Higher Ed Pulse
Episodes
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 5
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 5: Culturally Relevant Prospective Student Campus VisitsIn the final part of this Pulse...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: AI, Change Management, and Leadership Strategy in Higher Ed
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Carrie Phillips sits down with Michele Ehrhart, Chief Communications Officer at the University of Memphis, fo...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Why It’s Okay Not to Know Everything About AI Yet
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carrie Phillips chats with Claire Masterson, Director of Marketing at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), about the evolving role of AI in hig...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Student Success Starts with Smarter Knowledge Bases
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode of Higher Ed Pulse recorded live at the 2025 Engage Summit, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Hannah Wilson, Knowledge Managem...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Using Narrative Intelligence to Spot the Stories That Matter
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Erin Fields sits down with Safaniya Stevenson, a brand strategist, cultural analyst, and all-around narrative detective. The conversation centers on h...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Leading Culture Change Through AI
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus episode of Higher Ed Pulse, recorded live at the Engage Summit, host Carrie Phillips sits down with Carrie Pitts-Densmore, VP of...
Can AI Help Rebuild Trust in International Enrollment?
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory sits down with Patricia Tozzi to unpack one of the most pressing topics in higher ed today: AI governance and privacy in student data. As inst...
Live at Engage Summit 2025: Ethical AI in Higher Education
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory Willsea is live from Engage Summit 2025 in Charlotte, NC, chatting with Stella Liu, Lead Data Scientist of AI Acceleration at Arizona State Un...
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 4
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 4: Enrollment Marketing and Technology Guest Name: Jennifer Lonchar Cofounder, AmbioED...
Washington’s Marching Orders for Higher Ed
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea is joined by Brad Carson—former University of Tulsa president, former U.S. Congressman, and...
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 3
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 3: Women Leadership in Empowering Future Generations in Higher Ed.Christian Ponce sits do...
Does Zero Click Mean Zero Control in the Age of AI?
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Sarah Russell, VP of Marketing at EducationDynamics, to unpack the seismic cha...
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 2
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 2: Women in Leadership Empowering Future GenerationsHost Christian Ponce sits down with Dr. Cristina...
Catching Up with Seth Odell
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory Willsea reunites with Seth Odell, CEO of Kanahoma, in a candid, unscripted conversation recorded live from the CASE conference in Los Angeles....
Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 1
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series, The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity. On today's Part 1, we’ll discuss the role of minority leadership i...
Is Your College Showing Up in AI Search?
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory Willsea welcomes Jason Smith, founder of OHO, to discuss a game-changing shift in college discovery: the rise of AI as the starting point. Wit...
Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 3
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of High School to Higher Ed II, Emma and her father discuss the expectations and dynamics of college visits from a high school s...
Is Meta’s AI Rewriting the Future of Advertising?
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Marina Cooper, Senior Associate Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Br...
Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 2
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
High School to Higher Ed II - Part 2 - A Ninth Grader’s Reaction to Your WebsiteOn today's Part 2 of High School to Higher Ed II: A Father/Daughter ...
Inside the 2025 CIO Survey: Only 11% Have an AI Strategy
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with Kellie Campbell, the newly appointed CIO at the University of Vermont, to unpack th...
Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 1
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the return of our Pulse Check series High School to Higher Ed.In this episode, we will be recapping some of our discussions from our episod...
The AI Layoffs Are Here
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory Willsea sits down with Jackie Davis, strategic program leader and former global employee experience head at Salesforce, to unpack the new wave...
Behind the Agenda: What's Hot at Engage 2025
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This special bonus episode is your exclusive backstage pass to the upcoming Engage Summit — Element451’s flagship event happening June 24–25 in ...
What DC’s AI Executive Order Means for Higher Ed
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with John Carrere, Director of Recruitment and First-Year Experience at Pitt Commun...
Pulse Check: Marketing Truths — Part 2
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Morabito sits down with Tariq Hassan, former CMO and Chief Customer Experience Officer at McDonald's USA, to unpack the evolving marketing landsc...
What High School Seniors Really Think About AI
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Jeremy Tiers, VP of Admission Services at Tudor Collegiate Strategies and host...
Pulse Check: Marketing Truths — Part 1
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Part 1 of this new Pulse Check series from Enrollify. In this episode, Host Ryan Morbido sits down with Seth Matlins, Managing Director of ...
The Rise of the AI Teammate
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Related Articles: Shopify’s CEO Just Issued a Bold AI Ultimatum to His Entire TeamASU+GSV 2025: Uses for Agentic AI in Higher EducationLearning Gen...
Pulse Check: Practical AI Integration: How to Get Started — Part 3
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Part 3 of this Pulse Check series on practical strategies for getting started with AI. In this final installment, host Brian Piper dives in...
Style Theft at Scale: AI and the Fight for Creative Integrity
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Monday pulse show notes: On this thought-provoking episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Myla Edmond—Senior Vice President...
Pulse Check: Practical AI Integration: How to Get Started — Part 2
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Part 2 of this Pulse Check series on Practical AI Integration. Host Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at the Univers...
Knowledge Is Free. Is Higher Ed Still Worth It?
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory dives into a timely conversation with digital strategist and higher ed creative force Voltaire Sa...
Pulse Check: Practical AI Integration: How to Get Started — Part 1
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a new Pulse Check series from Enrollify. In this series, Practical AI Integration: How to Get Started, host Brian Piper will provide action...
We Called It Cheating. Now It’s an AI Strategy
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea welcomes Kelly Sinacola, VP of Solution Engineering and Integration at Element451 and one of ASU+G...
Pulse Check: Advancement Amplified: AI for IA — Part 5
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the 5th and final episode of this Pulse Check series. In Part 5 of Advancement Amplified: AI for IA, Dan Giroux is joined by Mark Koenig, V...
Predicting Brackets and Burnout: What AI Can (and Can’t) Do
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory sits down with Bryan Gross, VP for Enrollment Management and Athletics at Hartwick College, for a fas...
Pulse Check: Advancement Amplified: AI for IA — Part 4
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 3 of this advancement Amplified: AI for IA Pulse Check series, Dan Giroux sits down with Adam Martel, CEO of Givzy and Version 2 AI, to explor...
Why This AI Merger Won’t Work
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mallory and higher ed expert Gil Rogers dive into one of the biggest recent headlines in education technology—the merger of Gravity...
Pulse Check: Advancement Amplified: AI for IA — Part 3
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Advancement Amplified: AI for IA, host Dan Giroux sits down with Andrew Gossen, Executive Director of Communications, Marketing, an...
Passing the Mic: The Next Evolution of Higher Ed Pulse
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode marks a big transition—Seth is stepping away, and Mallory is steering Higher Ed Pulse into a new direction. Seth and Mallory reflect on...
Pulse Check: Advancement Amplified: AI for IA — Part 2
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to "Advancement Amplified: AI for IA," a 5-part Pulse Check hosted by Dan Giroux, a higher education marketing and communications leader focus...
Making the Case for your FY26 Budget
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory and Seth dive into a growing crisis in higher education—burnout. Drawing from a recent Chronicle of Higher Education report, they explore th...
Pulse Check: Advancement Amplified: AI for IA — Part 1
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to "Advancement Amplified: AI for IA," a 5-part Pulse Check hosted by Dan Giroux, a higher education marketing and communications leader focus...
Can AI Save Higher Ed from Burnout?
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Higher ed is exhausted—literally. A new report from The Chronicle of Higher Education confirms what many faculty and staff already feel: heavier wor...
Pulse Check: Strategic Storytelling — Part 5
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series on the power of storytelling. This is Part 5: AI-Powered Storytelling.In this episode of Strategic Storytelli...
Pulse Check: Strategic Storytelling — Part 4
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series on the power of storytelling. This is Part 4: Leveraging Stakeholder Engagement for Strategic Storytelling.In...
The Books That Changed How We Lead
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Mallory and Seth dive into the books that have profoundly shaped their leadership philosophies. From timeless business classics to modern leader...
Pulse Check: Strategic Storytelling — Part 3
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series on the power of storytelling. This is Part 3: Multicultural Brand Marketing. In this episode of Strategic Sto...
The ROI Reality Check: What Students and Families Actually Care About in 2025
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Seth Odell and Mallory Willsea tackle one of the most pressing questions in higher education today: What do students and families actually care ...
Pulse Check: Strategic Storytelling — Part 2
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series on the power of storytelling. This is Part 2: From News to Narrative: Frank Tramble on Transforming Higher Ed...
AI as Higher Ed’s Crisis Compass: Does It Build Resilience or Expose Gaps
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory and Seth dive into the provocative topic of AI's role in higher education, asking the critical question: Does AI act as higher ed’s crisis c...
Pulse Check: Strategic Storytelling — Part 1
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series on the power of storytelling. On this Part 1: Reimagining the University as a “Big Brand”, guest Matt McFad...
The Role of Storytelling in Shaping Institutional Identity
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Mallory and Seth explore the art and strategy behind storytelling in higher education marketing. From its emotional impact to its ability to bui...
Pulse Check: What We’re Learning About Leadership (and Ourselves) — Part 3
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3: The Confidence Equation: Building Resilience and Owning Your WinsThis episode explores how to recognize your achievements, combat imposter syn...
New Year, New Who?
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, co-hosts Seth and Mallory dive into their 2025 aspirations, blending professional ambitions with persona...
Pulse Check: What We’re Learning About Leadership (and Ourselves) — Part 2
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to this Pulse Check Series for Pt. 2 — How to Make a Difference (Even Without the Title). Leadership doesn’t always come with a titl...
Can Higher Ed Handle AI Responsibly?
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the inaugural 2025 episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Mallory and Seth dive into the complex and urgent topic of ethics in artificial intelligen...
Pulse Check: What We’re Learning About Leadership (and Ourselves) — Part 1
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feedback is at the heart of mentorship, and this episode dives into embracing constructive criticism, learning from mistakes, and understanding the po...
2024 Hall of Fame: Tina Miller
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Tina Miller, Executive Director of Creative and Communications at Arizona State University’...
2024 Hall of Fame: Jon-Stephen Stansel
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Jon-Stephen Stansel, founder of Saturn Nine Media, whose transformative social media strategi...
2024 Hall of Fame: Kin Sajpal
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Kin Sajpal, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the University of Redlands. We ...
2024 Hall of Fame: Claire Brady
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Claire Brady. With over two decades of experience in higher education, Claire is a trailblaze...
Our Favorite Episodes of 2024
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this special year-end episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Mallory and Seth revisit highlights from a remarkable 2024. With 46 episodes in just 52...
2024 Hall of Fame: Joshua Charles
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Joshua Charles. Josh has become a standout leader in higher education, recognized for his in...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 6
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus, host Dr. J. Cody Nielsen sits down with Dr. Charles H.F. Davis ...
2024 Hall of Fame: Bart Caylor
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Bart Caylor. The president of Caylor Solutions and host of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast, Ba...
2024 Hall of Fame: Devin Purgason
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Devin Purgason, who has explored the future of higher education marketing, equity-focused stu...
The “Invisible” Student: Addressing Equity in Recruitment and Retention
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought-provoking episode, Mallory and Seth discuss the transformative potential of AI in addressing equity challenges in higher education. Th...
2024 Hall of Fame: Mickey Baines
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Mickey Baines, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Kennedy Company Education Strategies. M...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 5
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 5 of this Pulse Check series, Cody Nielsen interviews Dr. David Robinson-Morris to explore the post-2024 election challenges and opportunities...
2024 Hall of Fame: Dr. Nick Ladany
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's inductee into the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame is Dr. Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University. Dr. Ladany’s forward-thinking l...
2024 Hall of Fame: Dr. Janet Spriggs
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode celebrates the 2024 Enrollify Hall of Fame, spotlighting visionary leaders shaping the future of higher education. Today's inductee into...
Live at AMA: Why AI Isn’t Mainstream in Higher Ed Yet (and How to Change That)
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode from the AMA Symposium, Mallory sits down with Marina Cooper, Senior Associate VP for Brand and Marketing at Johns Hopkins ...
2025 Predictions for Higher Ed
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Mallory and Seth dive into their highly anticipated 2025 predictions for higher education. The conversation is packed with bold insights, from t...
Live at AMA: The Power of Student-Driven Content
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory chats with Nate Jorgensen, Senior Director of Marketing at Miami University in Ohio, to discuss two exciting topics: empowering students throu...
Live at AMA: AI as Your Marketing Sidekick
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory sits down with Rebecca Stapley, Director of Marketing and Communications at RIT’s College of Health Sciences and Technology and the School o...
Live at AMA: The Future of MarCom Efficiency Starts with AI
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory sits down with Santhana Naidu, VP of Marketing and Communications at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, live at the AMA Conference. Together...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 4
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Part 4 of Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus a Post Election America. I’m Dr. J. Cody Nielsen, Host of After Furt...
Live at AMA: ASU’s AI Adoption Playbook
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory sits down with Tina Miller, Executive Director of Creative and Communications at Enterprise Technology at Arizona State University (ASU). Reco...
Live at AMA: Marketing Lessons from AMA 2024
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode from the American Marketing Association conference, Carrie sits down with Claire Skelton, Assistant Director of Content Market...
Live at AMA: Tackling Higher Ed’s Perception Problem
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in for a compelling conversation between Mallory and Tam Powell, Senior Vice President of Higher Education at BVK, recorded live at the AMA confe...
The Year That Changed Everything: 2024 in Higher Ed
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special year-in-review episode, hosts Mallory Wilsey and Seth Odell reflect on 2024, highlighting key trends, professional insights, and perso...
Live at AMA: Overcoming Fear and Embracing AI
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this engaging episode recorded live at the AMA Higher Ed Symposium, host Carrie connects with Carrie Pitts-Densmore, Vice President of Enrollment a...
Confidence, Connections, and Cultivating Community
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Thanksgiving-themed episode, hosts Mallory and Seth dive deep into the power of community, confidence, and meaningful decision-making....
Live at AMA: The Power of AI in Your Admissions Funnel
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode, host Mallory chats live from the AMA Higher Education Symposium in Las Vegas with Nathan Ament, VP of Enrollment at Knox C...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 3
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus: A Post-2024 Election America, Dr. J. Cody Nielsen hosts Dr. Peter Levin...
Live at AMA: Lessons Higher Ed Can Learn from Lego and Crayola
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode live from the AMA Symposium, host Carrie sits down with Joe Master, Managing Director of Brand and Marketing Strategy at R.W. Jones Ag...
Live at AMA: Why Your University Website Needs AI
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Higher Ed Pulse, live from AMA, Mallory sits down with Bob Rafferty, Partner and EVP at Simpson Scarborough, to discuss the tra...
State of the State
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you miss the AI Engage Summit or want a second look? Watch every insightful discussion and discover strategies for transforming student engagement...
Live at AMA: Building a Brand on a Budget
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from the AMA Higher Ed Conference, Carrie Phillips interviews Kin Sejpal, who shares innovative strategies for building a brand with l...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 2
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2: “A Long Way from Where We Need to Be” Episode Description: Only 12% of higher school graduating seniors are considered “proficient” ...
Live at AMA: AI’s Role in Smarter KPIs
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this live episode from the American Marketing Association (AMA) conference in Las Vegas, Mallory sits down with Christian Ponce, AVP for Marketing ...
Live at AMA: Live at AMA: Empowering Advancement Marketing Through AI
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of the Higher Ed Pulse podcast series, recorded live at the American Marketing Association (AMA) conference, Mallory Willsea s...
Live at AMA: It’s About Impact
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, live from the American Marketing Association (AMA) Symposium in Las Vegas, Mallory dives into the insights shared by AMA co-chairs Te...
Why We're Here
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this milestone 40th episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Mallory and Seth take a reflective turn as they explore why they, and so many others, cho...
Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus in America Post Election 2024 — Part 1
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 1 - “Harm is about people”Welcome to Reclaiming Free Speech, Democracy, and Discourse on Campus a Post Election America. I’m Dr. J. Cody ...
The Resilient Leader: Building Mental Toughness in Uncertain Times
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Seth Odell and Mallory dive into a timely and thought-provoking discussion on building resilience as leaders in uncertain times. With Seth unable to a...
Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed — Part 3
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3: Do 9th Graders Care About College Yet?In this episode of the High School to Higher Ed podcast, hosts Kevin and Emma Cavanagh explore the persp...
AI & Student Recruitment
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Seth and Mallory discuss the transformative role of AI in student recruitment and higher education. As t...
Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed — Part 2
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kevin and Emma discuss the effectiveness of college marketing strategies from the perspective of a ninth grader. Emma shares her expe...