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PODCAST

Higher Ed Pulse

Mallory Willsea

Higher Ed Pulse is your weekly no-fluff guide to AI in higher ed. Higher ed leaders are expected to master AI overnight. But let’s be real — no one has time to sift through every headline, hot take, or research report. That’s why every Monday, we break down what actually matters — fast, clear, and to the point. Want to sound like the smartest person in the room? You’re in the right place. Higher Ed Pulse is hosted by Mallory Willsea and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

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All Episodes

00:27:00

Higher Ed Needs Leaders Who Are Used to Disruption

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/10/05

Mallory speaks with Zach Hosseini, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for University Relations at Pace University, about navigating public mistrust in higher education. Despite declining national confidence in the sector, Zach explains why Pace is boldly launching a new brand during "Awesome October". They discuss strategies for breaking out of higher ed's "doom loop," embracing industry disruption, and supporting rising leadership. Finally, Zach previews his programming for the Senior

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00:22:36

Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 2

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/10/01

What Do We Really Need? Part 2: We Need Better LeadsWe need better leads sounds like a diagnosis. In higher education enrollment marketing, it can also become the easiest explanation when applications, deposits, yield, or student fit are not where an institution needs them to be. The real issue may be hiding somewhere else in the prospective student journey.In the second episode of What Do We Really Need, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Jen Johnson, Ologie's Chief Client Officer,

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00:30:35

Inside the Index Tracking 200K Student Prompts

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/28

Register for the AI Engage SummitMallory sits down with Granit Doshlaku, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Manaferra, to discuss the findings from Manifera's AI Index, which analyzed 200,000 prompts to reveal how AI search engines recommend institutions. Granit explores the role of domain authority, Reddit, and third-party mentions in shaping AI-generated answers, emphasizing that solid SEO fundamentals and off-site brand presence remain crucial for institutional visibility in AI

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00:22:37

Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 1

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/24

“We need this to go viral” sounds like a clear request. In higher education marketing, though, it can point to several very different goals. Does the institution need greater brand awareness? More engagement from prospective students? More qualified leads? A newsworthy moment? Or does someone simply want to see a bigger number on the social media report?In the first episode of What Do We Really Need?, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Alicia Camden, Ologie’s Associate Vice President

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00:39:45

What Rising CMOs Are Rarely Taught

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/21

Mallory welcomes back Jenny Petty, Vice President Industry Relations and Advisory Services SimpsonScarborough, and Marina Cooper, Head of Brand and Marketing at The Johns Hopkins University, to introduce the Next Leader Experience (NLE) program at the upcoming AMA conference in Denver. Designed for rising higher education marketing leaders, NLE bridges critical skill gaps in leadership, financial acumen, cabinet dynamics, strategic planning, and team management.Related Links:2026 AMA Next Leader

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00:21:53

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert,...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/17

In the final part of this Pulse Check series, Host Michele Ehrhart welcomes Jason Cook, Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at Baylor University, to discuss how a college degree represents far more than a certificate—it encompasses personal, spiritual, and character growth, alongside critical thinking and leadership. In an era increasingly shaped by AI, human connection and complex problem-solving become key differentiators. Together, they explore how higher

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00:30:56

Should Colleges Be on Snapchat?

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/14

Mallory sits down with Erik Toedt, new business leader at Snapchat, to discuss how higher education institutions can effectively reach 13- to 18-year-olds amidst tightening platform ad restrictions. Erik shares valuable lessons from his previous work at TikTok in travel and quick-service dining, emphasizing the power of organic content, strategic retargeting, and authentic, unpolished creative. Learn why institutions must venture beyond traditional platforms, step out of their comfort zones, and

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00:22:32

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert,...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/10

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check Series, host Michele Ehrhart is joined by Tom Addonoizio, Vice President for University Communications & Chief Marketing Officer, to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence in academia and the workforce. They discuss how AI acts as a productivity tool rather than a job replacement, highlighting the growing importance of human success skills like adaptability, collaboration, and critical interpretation.- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea

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00:31:39

Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/08

In this final episode of our pulse check series, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, Faton Sopa talks with Mark Hatton, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Webster Geneva Campus, to discuss the evolving landscape of international student recruitment and how digital platforms and AI are shifting how students research colleges. Mark emphasizes that despite the rise of online tools, personal relationships with global referral partners and face-to-face connections remain critical in building

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00:36:11

How to Make the Case for Your Best Idea

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/07

Mallory is joined by Natalie Gleason, VP of Marketing at Portico, to discuss the critical skill of building internal advocacy for new ideas. They explore why change efforts often stall under committee governance and how to overcome these hurdles by crafting solid business cases, anticipating stakeholder objections, and obtaining early voice-of-customer proof. Natalie shares insights from launching Portico’s new community initiative, offering practical advice on managing resources, executing

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00:26:02

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert,...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/09/03

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Michele Ehrhart talks with Merianne Roth, Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Communication at Texas Christian University, to explore why a college education offers value far beyond financial ROI, highlighting the development of essential "success skills" like leadership, critical thinking, and identity formation. Merianne outlines how TCU is navigating AI through its AI Squared initiative and ethical use policies, and they also explore the importance of workforce

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00:30:50

What Comes After CMO?

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/31

Mallory is joined by Rob Zinkan, founder of Navigate Gray, to discuss the career trajectories of higher education chief marketing officers. While corporate CMOs often advance to executive roles like COO or CEO, higher ed CMOs frequently face limited upward pathways, often moving laterally to other campuses or exiting the sector entirely. Rob shares insights from analyzing nearly 100 organizational charts, highlighting the need for institutions to intentionally integrate marketing leaders into core

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00:26:50

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert,...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/27

In the debut episode of this new Pulse Check Series hosted by Michele Ehrhart, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the University of Memphis, we are joined by Dave Martel from the University of Virginia to discuss the true impact of college. Both first-generation graduates reflect on higher education as a fundamental pathway to a better life beyond simple financial ROI. Together, they explore how higher education fosters essential success skills, navigates the integration of AI tools, and

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00:29:49

How AI Decides Which University Has the Best Alumni...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/24

Mallory interviews Kim Infanti, Executive Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Syracuse University. Kim discusses launching Ask Orange Alumni, an AI-powered platform that connects students with alumni mentors while keeping human relationships central, and they explore how AI tools frequently pull alumni network information from public sites like Reddit instead of institutional websites.AI Visibility in Higher Education Recommendations - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea

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00:41:58

Video Without a Plan Is Wasted Money

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/17

Mallory welcomes Phil DiMartino and Marisa Uluski from 5 Tool Productions to explore how higher education institutions can transform video from a simple production line item into an effective marketing strategy.- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willseahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows

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00:31:09

Is Higher Ed Deploying AI Backwards?

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/10

Mallory is joined by Amy Still from ZeeMee and Paul Garner from Western Carolina University to dissect new data regarding student perceptions of AI in the admissions process. With insights drawn from over 12,000 students, the discussion highlights a critical boundary: while students embrace AI for personal research and low-stakes reminders, they remain deeply skeptical of its role in high-stakes interactions. As students move deeper into the enrollment funnel, the demand for human connection

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00:34:10

Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/06

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check series, host Faton Sopa sits down with Stephanie Geyer, associate vice president for marketing and brand strategy at the University of Montana, to explore the evolving student journey. The conversation challenges the common practice of organizing university websites around institutional bureaucracy rather than student decision-making, emphasizing that digital strategies must prioritize the user's perspective.Guest Name: Stephanie Geyer, AVP of Marketing and Brand

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00:33:52

What Your Chief of Staff Knows That You Don't

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/08/03

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff at Occidental College, and Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff at Hamilton College, join Mallory to discuss the inaugural Chief of Staff Summit, where 50 higher-ed chiefs of staff met at Colorado College in Colorado Springs for closed-door, case-based peer problem solving. They explain the chief of staff role varies widely by president and institution, often centering on supporting decision-making, execution, and human impacts. Summit topics included cabinet politics,

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00:39:14

Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey...

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/07/30

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, host Faton Sopa is joined by guest Robert Kadar to dismantle the outdated reliance on traditional marketing funnels in higher education and highlight a critical industry misalignment.Guest Name: Robert M. Kadar, Senior Director of Marketing, Yeshiva University Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkadar Guest Bio: Robert Kadar is a higher education marketing leader with more than fifteen years of experience across

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00:31:09

Higher Ed's Hero Cycle

Higher Ed Pulse ·

2026/07/27

Mallory hosts Higher Ed Pulse with guest Jenn Hayes, Associate Dean for Marketing & Communications at Cardozo School of Law in New York, to discuss higher ed’s recurring “hero” cycle: hiring passionate leaders to rebuild broken systems, celebrating visible wins, and then losing them to burnout.Related Links: New CUPA-HR Survey Results Shed Light on Employee Retention in Higher Education CMOs Are Staying in the Job (Slightly) LongerKnowledge loss induced by organizational member turnover: a review

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