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Higher Ed Pulse: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
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- 1 weeks ago25 min
Is Your Social Data Driving Decisions?
Mallory is joined by Perry Rockwood, Social Media Manager at BYU-Idaho, to explore how his team uses weekly engagement data like saves and shares to shape content strategy. Perry shares insights on shifting away from shallow metrics, making tough decisions to cut low-performing faculty series, and leveraging student-generated TikTok content to build trust and authenticity. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago24 min
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 5
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 5: We Need to Be Bolder“We need to be bolder” can mean something different to everyone reviewing a higher education marketing campaign. Before a team can act on that feedback, it needs to understand what the institution wants to change and what it is prepared to stand behind.In the final episode of What Do We Really Need?, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Doug Edwards, Ologie’s Chief Strategy Officer, about turning that request into useful direction. Doug explains how the conversation changes depending on whether an institution is tired of its current messaging, has outgrown its brand, or needs to respond to a changing market.Erin and Doug explore why a familiar story may still be taking root with audiences even as the marketing team grows bored with it. They also discuss the tension between competing institutional priorities and how finding their overlap can lead to stronger creative work. Through Ologie’s work with the University of Maryland’s Forward fundraising campaign, they consider how an institution can build on existing pride while giving donors a clear reason to invest in what comes next.The conversation closes with specificity and accountability. A concrete promise gives people something they can understand, experience, and evaluate. Doug offers a useful starting point for bolder work: make the institution’s ambitions clear, show the evidence behind them, and connect their impact to everyday life.Guest Name: Doug Edwards, Chief Strategy Officer at OlogieGuest Social: Doug’s LinkedInGuest Bio: Doug Edwards is Chief Strategy Officer at Ologie, where he helps colleges and universities clarify what they want to be known for and bring that direction into their marketing. With a background in visual communication design, he approaches strategy through curiosity, research, and creative problem-solving. His work connects institutional ambitions with the stories and experiences that make them meaningful to audiences, including Ologie’s work on the University of Maryland’s Forward fundraising campaign. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago29 min
The Alumni Program That Measured Joy
Mallory speaks with Anna Mottice, Director for Advancement Operations and Strategic Engagement at Antioch University, to explore the key insights Anna learned from overhauling alumni engagement at OHSU Foundation, including applying hospitality principles and experience design inspired by theater and consumer brands. She discusses navigating resistance from legacy donors, phasing major programmatic changes over three years, and redefining success around metrics like pride and joy. Tune in to discover how starting small with intentional touchpoints creates momentum for lasting institutional change. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago25 min
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 4
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 3: We Need to Make This More Fun“We need to make this more fun” is familiar feedback in higher education marketing. The information is there, but something still feels missing. How do you figure out what would make a prospective student want to spend time with it?In episode four of What Do We Really Need?, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Nathan Thornton, Ologie’s Senior Vice President of Creative, about making marketing more engaging. Nathan also designs board games, where people can walk away the moment they stop enjoying themselves. He shares how that experience shapes his approach to earning attention and giving students a reason to take the next step.Erin and Nathan explore how to turn “make it more fun” into useful creative direction by asking whether the work is clear, distinct, and interesting. They discuss why a single recruitment piece shouldn’t carry the entire enrollment decision, how conversational language brings humanity into an institution’s brand, and why a specific student story can resonate beyond someone’s major.The conversation closes with a prospective student weighing two colleges and asking one unexpected question: does the dining hall have a soft serve ice cream machine? For enrollment and brand marketers, it’s a reminder to pay attention to the everyday details that help students picture their lives on campus. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago29 min
Does AI Traffic Actually Convert Better in Higher Ed?
Register for the AI Engage Summit this OctoberMallory chats with Nick DeNardis, Senior Director of Digital Experience and Innovation at Wayne State University, about how AI-driven search traffic behaves differently on higher education websites. They examine real university data showing that visitors arriving via AI assistants engage deeper, move faster to conversion steps, and heavily rely on data-rich pages like the university bulletin. Tune in to learn why institutions must rethink digital strategy, optimize comprehensive single-page content, and prepare web properties for both human visitors and automated AI agents.Related Links:Everspring, 2025 AI Search Trends Report AI Referral Traffic vs Organic Search: Conversion Rates and Performance Compared 2026 AI Search Traffic Report: ChatGPT's Grip Slipped, Claude & Gemini Are Surging AI Traffic Conversion Benchmarks: Why AI Visitors Are 4-6x More Valuable Than Organic AI Referral Traffic Stats 2026 The State of AI Search in 2026: 150+ Statistics - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago30 min
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 3
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 3: We Need More Student Stories“We need more student stories” can sound like a request for more content. But when colleges keep featuring the students who are easiest to find and most comfortable speaking on camera, publishing more stories may still leave prospective students with a limited picture of campus life.In the third episode of What Do We Really Need?, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Chevonne Harris, Ologie’s Vice President of Strategy and the founder and CEO of ThriveIn, about how institutions decide whose experiences to share. Drawing on her background in journalism and her work building a community for Black Gen Z and millennial women, Chevonne asks what colleges hope their student stories will accomplish and whether the stories they choose reflect what students actually experience.The conversation looks at the difference between showing a range of students and helping prospective students understand what belonging feels like. Erin and Chevonne discuss why institutions often return to engaged students and ambassadors, how a difficult day can reveal the support available on campus, and what happens when a polished story promises a community a student does not find after enrolling. They also consider how much control marketers need to give up for students to tell their stories in their own words. One story can bring an institution’s values to life, but it cannot make up for a gap between those values and students’ lived experiences.For higher education marketers, the episode offers a place to start before requesting another interview or photo shoot. Clarify the question the story needs to answer, look beyond the students everyone already knows, and spend time listening to the people on campus. The fuller picture may come from a student whose story the team would not have thought to seek out. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 4 weeks ago27 min
Higher Ed Needs Leaders Who Are Used to Disruption
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 Leader Experience at the upcoming AMA Higher Ed Symposium.Related Links:Register for the AI Engage Summit this OctoberThe College Reality Check: What Students Experience vs. What America BelievesFaith in Higher Ed Slips: 38% of Adults Report High Confidence2026 Survey of College and University PresidentsPresidents Puzzled on Rebuilding Public Trust in Higher Ed2026 Edelman Trust BarometerThe CUPA-HR 2025 Higher Education Employee Retention Survey - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Oct 1, 202622 min
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 2
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, about how colleges and universities can determine whether they have a lead-generation problem or a broader enrollment funnel problem. Drawing on Jen's experience leading both enrollment management and marketing at Queens University of Charlotte, they discuss the pressure enrollment teams face when a class is not coming together and why that pressure can quickly turn into finger-pointing between marketing and admissions.The conversation looks at the factors that shape lead quality and conversion, including market demand, brand positioning, clear program messaging, CRM strategy, lead nurturing, competition, affordability, and coordination across the institution. Erin and Jen also explore why a campus visit remains one of the strongest signs of student interest and how a personal interaction with an admissions professional can accomplish something a merge tag cannot.For higher education marketing and enrollment leaders, the episode offers a more useful starting point than simply asking for more names at the top of the funnel. Examine the full student journey, focus on the parts the institution can control, and give marketing and enrollment a shared understanding of the brand, audience, and experience they are responsible for building together.Ologie is a brand and marketing agency for colleges, universities, and mission-driven organizations. Services include: brand strategy, enrollment marketing, advancement and fundraising, higher-ed web. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://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 too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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About Higher Ed Pulse
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.
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