PODCAST · education
Higher Ed Pulse
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 and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
Episodes
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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...
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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…
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Does AI Traffic Actually Convert Better in Higher Ed?
Register for the AI Engage Summit this October Mallory 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...
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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…
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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...
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Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 2
What Do We Really Need? Part 2: We Need Better Leads We 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...
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Inside the Index Tracking 200K Student Prompts
Register for the AI Engage Summit Mallory 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...
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Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 1
“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...
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What Rising CMOs Are Rarely Taught
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…
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Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Pt 4
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...
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Should Colleges Be on Snapchat?
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,...
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Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Pt 3
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…
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Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Pt. 4
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...
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How to Make the Case for Your Best Idea
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...
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Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Pt 2
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...
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What Comes After CMO?
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…
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Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Pt 1
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...
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How AI Decides Which University Has the Best Alumni Network
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...
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Video Without a Plan Is Wasted Money
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 Willsea...
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Is Higher Ed Deploying AI Backwards?
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…
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Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Pt. 3
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...
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What Your Chief of Staff Knows That You Don't
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...
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Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Pt. 2
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...
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Higher Ed's Hero Cycle
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....
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Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Pt. 1
In the debut episode of this new Pulse Check Series, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, host Faton Sopa sits down with higher education marketing strategist Kristin Nichols to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of college discovery. The conversation highlights a major shift in how...
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Who Owns AI Search?
2026 AI Search Trends: Brand (In)Visibility Brief Mallory is joined by Andrea Gilbert and Mike Bell from Everspring to discuss their latest AI search trends report. The report finds big brand universities can be cited in AI overviews on non-branded searches as low as 1%, while smaller private...
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Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 4
In this 4th and final episode of Funnel Vision, Rishab Malhotra sits down with Valpo’s LeAnn Hughes and Rosa Alvarado to discuss how their team turned around a decade of enrollment decline through strategic leadership, trust, and a focus on core value. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory…
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The Dashboard is the Last Place Your Enrollment Problem Shows Up
Mallory is joined by Megan Cabrera, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Okanagan College, about an enrollment trap she calls “residual momentum,” where funnels look stable after marketing spend is cut, then collapse years later. Megan recounts pulling investment from a long-time feeder...
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Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 3
In Part 3 of Funnel Vision, host Rishab Malhotra welcomes Anna Esaki Smith, author and co-founder of Education Rethink, to examine the critical state of higher education. Moving past the usual focus on demographic cliffs, they discuss the systemic health of colleges, framing the industry's...
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Higher Ed's Fundraising Model Is Broken
Howard Heevner, co-founder of the National Alumni Survey, argues the core problem with institutional giving isn’t debt, apathy, or generations rejecting philanthropy—82% of alumni gave or volunteered last year—but a “30-point cliff” between 87% who love their education and only 17% satisfied with...
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The LinkedIn Double Standard Costing Higher Ed Its Best Marketers
The higher education sector is facing a quiet talent crisis: a staggering 74% of higher ed marketers are actively considering an exit from the industry. Mallory sits down with Shane Baglini, Executive Director of Marketing and Branding at William & Mary, to uncover the systemic issues fueling…
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Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 2
In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, host Rishab Malhotra sits down with Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management (AIRC), and Clare Overmann, CEO of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), to discuss the vital…
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Live from Engage Summit 2026: Conference First Impressions from Carrie Phillips and Brian Piper
Carrie Phillips chats with Brian Piper, host of AI for U, live at Engage Summit 2026 in Charlotte, NC. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part…
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The Real Reason Higher Ed Mergers Fail
The financial pressures squeezing higher education are real, but when it comes to the complex world of mergers and acquisitions, focusing solely on the spreadsheet is a critical mistake. In this episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory sits down with Dr. Morgan Johnson, VP of Academic Experience…
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Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 1
Welcome to this brand new Pulse Check Series, hosted by Rishab Malhotra, Founder and CEO of AIDO. Higher ed has been running two separate plays for too long. Domestic over here, international over there, and strategy getting lost in the middle. We're going to laugh. We're going to cry. We're…
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Reunited with Seth Odell
On this special episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with former co-host and higher ed marketing leader Seth Odell at the inaugural Let's Go Upstate Retreat in Saratoga Springs, New York. Together, they reflect on friendship, leadership, wellness, and what the higher education...
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Pulse Check: Your Guide to Engage Summit 2026
Engage Summit 2026 is almost here, and the excitement is building. In this special episode of Pulse Check, Engage emcees Brendan Henkel, AVP of Solutions Engineering at Element451, and Cecily Street, VP of People at Element451, sit down to preview what's in store for this year's conference in...
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The SUNY AI Mandate
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most institutions can govern it. For the 64 campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, that challenge became very real when a new system-wide AI policy required every campus to adopt or update AI guidelines by the end of 2026.…
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Google Search is AI Search: What May's I/O Announcement Means for Higher Ed
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Katy Campbell, newly named CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, for an urgent conversation about the future of search in higher education. Following Google’s announcement that AI-powered search is now the default experience for more...
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Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 3
Welcome to the next chapter of this Pulse Check Series, Part 3: The Impact of AI on Regional Businesses. On this episode, host Adam HedeBrink-Bruno explores what AI adoption really looks like for small businesses, regional organizations, and community partners navigating rapid technological…
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Before You Hire an AI Consultant, Do This
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Ed Cabellon, Interim Vice President for Student Experience at Frederick Community College, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to build an enterprise AI strategy in higher education. Rather than...
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Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 2
If your campus has plenty of AI activity but remains a little light on the strategy, you’re not alone. Many higher education institutions are running lots of experiments without a clear path to scale the right ideas responsibly. This leaves faculty and staff reinventing the wheel rather than…
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The 13 Milliseconds That Decide Your Enrollment Funnel
Related Links: Mastering the Art of Visual Storytelling in Higher Education Marketing Think before you ink: The Three Principles Behind Every Digital Transformation that Actually Work “Beyond the Facelift: Navigating the Website Redesign Journey” “Engaging with ‘First Generation’ Prospects: The...
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Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 1
Mastering AI tools and techniques takes time. In this episode, we share how community colleges can become the region’s trusted AI onramp by offering accessible, mission-aligned AI literacy programming for students, employees, and community members. We’ll break down how to approach AI as a…
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AI Faculty Avatars and a $10K MBA
Mallory Willsea sits down with Dr. Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University, to unpack one of the boldest experiments in AI in higher education and student success strategies happening today. Together, they explore how SFBU is designing a human-centered, AI-integrated learning model...
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Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 4
- - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About 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…
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What Higher Ed Is Actually Hiring For
Mallory sits down with Meredith Rosenberg, co-founder and partner at NU Advisory Partners, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes in higher education leadership hiring. Drawing from her vantage point at the intersection of higher ed and edtech, Meredith reveals how institutions are...
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Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 3
In this episode, we’re taking a field trip into New York City for a sugar rush and some serious higher-ed talk. We recap our night at the 92nd Street Y, where legendary anchor David Muir interviewed higher-ed expert Jeff Selingo about his new book, Dream School. We dive into the surprising…
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From Brand Standards to Brand Systems: Kettering’s GPT Playbook
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse hosted by Mallory Willsea, the team from Kettering University shares how they transformed a custom GPT from a simple experiment into a trusted, embedded part of their marketing workflow. Featuring Jennifer Umberger (VP & CMO), Lee Madaus (Content &...
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Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 2
- - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About 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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Mallory Willsea
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Higher Ed Pulse have?
Higher Ed Pulse currently has 600 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Higher Ed Pulse about?
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...
How often does Higher Ed Pulse release new episodes?
Higher Ed Pulse releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 600 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Higher Ed Pulse?
You can listen to Higher Ed Pulse on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Higher Ed Pulse?
Higher Ed Pulse is created and hosted by Mallory Willsea.
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