The Higher Ed Marketer

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

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Building a university from scratch forces leaders to meet today’s needs while planning years ahead. Matthew McGee, Provost and Executive Vice President of Orlando Christian University, shares how OCU is pairing faith, accreditation, and careful planning to launch an accessible Christian higher education model. He explains why clarity builds trust, strategic church relationships strengthen enrollment, and excellence can coexist with iteration.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 How OCU’s mission grew from a need for Christian leaders

🔘 Why accreditation can strengthen a new institution from the beginning

🔘 How excellence and attention to detail help an unknown university earn trust

🔘 Why new programs need relentless clarity and intentional storytelling

🔘 How church relationships can create sustainable enrollment pathways

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Episode Highlights

00:20 - Balancing immediate needs with long-range planning

01:29 - The need that led to Orlando Christian University

06:43 - The prospective student who made the mission personal

08:31 - Using accreditation to build a stronger institution

13:25 - Keeping the face of the student at the center

15:56 - Why excellence is a practical way to earn trust

19:37 - Communicating a new institution with relentless clarity

24:23 - Building church relationships strategically and genuinely

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

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To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

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A calendar filled with other people’s priorities can quietly turn leadership into nonstop reaction. Kathy Kissane, Founder and Executive Coach at Create What’s Next Coaching, explains how higher ed leaders can reclaim space to think, lead proactively, and design the next chapter of their work. She shares a simple three-question weekly check-in that turns reflection into one concrete action.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 Why higher ed’s cycles and stakeholders intensify reactive leadership

🔘 How a leader’s calendar reveals what truly receives priority

🔘 What changes when leaders plan in decades instead of weeks

🔘 The three questions that build a proactive weekly habit

🔘 How small scheduled actions create momentum and develop others

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Episode Highlights

02:02 - Why campus leaders become trapped in reaction mode

07:09 - The personal and organizational cost of staying reactive

09:27 - Interrupting the pattern before the work fills every opening

11:08 - Treating the calendar as a leadership tool

19:06 - Kathy’s three-question weekly check-in

22:38 - Turning reflection into one scheduled next step

27:20 - Giving emerging leaders permission to lead differently

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

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Great enrollment leaders don't develop by accident. Somewhere along the way, someone invests in them, challenges them, and gives them an opportunity to grow.

After 40 years at Biola University, Greg Vaughan knows what it takes to develop the people who will lead enrollment teams into the future. Now leadingNACCAP's Leadership Development for Enrollment Professionals (LDEP) program, Greg shares why ongoing coaching matters, how to recognize and retain promising talent, and why giving someone a chance to step beyond their comfort zone might be the most important investment a leader can make.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why professional development deserves as much attention as enrollment goals.

🔘How ongoing coaching helps employees grow beyond their daily responsibilities.

🔘The importance of developing leadership competencies and retaining top performers.

🔘Practical ways to invest in professional development with limited budgets.

🔘How NACCAP's LDEP program is preparing the next generation of enrollment leaders.

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Episode Highlights

03:29 - Why leaders need guidance at every stage of their careers

05:43 - The importance of investing in people, not just enrollment numbers

08:03 - The difference between managing employees and developing leaders

11:21 - Retaining top talent and embracing courageous leadership

15:35 - Making professional development part of everyday work

19:17 - Building leadership competencies on a limited budget

25:43 - Inside NACCAP's Leadership Development for Enrollment Professionals program

33:08 - Creating career-defining opportunities for emerging leaders

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

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New leaders often feel pressure to make their mark quickly, but listening can be the most strategic first move. Dr. Aly Williams, President of Midland University, shares how 25 years at Indiana Wesleyan University and a decade in athletic training prepared her to enter a new community with curiosity. She explains how listening becomes strategy, how vocation shapes institutional distinctiveness, and why strong campus and community relationships require intentional time.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 What athletic training taught Aly about pressure, decisions, and creativity

🔘 How an institution can intentionally develop future leaders

🔘 Why a new president chose listening before major change

🔘 How personal stories help leaders uncover institutional strengths

🔘 Why mission, vocation, and community sharpen a college’s distinctiveness

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Episode Highlights

02:29 - Lessons from making decisions on the athletic sidelines

05:21 - How Indiana Wesleyan intentionally developed leaders

08:54 - Learning a campus through several different roles

11:22 - Recognizing the call to leave a familiar institution

13:12 - Why Aly devoted her first year to listening

20:21 - Two practical rules for a productive listening tour

23:09 - Connecting Midland’s success to the Fremont community

25:46 - Turning mission and vocation into meaningful distinction

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

Long-term leadership depends on knowing what each moment requires. Dr. Todd J. Williams, President and CEO of Cairn University, reflects on 18 years in the president’s chair and explains why leaders must sometimes push, pull, or pause. He shares how trust, honest self-examination, restorative practices, and patience help leaders act with wisdom without being ruled by urgency or morale alone.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 How long-term leadership creates room for iterative change

🔘 Why restorative interests are part of sustaining a calling

🔘 How to recognize when a moment calls for a push, pull, or pause

🔘 Why trust and character matter more than a leadership formula

🔘 How patience and honest motives strengthen difficult decisions

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Episode Highlights

01:48 - What 18 years at one institution makes possible

06:45 - Integrating restorative interests into a leader’s life

12:40 - Reading the moment before choosing how to lead

18:43 - Why inviting input does not guarantee agreement

22:41 - Knowing when a pause serves the outcome

26:01 - Recovering when a leader misreads the moment

38:41 - Learning that patience can be its own reward

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

Purchased-name lists are shrinking, but the right students are still out there. Dr. Donald K. Egle, Founder + Managing Director of The Kyer Group, explains how colleges can build stronger enrollment pipelines by identifying the communities where mission-fit students already gather and committing to a meaningful presence there. Drawing on 26 years of higher education leadership, Don shares why marketing, recruiting, and institutional strategy must work together. He also challenges colleges to clarify who they are, understand what their audiences truly value, and build relationships over a multi-year horizon.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 Why clarity, a compelling case, and conviction shape student decisions

🔘 How admissions teams can build relationships across a multi-year student journey

🔘 Why marketing and recruiting need coordinated strategy and boots on the ground

🔘 How colleges can earn trust within homeschool and other student communities

🔘 Why institutional alignment is essential for sustaining a multi-year enrollment strategy

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Episode Highlights

04:16 - What families want from colleges: clarity, a compelling case, and conviction

07:03 - How to make a college fair conversation about the student

11:11 - Why traditional enrollment structures struggle to keep pace

18:22 - Finding more of the right people through consistent presence

23:30 - Why LeTourneau invested deeply in homeschool networks

32:22 - Preparing your institution before searching for new watering holes

36:47 - The difference between value and appreciative value

41:35 - Building alignment around a multi-year enrollment strategy

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com, Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

Leadership is more than hitting targets. Greg Aden, Owner/Founder of Aden Leadership, explains why lasting leadership depends on serving the people who follow you and helping them take ownership of shared goals. Drawing from decades in hospitality, financial services, and executive coaching, Greg shares practical ways to create alignment, build accountability, and approach difficult conversations with courage. His advice gives higher education leaders a clear place to begin: stay curious, prepare well, honor your word, and make time for people.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 How servant leadership shifts the focus from personal performance to team success

🔘 Why alignment and communication must come before accountability

🔘 Why leaders must model the accountability they expect from others

🔘 How agreements create clearer commitments than unspoken expectations

🔘 A practical framework for preparing for courageous conversations

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Episode Highlights

01:45 - Why success and leadership are not the same thing

04:41 - Making time for people when teams are stretched thin

06:28 - Why alignment must come before accountability

09:12 - The difference between expectations and agreements

14:52 - How to prepare for a courageous conversation

21:05 - Integrity, accountability, and honoring your word

23:07 - Curiosity and empathy as practical leadership tools

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions, your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do you build a higher ed creative team that produces great work without burning out the people behind it? Paul Bross, Director of Creative Operations at Oklahoma Baptist University and brand-new host of The Higher Ed Creative Podcast, shares what he’s learned moving from filmmaking and television into higher education creative leadership. Paul explores how clear expectations, protected creative time, and stronger collaboration can help small marketing teams do better work while staying connected to enrollment and institutional goals. He also shares how his team is using AI to reduce administrative tasks, why higher ed creatives need greater support, and the vision behind The Higher Ed Creative, a new podcast for the photographers, videographers, social media professionals, and other makers shaping higher education.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘How Higher Ed creative teams can align requests, expectations, scope, and institutional strategy.

🔘Ways leaders can protect creative time and reduce burnout on small marketing teams

🔘How AI can reduce administrative tasks so creative professionals have more time to create.

🔘Why we are launching The Higher Ed Creative Podcast

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Episode Highlights

04:59 – Moving from content creator to leading a higher ed Creative Studio

08:06 – Why good creative work gets lost between concept, approvals, and completion

17:40 – The idea behind The Higher Ed Creative podcast

18:47 – Creative burnout, isolation, and retaining talented higher ed makers

21:38 – What’s on Your Desk? Paul shares the projects currently demanding his team’s attention

24:57 – Using AI to reduce administrative work instead of replacing creativity

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. ___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

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A strong institutional brand matters, but sometimes the most powerful voice belongs to the person leading it. Jerra Toms, Founder & Principal Consultant at Blue Iris Consulting, shares how presidents, deans, and other higher ed leaders can use LinkedIn to build authentic connections with students, alumni, donors, and industry partners.

Jerra breaks down how to create consistent executive content, capture a leader’s authentic voice, and turn everyday interactions into opportunities that strengthen both personal and institutional visibility.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why personal leadership content can outperform institutional messaging

🔘How busy executives can build a consistent LinkedIn presence

🔘Ways communications teams can capture a leader’s authentic voice

🔘How to find content opportunities in a leader’s existing calendar

🔘Why executive visibility can support enrollment, advancement, and reputation

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Episode Highlights

06:43 - Starting a LinkedIn strategy with just 20 to 30 minutes a week

09:48 - Finding content opportunities in an executive’s existing calendar

13:11 - Capturing an executive’s authentic voice and using AI to support the process

15:28 - Why a strong LinkedIn profile comes before a posting strategy

18:12 - A practical approach for leaders without a communications team

28:03 - The first steps leaders can take today

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

___

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

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Season 9 of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast starts next week. Zach Coffin previews the guests on deck this fall, including Jeff Selingo, Don Engle, Todd Williams, and Aly Williams and shares two pieces of news: president and author Jamie Caridi's new book The Terra Firma Way just hit #1 on Amazon, and the Higher Ed Marketer Network is adding a new show. Zach also has an invite to the ABHE Marketing & Enrollment Conference, October 6-8 in Orlando.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Jamie Caridi's new #1 Amazon bestseller, The Terra Firma Way

🔘A first look at Season 9's guest lineup

🔘A brand-new podcast joining the Higher Ed Marketer Network this October

🔘Why the ABHE Marketing & Enrollment Conference is built differently, and why spots are limited

🔘Where to catch Bart on the road this fall

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Encore Episode: Originally Aired October 2025

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Artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and each generation is approaching it differently. AI Mindset’s founder and CEO, Conor Grennan, joined by his Gen Z son, Finn, to explore how AI is influencing academic integrity, workforce readiness, and the way students engage with learning.

Rather than approaching AI with fear or hype, Conor encourages institutions to engage with it from a place of curiosity, conviction, and intentionality. This episode challenges assumptions and offers a hopeful, practical framework for integrating AI into both academic and personal formation.

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Join us as we discuss:

🔘How AI is changing the way we teach, learn, and lead

🔘The role of discipleship in shaping tech ethics

🔘Why Gen Z students expect transparency, not perfection

🔘Creating campus-wide AI literacy with joy and curiosity

🔘Using storytelling to make tech feel less intimidating
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Inside the Episode

06:14 – What it means to disciple students in the age of AI

08:50 – The danger of seeing AI as “just a tool”

13:22 – How higher ed should position itself as a moral compass

16:09 – The three pillars of AI literacy at NYU Stern

30:03 – Faith, imagination, and the opportunity ahead

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Encore Episode: Originally Aired November 2025

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Every event tells a story, but only the most intentional ones help people feel your brand. At Biola University, Tracey Harrison, who now serves as Senior Advisor to the President, shares how she redefined campus events through a framework called Eventful Branding.. This philosophy turns events from logistical tasks into meaningful, mission-driven experiences that embody the heart of an institution.

Through storytelling, hospitality, and collaboration, universities can design moments that make guests feel seen, valued, and connected to something greater. Drawing from Biola’s innovative approach, this conversation explores how to transform everything from campus tours to groundbreaking ceremonies into living expressions of your brand identity. You’ll learn how to unite marketing and events under one story, foster emotional connection with Gen Z, and build brand belief through authentic, human-centered design.

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Join us as we discuss:

🔘What Eventful Branding means and how to apply it across campus

🔘Creating immersive events that communicate mission through emotion

🔘Why hospitality is a marketing strategy, not just an act of service

🔘Building cross-departmental alignment through shared storytelling

🔘How to surprise and delight students with purpose and creativity

🔘Practical ideas for smaller institutions to elevate their event experience

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Inside the Episode

04:37 – Defining eventful branding and how it came to life at Biola

07:44 – How a film school groundbreaking became a storytelling moment

11:16 – Bringing “unreasonable hospitality” to higher ed

33:59 – How smaller schools can create big emotional impact

37:58 – Transforming campus visits into emotional brand experiences

46:48 – Building brand belief through meaningful human connection

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Encore Episode: Originally Aired March 2026

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What happens when a university website becomes a cluttered “junk drawer” instead of a clear, welcoming first impression? Paul Garner, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Western Carolina University, shares how his team transformed a confusing, overloaded website into a true digital front door that reflects the student experience and institutional story. This conversation unpacks how thoughtful leadership, trust, and alignment can turn a fragmented digital presence into something purposeful, intuitive, and mission-driven.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 Why “attention is king” in modern higher ed marketing

🔘 Lessons from transitioning into higher ed from the private sector

🔘 Building trust across campus before launching major initiatives

🔘 Navigating website redesigns as change management, not just tech projects

🔘 How to align stakeholders around a student-first digital experience

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Episode Highlights

02:03 – Transitioning into higher ed and culture shock

07:20 – Building trust through presence and authenticity

10:06 – Why the website redesign was necessary

12:00 – The real challenge, people not technology

13:30 – Creating buy-in across campus stakeholders

15:35 – Moving to a student-first website strategy

22:00 – Leadership growth during major transitions

24:30 – Post-launch challenges and holding the line

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This summer series of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://NextGrad.com — Where students see you first.

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Enrollment growth rarely comes from one big idea. James Steen, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Houston Christian University, shares how HCU grew from 268 freshmen to a trajectory of more than 1,100 by methodically improving every stage of the enrollment funnel. He explains how the university's name change expanded its reach, how direct admission partnerships flip the traditional recruitment process, and why media in local high schools create a new opportunity to build awareness before students ever inquire.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why sustainable enrollment growth depends on improving hundreds of small details across the funnel

🔘What Houston Christian University learned from changing its name after 60 years

🔘How guaranteed admission partnerships turn qualified high school seniors into applicants

🔘Why in-school media helps institutions reach students before the traditional funnel begins

🔘How to measure brand awareness through applications, conversions, admits, and enrollment

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Episode Highlights

05:10 How HCU grew from 268 freshmen toward a class of more than 1,100

13:40 Why Texas' school phone restrictions made in-school digital billboards more valuable

18:40 Creating motion ads and dedicated landing pages for students walking between classes

22:36 Connecting early brand awareness to application growth and downstream enrollment

24:28 Why more inquiries only matter when conversion and completion rates improve

28:29 Using school-level STEM data to target engineering scholarship campaigns

30:07 Why enrollment leaders must keep testing, measuring, and pivoting

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

___

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This summer series of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://NextGrad.com — Where students see you first.

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As technology continues to transform how students search for colleges, trust has become higher education's greatest competitive advantage. Derek Riordan, Digital Marketing Strategist at Southeast Missouri State University, shares how institutions can build authentic brand influence through strategic storytelling, AI-ready content, and meaningful student experiences that earn confidence long before application season.

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🎧 What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why trust is becoming the foundation of higher education marketing

🔘How early brand influence shapes enrollment decisions years before students apply

🔘The growing role of AI, SEO, and Answer Engine Optimization in college search

🔘Why storytelling and student outcomes must work together to strengthen enrollment marketing

🔘Practical strategies for creating authentic campaigns that resonate with students, parents, and AI search tools

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🎙️ Episode Highlights

01:10 Why universities must build trust in an AI-driven enrollment environment

11:32 How SEMO is preparing for AI search with SEO-focused content and blogs

13:55 Creating highly specific content that matches how students search with AI

15:20 Using AI as a productivity tool without sacrificing authentic human connection

25:38 Why authentic student experiences must match institutional marketing promises

27:21 Derek's advice for enrollment marketers, build brand awareness early and create integrated campaigns

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This summer series of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://NextGrad.com — Where students see you first.

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Higher education has no shortage of great stories, but too many institutions struggle to tell them in ways that capture attention and build long-term trust.

Dave Murray, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Ferris State University, shares how his career as a press secretary and journalist shaped a newsroom mindset that has transformed how Ferris communicates with prospective students, alumni, and the media. From creating one newsworthy story every day to building authentic relationships with reporters, Dave explains why consistent storytelling is one of the most powerful enrollment and reputation strategies an institution can adopt.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why higher education should think like a newsroom instead of a press office.

🔘How daily storytelling strengthens institutional reputation over time.

🔘The role of photography, human interest, and career outcomes in effective storytelling.

🔘How NextGrad and other marketing channels reinforce earned media and enrollment success.

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Episode Highlights

08:20 The newsroom formula for stories reporters will publish

13:55 Why one quality story every day changes institutional visibility

19:10 Building reputation before a crisis happens

22:05 Connecting storytelling, enrollment marketing, and the NextGrad strategy

26:10 Building trusted relationships with local media

29:20 Why the best stories happen outside your office
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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This summer series of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

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What if the biggest opportunity to influence prospective students happens long before they ever become an inquiry? Harrison “Soup” Campbell, Chief Growth Officer at NextGrad, joins us to discuss why colleges and universities need to rethink traditional enrollment marketing strategies. Drawing on his experience in admissions leadership and his new executive role at NextGrad, Soup explains why building brand awareness inside high schools is becoming one of the most effective ways to connect with future students.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why colleges should begin building relationships with students well before their junior and senior years.

🔘How in-school media is creating new opportunities for authentic brand awareness.

🔘Why digital marketing alone is no longer enough in an AI-driven landscape.

🔘How NextGrad helps colleges reach students where they spend their time every day.

🔘Practical Advice for building a long-term enrollment marketing strategy.

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Episode Highlights

01:15 - Soup shares his unconventional journey from educator to higher education leader.

08:00 - Why colleges need to prioritize awareness before the inquiry stage.

11:20 - Research showing how early brand awareness influences college applications.

16:00 - How NextGrad's in-school media network helps colleges reach students every day.

19:00 - Why high schools remain one of the most valuable environments for student engagement.

22:15 - The growing impact of AI on digital advertising and why marketers should diversify their outreach.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This summer series of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

http://Nextgrad.com — Where students see you first.

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The Higher Ed Marketer community has reached an incredible milestone, 250 podcast episodes and more than 125,000 downloads. In this special update, Zach Coffin celebrates the people who have made the podcast possible while sharing an exciting look ahead at what's coming this summer and fall. From a sneak peek at NextGrad's upcoming summer series to new resources tailored for higher education leadership, this episode offers a look ahead at the future of The Higher Ed Marketer. Join us as we share an exciting preview.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 Celebrating 250 podcast episodes and 125,000 downloads.

🔘A preview of the upcoming NextGrad Summer Series.

🔘How NextGrad is helping institutions reach prospective students inside high schools.

🔘A first look at a brand new Higher Ed Marketer podcast launching this fall.

🔘An introduction to an upcoming Higher Ed Press book focused on institutional renewal and leadership.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and website needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 252 (4 of 4)

In this special mini-series, Bart Caylor explores the intersection of faith and higher education through conversations with influential Christian university leaders from across the country. Recorded live at the 2026 CCCU International Forum.

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Dr. Drew Flamm, President of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary, shares how Grace is leaning into execution, team dynamics, and the distinct identity of Winona Lake, Indiana, to build enrollment momentum. From reducing unnecessary meetings to using technology for human connection, Drew offers a practical look at how Christian colleges can stop chasing sameness and start making their local context a core part of their brand.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why execution matters just as much as strategy in enrollment growth.

🔘How creative marketing and operational discipline can strengthen each other.

🔘Why local community engagement can become a powerful differentiator.

🔘How technology can free teams to focus on human connection.

🔘What strong cabinet teams do to better support the president and institutional goals.

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Episode Highlights

02:30 - Drew’s journey from advancement and enrollment to the presidency

06:10 - How execution, planning, and the right people are driving enrollment growth

09:20 - Selling what is unique instead of trying to attract everyone

16:10 - Using technology to protect meaningful human connection

18:40 - How Grace moved from town-and-gown distance to community partnership

26:10 - Centers of excellence and research that creates local impact

30:20 - How cabinet leaders can best support their president

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Faith Leaders Mini-Series - Episode 251 (3 of 4)

In this special mini-series, Bart Caylor explores the intersection of faith and higher education through conversations with influential Christian university leaders from across the country. Recorded live at the CCCU International Forum, each episode highlights how faith-driven leadership is shaping the future of higher education.

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Phil Cook, President of Lee University, shares what it has been like returning to his alma mater to serve in the presidency after years of enrollment leadership and national service in Christian higher education. From his “Presidential Uber” golf cart rides to conversations about mission clarity and spiritual hunger among today’s students, Phil offers a candid look at leadership rooted in authenticity, calling, and deep care for students.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘Why mission clarity is essential for thriving Christian institutions.

🔘How authentic leadership builds trust with students and campus communities.

🔘Why today’s students are hungry for genuine spiritual formation.

🔘The role enrollment leadership plays in presidential leadership.

🔘How storytelling and visibility can strengthen Christian higher education.

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Episode Highlights

02:15 - Returning to lead your alma mater and navigating presidential transition

06:40 - The story behind Lee University’s “Presidential Uber”

11:05 - Why authentic leadership matters more than performative leadership

14:18 - Bringing enrollment passion and student focus into the presidency

19:10 - How podcasting and storytelling help strengthen institutional visibility

23:42 - Why students are hungry for authentic spiritual formation

27:15 - Mission clarity, message consistency, and thriving institutions

31:20 - Leadership advice on handling difficult decisions with conviction and grace

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered byCaylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orour website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

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The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See https://ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.