From Failing College to Becoming VP: How Jeremy Taylor Is Opening Doors for First-Gen Students

Dr. Jeremy Taylor, VP of Enrollment Management at Defiance College, shares how he reversed 10 years of declining enrollment — growing 78% in Year 1 and 20% in Year 2 — without industry experience, a big budget, or the "way it's always been done." In this conversation, you'll learn: ✅ How to use data to find overlooked growth pockets your competitors are ignoring ✅ Why personalized, community-first outreach outperforms mass recruitment — and how to operationalize it ✅ How to recruit first-generation students and families ethically and effectively This episode is for mission-driven executives and organizational leaders who are trying to grow impact — whether that's enrollment, community reach, or program participation — in a resource-constrained environment where the old playbook isn't working.👤 ABOUT DR. JEREMY TAYLOR: Dr. Jeremy Taylor is the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Defiance College in northwest Ohio. A first-generation college student and PhD historian, Jeremy took over enrollment in 2023 after serving as a history professor, department chair, and football coach at the college — with zero prior admissions experience. In his first full cycle, he grew enrollment 78%. He is openly accessible to students, families, and fellow leaders seeking a second chance. 🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-taylor-5b5368161/ 🔗 Organization Website: https://defiance.edu 🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE: Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis #NonprofitLeadership #HigherEducation #MissionDrivenLeadership