episode of Mission Admissions , host Jeremy Tiers chats with Conner Ellinghuysen about how becoming more self-aware and prioritizing self-reflection have made him a better leader. Guest Name: Conner Ellinghuysen, Director of Admissions, Buena Vista University Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connerellinghuysen/ Guest Bio: Conner Ellinghuysen has been the Director of Admissions at Buena Vista University since 2019. Before landing in Storm Lake he started his admissions journey at...
Jul 01, 2025•28 min•Ep. 68
In this episode of Mission Admissions, host Jeremy Tiers chats with Lauren Findley about her first 120 days as a first-time Vice President of Enrollment Management. Guest Name: Lauren Findley, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Texas Wesleyan University Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-findley-798ab787/ Guest Bio: Lauren Findley became the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Texas Wesleyan in February of 2025. Prior to that she served as the Director of Undergraduate...
Jun 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 67
Jeremy is joined by Hannah Downey, Social Media Strategist at the University of Wyoming, to discuss social media strategies that actually work in student recruitment, how to build buy-in and push boundaries, and more. Key Takeaways Social media offers a real-time, two-way communication channel that traditional admissions methods often lack. Prospective students—especially Gen Z—use social platforms like search engines when researching colleges. Aligning print, email, and social media creates a u...
Jun 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 66
In this quick take episode, Jeremy offers practical advice for those who have leadership and management aspirations. He talks about what it means to lead, shares skills and traits that effective leaders possess, and he outlines things you can do now to better prepare and position yourself for future opportunities. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Jeremy Tiers https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytiers/ https://twitter.com/CoachTiers About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Mission Admissions is a part of...
May 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 65
In this episode of Mission Admissions , host Jeremy Tiers chats with McKenzie Sullivan from The University of Akron about their newly designed “College 101” and “College 102” campus visit sessions specifically for first-generation students and families. Guest Name: McKenzie Sullivan, Admissions Counselor, The University of Akron Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzie-sullivan-m-ed-36051b144/ Guest Bio: McKenzie Sullivan currently serves as an admissions counselor at The University of...
May 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 64
Reece and Mickey Baines are back for their second conversation on the pod. In Episode 49 they discussed campus visits and college emails as Reece - a high school junior - was starting to develop his list of schools. With his junior year winding down, Reece and his dad Mickey share how they’ve narrowed down the list of schools Reece will apply to, and they offer more eye opening feedback about emails, parent messaging, personalization, and more! Guest Names: Reece Baines, Junior, Wilson High Scho...
Apr 22, 2025•36 min•Ep. 63
In this episode of Mission Admissions , host Jeremy Tiers chats with Bethanne Bialy, a former college admissions counselor turned high school college and career advisor. With firsthand experience on both sides of the desk, Bethanne gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to support high school students—and what college admissions teams can do to build stronger, more effective partnerships with counselors. This candid conversation unpacks the persistent challenges, communication ga...
Apr 08, 2025•28 min•Ep. 62
Jeremy Tiers sits down with Kyle Campbell, a higher ed marketing expert and sought-after speaker, to discuss the evolving role of college websites. Kyle shares insights into why traditional university websites are failing to engage Gen Z, the biggest mistakes institutions make with their content, and how colleges can reimagine their digital presence to drive conversions. If you're looking for actionable strategies to optimize your school's website and enrollment marketing strategy, this episode ...
Mar 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 61
Parents and guardians are the most influential external voices in a student’s college search. Yet, many colleges still struggle to engage them effectively. In episode 60 of the Mission Admissions podcast, Jeremy Tiers sits down with Derek Faasse from Capital University to discuss how their admissions team has transformed its approach to parent-specific engagement. From tailored communications to reimagined events, Faasse shares strategies that have increased event attendance, improved family con...
Mar 11, 2025•21 min•Ep. 60
In Episode 59 of the Mission Admissions podcast, host Jeremy Tiers sits down with Kelli Roberts to discuss her thoughts on work-life balance as a working mom and leader, emphasizing the importance of communication, asking for help, and managing your energy. Guest Name: Kelli Roberts, Director of Admission, Drury University Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-roberts-b2644b7b/ Guest Bio: Kelli Roberts currently serves as the Director of Admission at Drury University, where she also te...
Feb 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 59
In this episode Jeremy discusses the increasing trend of transfer enrollment with his guest Ben Houston. They explore the challenges and opportunities within this population, the importance of utilizing data, and the need for a supportive environment when transfer students start their journey on a new campus. Guest Name: Ben Houston, Associate Director for Transfer Admissions, University of Indianapolis Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-houston-m-a-7b23173a/ Guest Bio: Ben is th...
Feb 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 58
In Episode 57 of the Mission Admissions podcast, host Jeremy Tiers sits down with John Azoni, a video storytelling expert and owner of Unveiled, to explore how colleges and universities can leverage video content to engage prospective students. From crafting student testimonials to creating scalable video systems, this episode dives into actionable strategies for enrollment marketers to harness the power of video in an increasingly digital and visual world. If you're looking to better connect wi...
Jan 28, 2025•35 min•Ep. 57
In this quick take episode, Jeremy shares some important advice that will help admissions teams and enrollment marketers increase their school’s yield. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Jeremy Tiers https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytiers/ https://twitter.com/CoachTiers About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Mission Admissions is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-ge...
Jan 14, 2025•10 min•Ep. 56
In this episode, Jeremy and Ken Anselment talk through a variety of common situations that many leaders face each year - including retaining staff, micromanaging, giving constructive criticism, and navigating the transition from being a colleague to being someone’s boss. They also unpack why so many leaders continue to deal with imposter syndrome. Guest Name: Ken Anselment, Vice President for Enrollment Management, RHB Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenanselment/ Guest Bio: Ken Anselm...
Dec 31, 2024•44 min•Ep. 55
In this episode, newly elected 26 year old South Dakota State Senator Amber Hulse shares her thoughts on self awareness, gaining confidence, the importance of mindset and daily habits, as well as other things that have helped her grow and experience success as a young professional. Guest Name: Amber Hulse Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-hulse/ Guest Bio: Amber Hulse is a rising leader and lawyer who recently became one of the nation’s youngest legislators when she was elected to ...
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Ep. 54
In this episode, Jeremy and Dr. Matt McLendon from the University of Alabama talk about their new, state-of-the-art welcome center, and how the Crimson Tide works hard to create a memorable and immersive visit experience for prospective students and families. Guest Name: Dr. Matt McLendon, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Enrollment Management at The University of Alabama Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclendon/ Guest Bio: Dr. Matthew B. McLendon leads the Un...
Dec 03, 2024•41 min•Ep. 53
In this episode, Jeremy sits down with higher ed middle manager Stephanie Dickerson to talk about a wide-range of leadership topics including empathy, developing your leadership style, accountability, self-care, and organization. Guest Name: Stephanie Dickerson, Associate Director of Admission, University of Louisville Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-dickerson-m-a-a816779a/ Guest Bio: Stephanie Dickerson is currently in her eighth recruitment cycle with UofL. She began her ca...
Nov 19, 2024•43 min•Ep. 52
In this episode, Jeremy is joined by Chas Williams, Executive Director of Social Media for Clemson University. Chas talks about building out a content calendar, why student interns are essential - and what their interns help with - the importance of creativity and being able to pivot, quantity vs. quality, storytelling differently based on the platform, and more! Guests Name: Chas Williams, Executive Director of Social Media, Clemson University Guest LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cha...
Nov 05, 2024•36 min•Ep. 51
In this episode, Jeremy talks with hospitality expert and former Vice President of Hospitality VIP Marketing and Lifestyle VIP Services for Caesars Entertainment, Pasquale Romano Jr. They discuss the most underrated aspect of customer service, the role that empathy plays in relationship building, why a good employee experience is essential, the importance of constantly auditing the consumer experience, and more! Guests Name: Pasquale Romano Jr., Hospitality Expert & Accounts Manager, UrVenue...
Oct 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 50
I’m ending Season 3 with a unique and very insightful episode where I’m joined by Mickey Baines who works on the higher ed partner side, and his son Reece who is a high school junior. Their family recently drove up and down the east coast, visiting 12 college campuses. Hear some eye opening feedback and stories about the experiences they had, as well as how the college search process is going. Guests Names: Mickey Baines, Partner and Technology Services Practice Leader, Kennedy & Company Ree...
Aug 27, 2024•48 min•Ep. 49
This episode is the second of two where I’m joined by a rising star in Higher Ed. From a very young age Bertita Barrientos enjoyed helping others and being a leader. We talk about her path to the United States, how opportunities in college influenced her leadership style, how she ended up in college admissions, and the role that mentors have played in her growth. We also discuss the concept of work-life balance, and Bertita offers advice on recruiting Hispanic/Latinx students and families. Guest...
Aug 13, 2024•42 min•Ep. 48
Today’s episode is the first of two where I feature a rising star in Higher Ed. Hear stories about the unique journey that Ty Garricken took before landing in enrollment marketing. We also talk about where he gets his content ideas from, the importance of always having a clear call to action, dealing with failure, and more! Guest Name: Ty Garricken, Marketing Content Specialist, Ball State University Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tqgarricken/ Guest Bio: A born and raised Hoosier, T...
Jul 30, 2024•46 min•Ep. 47
In this episode, Jeremy talks with enrollment leader, Dr. Jay Jacobs. Their chat focuses on multiple aspects of professional development and management. Timestamps: 04:29 - How Jay figured out that he wanted to be a Higher Ed leader 08:43 - What does professional development mean and whose responsibility is it 13:12 - A big reason why a lot of leaders don’t invest enough in their team 17:46 - Handling feelings of isolation 20:35 - Why and how he created the Emerging Leaders Academy 27:58 - Three...
Jul 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 46
AI continues to be a hot topic in college admissions and enrollment marketing circles. On this episode, Lenell Hahn from Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) joins Jeremy to discuss how and why her admissions team is utilizing AI to help with different tasks, and she offers some thoughts on a few leadership topics. Timestamps: 07:31 - How to figure out where AI can help 10:58 - The value of a chatbot 16:50 - Other ways AI is helping SEMO team members be more efficient 19:39 - Staff development and na...
Jul 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 45
On this episode, Mandy Green joins Jeremy to talk about how ‘Magic Time,’ templates, and utilizing a daily huddle will help you (and your team) achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness each week. Timestamps: 03:45 - Why most people struggle with time management 12:45 - The concept of “Magic Time” 17:41 - The value of templates 23:07 - Incorporating the “Daily Huddle” with your team Guest Name: Mandy Green, Vice President, Tudor Collegiate Strategies Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/i...
Jun 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 44
In this Bonus announcement, join Mallory, Chief Strategist of Enrollify, as she introduces the newly relaunched Enrollify.org . This episode highlights the fresh features and content now available on the site, emphasizing Enrollify’s commitment to revolutionizing higher education. Learn about the variety of resources—from podcasts to ourses to webinars—that can help professionals make impactful changes in their careers and institutions. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Jeremy Tiers https://www.lin...
Jun 13, 2024•2 min
This episode is a conversation I had with two amazing senior leaders - Jennifer McClendon and Aaron Cook. We discuss what to look for when hiring new employees, great interview questions to ask, onboarding do’s and don’ts, strategies to develop a strong and positive team culture, and the process of letting a team member go. Timestamps: 03:52 - How to spot a higher quality applicant 09:05 - Hiring a recent grad vs. hiring the best candidate 11:55 - Favorite interview questions to ask 14:25 - Less...
Jun 04, 2024•53 min•Ep. 43
In this special cross-over episode, we dive deep into the world of creator marketing within higher education. Listen to engaging conversations from leading experts on the Enrollify network who discuss the nuances and successful strategies of utilizing creator marketing to enhance visibility and engagement for higher education institutions. Whether it's leveraging user-generated content, nurturing student creators, or recruiting influencers directly from campus, this episode offers a plethora of ...
May 22, 2024•27 min
On this episode, Lucy Coopman joins Jeremy to discuss her path to becoming an admissions counselor, and what it’s like being a Gen Z young professional recruiting Gen Z students. Timestamps: 07:41 - Something that surprised Lucy during her first few months 10:34 - Where confidence comes from 14:32 - Pros and cons of being so close in age to the students you’re recruiting 22:18 - Lunchroom visits at high schools 25:28 - Talking about financial aid with students and families 28:38 - Managing Gen Z...
May 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 42
On this episode, Drew Carr joins Jeremy for a conversation about Slate, the popular CRM that can be a game changing tool for Higher Ed admissions and enrollment marketing teams. Things you’ll hear about: 04:53 - Advice when you implement a new CRM 07:31 - Skills you need if you want to become more proficient in Slate 14:28 - How configurable joins and snippets can make your life easier 23:54 - Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to queries 29:13 - When to build a report instead of creating a query 33:...
May 07, 2024•37 min•Ep. 41
