This episode is number three in our Enrollment Rx: Strategies to Fill Your Funnel , a four-part series focused on diagnosing and treating common enrollment pipeline challenges. As fall reveals how well your funnel is performing, we’ll help you optimize lead generation, nurture flows, and student engagement. Tune in for essential tactics and insights to boost enrollment outcomes this cycle. Episode 216 - Originally aired March 2024 Dave Hunt is now the Executive Creative Director at Old Dominion....
Aug 19, 2025•47 min
This episode (2 of 4) is part of Enrollment Rx: Strategies to Fill Your Funnel , a four-part series focused on diagnosing and treating common enrollment pipeline challenges. As fall reveals how well your funnel is performing, we’ll help you optimize lead generation, nurture flows, and student engagement. Tune in for essential tactics and insights to boost enrollment outcomes this cycle. Episode 215 - Originally aired Feb 2022 Nate Jorgensen is now the Senior Director of Marketing at Miami Univer...
Aug 12, 2025•28 min
This episode (1 of 4) is part of Enrollment Rx: Strategies to Fill Your Funnel , a four-part series focused on diagnosing and treating common enrollment pipeline challenges. As fall reveals how well your funnel is performing, we’ll help you optimize lead generation, nurture flows, and student engagement. Tune in for essential tactics and insights to boost enrollment outcomes this cycle. Episode 214 - Originally aired March 2023 Enrollment marketing teams face new challenges every day as they wor...
Aug 05, 2025•37 min
Episode 213 ZeeMee Summer Series - Week 4 of 4 In this episode, we talk with Sacha Thieme, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Admissions at Indiana University Bloomington. Sacha shares how her team is rethinking student engagement long before day one on campus. From building community at scale to partnering across departments like First Year Experience, Sacha walks us through how IU is creating connection and clarity for thousands of students. She also dives into how data and di...
Jul 29, 2025•41 min
ZeeMee Summer Series - Week 3 of 4 Building community is your new enrollment strategy. In this episode, Bart Caylor sits down with Vanessa Didyk, CEO of ZeeMee, to explore how student-driven community is transforming the enrollment funnel. Vanessa shares the story behind ZeeMee’s evolution and why today’s students crave authentic peer connections long before they set foot on campus. From real-time behavioral signals to predictive modeling, the conversation reveals how community engagement isn’t ...
Jul 23, 2025•34 min
ZeeMee Summer Series - Week 2 Episode 211 Dr. James Steen, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Houston Christian University, shares how his team is flipping the traditional admissions funnel on its head. We discuss the challenges facing enrollment leaders today, and why HCU launched a bold Guaranteed Admission Program to simplify access and better serve Gen Z students. Dr. Steen unpacks how storytelling, early community-building, and the right use of technology (like ZeeMee...
Jul 15, 2025•36 min
Welcome to the ZeeMee Summer Series! Episode 210 In this episode of The Higher Ed Marketer , Dr. Jay Jacobs, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont, shares how bold innovation and cross-campus collaboration are transforming the student journey. From launching the Vermont Pitch Challenge to building internal talent through the Emerging Leaders Academy, Dr. Jacobs outlines a vision for enrollment that’s strategic, student-centered, and digitally fluent. He also undersc...
Jul 08, 2025•50 min
The Higher Ed Marketer is heating things up this summer with a special series you won’t want to miss. Powered by our friends at ZeeMee! We’re bringing you four fresh episodes featuring standout voices in higher ed: Jay Jacobs (University of Vermont), James Steen (Houston Christian University), Sacha Thieme (Indiana University Bloomington), and ZeeMee CEO, Vanessa Didyk. Whether you’re lakeside relaxing or road-tripping to recruit, these episodes are your perfect summer companion. We’ll dive deep...
Jul 01, 2025•3 min
The Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 209 (4 of 4) In the last episode of the Higher Ed Marketer podcast's Faith Leaders Series we speak with Dondi Costin, president of Liberty University, about the intersection of Christian faith and higher education. They discuss the importance of leadership in maintaining the mission of the university, the role of spiritual formation in education, and the need for clarity in mission to avoid drift. Costin shares insights from his military background and cha...
Jun 25, 2025•37 min
Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 208 (3 of 4) In this special mini-series, Bart Caylor and Zach Coffin (VP of The Higher Ed Marketer and Pastor) explore the intersection of faith and higher education. Each week they engage in meaningful conversations with Christian higher ed leaders from across the country. In this week's episode of The Higher Ed Marketer , Dr. David Hoag, President of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), joins us to unpack the real story behind Chris...
Jun 17, 2025•36 min
Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 207 (2 of 4) In this special mini-series, Bart Caylor and Zach Coffin (VP of The Higher Ed Marketer and Pastor) explore the intersection of faith and higher education. Each week they engage in meaningful conversations with Christian higher ed leaders from across the country. This week they’re joined by Dr. Phil Cook, President of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP). With over 30 years of experience in enrollment and lea...
Jun 10, 2025•39 min
Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 206 (1 of 4) In this special mini-series, Bart Caylor and Zach Coffin (VP of The Higher Ed Marketer) explore the intersection of faith and higher education. Each week of this series they have thoughtful discussions with a Christian Higher Ed leader from across the country. This week they are joined by Dr. Philip Dearborn, President of The Association for Biblical Higher Ed (ABHE). Philip unpacks the evolving landscape of Christian higher education, emphasizing...
Jun 03, 2025•41 min
We’re thrilled to announce the Faith Leaders Mini Series —a special four-week series of episodes focused on the unique opportunities, challenges, and innovations within Christian higher education . Hosted by Bart Caylor and joined by guest co-host Zach Coffin, VP of The Higher Ed Marketer, this series features conversations with influential leaders from across the country and around the world. Together, they explore how faith and mission shape enrollment, advancement, leadership, and campus cult...
May 27, 2025•3 min
In this conversation, Jeff Salyer, shares insights from his recent transition into Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Lee University. He draws parallels between ultra running and the challenges of enrollment, emphasizing the need for effective communication and listening to stakeholders. Jeff also highlights the significance of engaging with external partners and the power of storytelling in shaping the university's brand and connecting with prospective students. 🎧 Listen to Learn: ...
May 20, 2025•40 min
Bonus Episode Alert 🚨 We’re closing out Season 6 with something special. In next week’s bonus episode , Dr. Jeff Salyer—VP for Enrollment and Marketing at Lee University—joins us to talk about endurance, storytelling, and the future of student engagement. This short update from Zach Coffin, VP of The Higher Ed Marketer, includes a sneak peek of what’s ahead. Shoutout to our friends at ZeeMee for making this bonus episode possible. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it! -- Bonus Episo...
May 13, 2025•3 min
Season 6 - Episode 204 In this episode, Dr. Gayle D. Beebe, President of Westmont College, joins us for a candid conversation about leading through adversity and staying anchored in mission when everything feels uncertain. Drawing from more than 30 years in higher education — and nearly two decades as a college president — Dr. Beebe shares hard-won insights on how character, emotional intelligence, and moral clarity shape resilient leadership. We dive into his early “crucible moments,” the strat...
Apr 29, 2025•42 min
Season 6 - Episode 203 In this episode, we sit down with Tina Miller from Arizona State University to explore how ASU is boldly embracing AI—not just as a tool, but as a campus-wide transformation strategy. We also dig into their groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI and the creation of ChatGPT EDU, a major step toward reshaping how students and educators interact with AI. Tina unpacks the difference between AI literacy and fluency, and why both matter for preparing students for the future work...
Apr 22, 2025•38 min
Season 6 - Episode 202 Is your university truly prepared for a crisis—and is that plan ready to activate when it matters most? In this conversation, Mike Thomas, Vice President for Integrated Marketing Communications at Pepperdine University, explores the vital role of gratitude, crisis communication, and the Emergency Operations Committee in navigating crises like wildfires. He underscores the power of authentic brand messaging and the university’s deep commitment to caring for its students in ...
Apr 15, 2025•36 min
Season 6 - Episode 201 In this episode, Carol Keese, VP and CMP at University of Oregon, challenges traditional higher ed marketing norms and invites institutions to let go of exclusivity and lean into authenticity. Drawing on her extensive experience, she unpacks how colleges and universities can better communicate their value by focusing on accessibility, data-informed strategy, and real-world relevance. Carol also explores the power of student influencers, the role of pop culture in brand sto...
Apr 08, 2025•38 min
Season 6 - Episode 200 What happens when one of the most respected voices in higher ed marketing takes on one of the country’s largest and most tradition-rich institutions? In our 200th episode, Ethan Braden shares his bold vision for Texas A&M University—why he said yes to the role, how he’s reimagining its brand on a national scale, and what it takes to lead marketing at a university with 600,000 alumni and 80,000 students. Ethan reveals how A&M is shifting from an internal story to a ...
Apr 01, 2025•40 min
Season 6 - Episode 199 Is higher ed marketing building real connections, or just making a lot of noise? We sit down with Jaime Hunt, Founder & President of Solve Higher Ed Marketing and author of the newly released Heart Over Hype , to explore how empathy-driven marketing can revolutionize the way universities engage with their audiences. Jaime unpacks how schools can move beyond transactional messaging to create authentic, student-first marketing that truly resonates. We dive into the power...
Mar 24, 2025•38 min
Season 6 - Episode 198 Why does no one read your university emails? Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds, co-authors of Mailed It! , join us to break down the biggest mistakes higher ed marketers make—and how to fix them. In this episode, we get tactical about what actually works in email marketing for enrollment, advancement, and alumni engagement. From crafting subject lines that get clicks to making emails feel more personal (without being creepy), Ashley and Dayana share practical, real-world stra...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min
Season 6, Episode 197 Too often in higher ed, finance, marketing, and enrollment teams operate in silos, creating roadblocks to sustainable growth. Steven Rutt, Chief Revenue Officer at Abilene Christian University, joins us to break down why alignment between these teams is crucial—and how to make it happen. In this conversation, Steven shares why more universities should rethink the CRO role, how to bridge the gap between finance and marketing, and what it takes to build a true growth culture ...
Mar 11, 2025•41 min
Session 6 - Episode 196 In this episode of The Higher Ed Marketer , Bryce Hoffman , VP and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) , shares insights from his transition into the CMO role and the evolving landscape of higher ed marketing. He reflects on generational shifts in communication , the challenges of leadership, and the role of trust and creativity in making a real impact. Let’s dive into the importance of building relationships with campus l...
Mar 04, 2025•44 min
Season 6 - 195 How can colleges adapt to shifting demographics and enrollment challenges? In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Taylor, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Defiance College, to explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining students. Jeremy shares how understanding market dynamics, leveraging data, and aligning recruitment efforts with institutional mission can drive enrollment success. He also highlights key initiatives like tuition reduction and community ...
Feb 25, 2025•45 min
Season 6 - Episode 194 How do you foster a culture of innovation in higher ed marketing? In this episode, we sit down with Matt Metzger, Chief Marketing Officer at Grace College, to explore the institution’s rebranding journey and the launch of Grace Solutions. Matt shares how his team is embracing fresh marketing strategies, overcoming challenges, and driving engagement through bold, community-focused initiatives. From creative storytelling to student-centered branding, this conversation is pac...
Feb 18, 2025•34 min
Season 6 - 193 with Jenny Li Fowler What does it take to build a thriving, engaged social media presence—without relying on paid promotions? In this episode of The Higher Ed Marketer , we sit down with Jenny Li Fowler, Director of Social Media Strategy at MIT and author of Organic Social Media , to uncover the secrets behind organic social media success. Jenny shares her 6M Framework for social media strategy, how to create content that truly resonates, and practical steps institutions can take ...
Feb 11, 2025•47 min
~33 minutes (at 1.5x speed) Ed Wright, VP of Enrollment at Lebanon Valley College, explores the evolving landscape of higher education and the challenges of enrollment management. He shares insights on innovation in a copycat industry and the importance of communication and relationships. As a parent, Ed reflects on guiding his son through college choices, from selecting a major to navigating campus visits. He highlights LVC’s 'build your own visit' model and the impact of personalized, interact...
Dec 17, 2024•46 min
In this episode, we’re joined by Jeff Ebbing, former NCMPR president and the current Director of Marketing and Communications at Southeastern Community College. Jeff brings a wealth of experience and a passion for showcasing the unique strengths of community colleges. He shares how authentic connections with students can transform lives and dives into marketing strategies that not only engage diverse populations but also empower non-traditional students to feel confident in their educational jou...
Dec 10, 2024•37 min
In this episode of The Higher Ed Marketer , we welcome Dr. Steve Lennox, President of Kingswood University, to explore the bold vision and mission that led to the launch of Kingswood Learn . Designed to provide high-quality, free micro-courses in discipleship and leadership development, Kingswood Learn is a groundbreaking platform that strengthens the church while creating new opportunities for Kingswood University. Dr. Lennox shares the inspiration, the challenges faced during its development, ...
Dec 03, 2024•36 min
