Guest Name: Vince Slomsky, Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications, University of South Florida

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinceslomsky/

Guest Bio: Vince Slomsky is the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Brand at the University of South Florida. A former TV news journalist, Vince is a storyteller at heart who lets the good stories guide marketing efforts. His higher education career includes stops at Penn State, Encoura, and his alma mater, Kent State University. Outside of work, Vince reports directly to his three young kiddos and has a dotted line to his wife, Mrs. Slomsky. He is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan and enjoys sneaking in a round of golf when his children let him. 

Guest Name: Kimberly Hallman, SVP, Institutional Marketing, 160over90

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyhallman/

Guest Bio: Now in season 12 at 160over90, Kim leads the agency’s institutional marketing practice, helping colleges and universities, research institutes, health enterprises, and cause-based organizations raise awareness and raise funds to support a core impact mission. A former journalist turned publicist now all-around communications strategist, she first penned bylines in The Post-Standard in upstate New York, then worked as an editorial assistant for the National Campaign for the Arts in London, before landing on the marketing scene 18+ years ago. Originally focused in retail and hospitality PR, Kim quickly found that education category work fulfills her desire for healthy intellectual debate and mental nourishment. She holds a BA in English from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in Print Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. These days, when Kim’s not working, she’s soaking up all the firsts of new motherhood (and still trying to make some time for sleep).

Key Takeaways

• Marketing and Communications Are NOT the Same: While related, marketing is sales-driven and focuses on lead generation and conversions, while communications is about message clarity, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Successful Integration Does NOT Mean Merging the Two: Effective collaboration requires recognizing the strengths of each function and ensuring they complement rather than compete with each other.
• Start with a Shared Content Strategy: Aligning messaging across both marketing and communications efforts helps create a cohesive brand experience while still allowing each team to focus on their core objectives.
• Social Media Lives in the Middle: Social media plays both a marketing and communications role, requiring a thoughtful balance of engagement, storytelling, and calls to action.
• Challenges in 2025: Higher ed institutions face increasing external scrutiny, leadership turnover, and financial constraints, making strategic MarCom collaboration more critical than ever.

Marketing vs. Communications: Why the Distinction Matters

Too often, higher ed institutions lump marketing and communications into one broad function, assuming they are interchangeable. However, Kim Hallman argues that these are two distinct disciplines, each with its own skill set and objectives.

Communications answers the question: What is the message? It focuses on institutional positioning, reputation management, and audience engagement through storytelling, PR, and internal messaging. Key metrics for communications teams include brand sentiment, message clarity, and stakeholder trust.

Marketing, on the other hand, asks: How do we get people to act? It is sales-driven, aiming to increase enrollment, event attendance, or donations. Marketers use advertising, digital campaigns, and targeted content strategies to drive measurable actions. Their KPIs often include conversion rates, lead generation, and revenue growth.

While these two areas overlap, conflating them can weaken their effectiveness. Instead, institutions should recognize their unique value and ensure they work together in a complementary way.

How to Integrate Marketing and Communications for Maximum Impact

1. Create a Shared Content Strategy

One of the best ways to align marketing and communications is by developing a joint content strategy. Both teams should work from a common roadmap that includes:

• Institutional priorities: Align messaging with university goals and areas of excellence.
• Audience needs: Understand whether a communication should inform, inspire, or drive action.
• Cultural context: Ensure messaging remains relevant to the broader landscape beyond the institution.

By defining these pillars, institutions can ensure marketing and communications efforts reinforce each other rather than compete for attention.

2. Develop a Unified Content Calendar

To avoid message fatigue or misalignment, institutions should maintain a joint MarCom calendar that outlines:

• Key events and milestones: Academic calendar highlights, admissions deadlines, and major institutional initiatives.
• Content distribution channels: Social media, email, print, earned media, and paid advertising.
• Storytelling opportunities: A mix of informative communications and compelling marketing messages.

A shared calendar allows institutions to plan their messaging strategically while maintaining a balance between engagement, information, and persuasion.

3. Collaborate on Execution

Integration doesn’t just mean planning together—it means working together throughout the execution process. Some best practices include:

• Leveraging earned media in marketing efforts: If a faculty member is featured in a major publication, marketing teams should amplify it through paid media and social campaigns.
• Ensuring consistent branding across all messaging: Whether a press release, a social post, or an ad, the tone and messaging should align.
• Optimizing storytelling for different formats: A strong institutional story can live in a news article, a marketing video, and a social media campaign—each tailored for its respective audience.

Where Does Social Media Fit? Communications or Marketing?

One of the most debated topics in higher ed MarCom is where social media fits within an institution. Is it a communications tool, designed for engagement and public relations? Or is it a marketing tool, meant to drive recruitment and conversions?

Kim argues that social media sits in the middle of the MarCom Venn diagram. It is both a storytelling platform and a conversion tool, requiring a balance between:

• Community engagement (communications): Answering questions, fostering discussions, and reinforcing institutional values.
• Promotional messaging (marketing): Driving attendance to events, boosting applications, and increasing donor participation.

Because of this, institutions should be intentional about how they use social media, ensuring it serves both purposes effectively.

The Challenges of Leading a Combined MarCom Unit in 2025

As higher ed institutions navigate an increasingly complex landscape, MarCom teams face unique challenges:

1. Leadership Turnover: Many institutions are experiencing high turnover at the executive level, making long-term branding and communications strategies difficult to sustain.
2. External Pressures: Political scrutiny, donor influence, and public perception are putting institutions under the microscope.
3. Budget Constraints: Many teams are being asked to do more with fewer resources, leading to staff burnout and inefficiencies.
4. The Need for Strategic Issues Management: With crisis communications becoming an everyday reality, MarCom leaders often struggle to balance long-term storytelling with immediate response needs.

For institutions to successfully integrate marketing and communications, they must recognize these challenges and invest in the right staffing, training, and strategic planning.

What Makes a Successful MarCom Team?

Kim highlights a few institutions that are leading the way in MarCom integration, including:

• University of Pittsburgh – A forward-thinking MarCom team that embraces both branding and institutional storytelling.
• University of Virginia – Operates under "University Communications," signaling a commitment to strategic messaging.
• UW-Madison – A centralized approach that aligns public affairs, brand strategy, and marketing efforts.

What do these successful teams have in common?

• Leadership that understands the distinction between marketing and communications.
• A culture of collaboration where storytelling and conversion efforts support each other.
• Clear strategic alignment between branding, enrollment, fundraising, and reputation management.

Where Should Institutions Start?

For institutions looking to better integrate marketing and communications, Kim suggests starting with two key conversations:

1. With Leadership: Advocate for dedicated resources and strategic alignment between marketing and communications goals.
2. With Your Team: Assess existing skills, identify gaps, and clarify roles to ensure everyone is playing to their strengths.

Ultimately, institutions that invest in a structured, strategic MarCom approach will be better positioned to navigate the challenges of 2025 and beyond.

Taylor shares insights from TimelyCare’s research, which found that 73 percent of students believe access to mental health services improves their chances of graduating. Despite this, many institutions still treat mental health support as a secondary resource rather than an essential part of student success. This episode unpacks why that mindset needs to shift and how marketers, student affairs professionals, and university leaders can better integrate mental health messaging into their overall communication strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Mental health services are a retention tool – Research shows that students who engage in counseling services are more likely to persist and graduate.
• Marketing plays a critical role – Many students are unaware of the mental health resources available to them, highlighting the need for better promotion and integration into student messaging.
• Mental health is students’ top concern – TimelyCare’s research found that 58 percent of students cite mental health as their biggest stressor, even above financial concerns.
• Early intervention leads to better outcomes – Students who receive at least three counseling sessions show significant improvements in mental well-being and academic performance.
• Scalability is key – Universities must find ways to expand mental health resources, whether through internal programs or partnerships with providers like TimelyCare.

Mental Health and Academic Success Are Deeply Connected

While universities often focus on financial aid, academic advising, and career services as retention strategies, mental health support is just as critical. Students struggling with anxiety, depression, or stress are at higher risk of dropping out, yet many institutions still view mental health as an optional support rather than an integral part of student success.

TimelyCare’s research found that nearly three out of four students believe access to mental health services improves their likelihood of graduating. When students feel supported, they are more likely to stay enrolled, persist through challenges, and complete their degrees. Universities that prioritize mental health services aren’t just providing a resource—they’re making a strategic investment in student outcomes.

Why Institutions Struggle to Prioritize Mental Health

One of the biggest challenges universities face is limited resources. Budget cuts, understaffed counseling centers, and increasing demand for mental health support make it difficult to provide comprehensive services to every student who needs them. As a result, many students either don’t know help is available or can’t access it when they need it most.

TimelyCare and other digital mental health providers help bridge this gap by offering 24/7 access to counseling and well-being coaching. These services don’t replace on-campus counseling centers but rather supplement them, ensuring that students can always find support—even in the middle of the night.

By investing in scalable mental health solutions, universities can increase access, improve retention, and foster a more supportive campus culture.

Breaking the Stigma and Raising Awareness

Even when universities offer robust mental health resources, many students don’t take advantage of them simply because they don’t know they exist. This is where higher ed marketers and communicators play a vital role. Institutions must actively promote mental health services, integrating them into broader campus messaging rather than relegating them to a student affairs webpage that few students visit.

Taylor shared the example of James Madison University (JMU), where the marketing team proactively promoted mental health resources long before a crisis occurred. By normalizing conversations about mental health and embedding these services into campus culture, JMU ensured that students knew where to turn for support when they needed it.

Key strategies for promoting mental health services include:

• Social media campaigns – Regularly highlight available mental health resources on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms where students are active.
• Targeted email and text messaging – Send reminders about counseling services, wellness workshops, and stress management resources throughout the semester.
• Collaborations with student organizations – Partner with student leaders to share mental health messaging in a way that feels authentic and relatable.
• Storytelling and testimonials – Feature real student stories about how mental health services helped them succeed.

Expanding Access Without Overburdening Staff

One of the biggest barriers to providing mental health services is staffing. Many universities don’t have enough counselors to meet student demand, leading to long wait times or limited availability. This can be especially problematic for students who need immediate support.

TimelyCare offers a scalable solution by providing on-demand mental health counseling, allowing students to choose providers who align with their lived experiences. This flexibility ensures that students can find a counselor they relate to, improving engagement and outcomes.

Other ways universities can expand mental health access include:

• Investing in peer support programs – Train students to provide peer-to-peer support and refer their peers to professional services when needed.
• Leveraging AI-powered chatbots – Use AI-driven tools to guide students to appropriate mental health resources based on their needs.
• Creating flexible scheduling options – Offer virtual counseling sessions for students who may not be able to visit an in-person office during normal business hours.

Scaling mental health resources is not just about adding more counselors—it’s about using technology and partnerships strategically to ensure students always have access to support.

Why Investing in Mental Health Matters for the Future of Higher Education

As universities face growing enrollment challenges, student retention is more critical than ever. Mental health support is no longer a “nice-to-have” resource—it’s a core component of student success. Institutions that prioritize mental health will see higher retention rates, stronger student engagement, and better academic outcomes.

Marketers and communicators play a key role in breaking the stigma, raising awareness, and ensuring students know where to find support. By making mental health resources a visible and integrated part of campus life, universities can create an environment where students feel supported, empowered, and more likely to persist through challenges.

Guest Name: Taylor Stakes, Media Production Manager, Timelycare

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorstakes/

Guest Bio: Taylor is a higher-ed creative professional, strategist, and media storyteller with a passion for using digital content to engage, educate, and inspire. With over a decade of experience in higher education communications and marketing, Taylor specializes in crafting compelling narratives that bridge the gap between institutional goals and audience needs.

Taylor leads the content creation strategy and output for TimelyCare’s self-care content, developing innovative multimedia resources that support student well-being and institutional success. Taylor is also an adjunct communications professor, bringing real-world industry experience into the classroom. Taylor's approach to education and content creation emphasizes hands-on learning, creative problem-solving, and the ethical integration of emerging technologies like AI.

With a deep understanding of both the creative and strategic aspects of marketing and communications, Taylor brings a fresh perspective to discussions on digital storytelling, student engagement, mental health, and the evolving media landscape in higher education.

Join Tiffany Beker, Emily Phillips and Caroline Ward for tips on launching an initiative like this and ensuring content aligns with brand standards while maintaining a unique student-created feel.

Guest Names: 
Tiffany Broadbent Beker, Director of Digital Marketing, William & Mary
Caroline Ward, Sr. Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission, William & Mary
Emily Phillips, Assistant Director, Social Media Strategy, William & Mary

Guest Socials: 
Tiffany - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbroadbent/ 
Caroline - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybphillips/ 
Emily - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-ward-a170b1247

Guest Bios: 
Tiffany Broadbent Beker is the Director of Digital Marketing for University Marketing at William & Mary, leading the office's digital strategy across its three priorities of enrollment, advancement, and institutional reputation. After an initial stint as a software developer at two technology startups, she returned to W&M (her graduate school alma mater) in 2010 as a web developer and its first social media coordinator. In 2017 she transitioned to her current role as part of University Advancement. She has presented at HighEdWeb, CASE Social Media & Community, and the College Communicators Association of Virginia and D.C. (CCA) Conference. She is a past president of CCA, leads the Management and Leadership Community Group for HighEdWeb and is one of W&M’s Institutional Representatives to the American Council on Education's Women's Network for Virginia.

Caroline Ward has been a member of the William & Mary admission team for nearly eight years. She is a Senior Assistant Dean within the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Caroline graduated from Miami University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts and she also holds a Master of Education from William & Mary in Higher Education Administration. She currently leads international recruitment efforts. She is the regional dean for Washington, D.C., New York City (NY), New Jersey, and all international territories. She collaborates with social media groups as well as marketing and communication teams.

Emily Phillips oversees William & Mary's flagship social media channels and provides guidance to the university's network of social media managers. Her work includes strategy development, social media measurement, crisis and emergency communications support and directing a team of student social media ambassadors. She has over 10 years of PR and Social Media Marketing experience in the higher education and tourism industries.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership Buy-In is Crucial: Institutional leadership support drives meaningful change in marketing and enrollment strategies.
• Data-Driven Website Redesign: A student-centric website, paired with actionable data insights, improves engagement and simplifies navigation for prospective students.
• Integrated CRM Solutions: Tools like Slate enable real-time communication, personalized outreach, and streamlined event management for prospective students.
• Breaking Silos: Collaboration across departments fosters better communication, reduces duplication, and improves student experiences.
• Culture of Continuous Improvement: Regular evaluation, after-action reports, and an openness to feedback ensure ongoing success.

How the University of Idaho Transformed Enrollment Marketing 
When Adam Stoltz joined the University of Idaho in 2019, the institution faced mounting challenges: declining enrollment, lack of a cohesive marketing strategy, and a disjointed web presence. Under the leadership of a new university president, a cultural shift took place. Enrollment and marketing became top priorities, emphasizing a student-first approach. Stoltz's dual reporting role to the Chief Marketing Officer and Strategic Enrollment Management gave him unique visibility to align marketing with recruitment strategies. This shift led to a focus on storytelling, virtual engagement, and integrated communications.

A Student-Centric Website Redesign 
The cornerstone of Idaho’s enrollment success has been its redesigned website. The project started by understanding student needs: “What do you want to do?” prominently guides users to actions like applying, exploring costs, or taking a virtual tour. A data-driven approach identified and streamlined high-priority pages, ensuring a frictionless experience. Tools like search engine optimization (SEO), personalized call-to-actions, and CRM integration have significantly increased website engagement. Stoltz highlights the importance of listening to data, citing a condensed Request for Information form that improved conversion rates.

Leveraging Slate for Real-Time Impact 
CRM integration through Slate has revolutionized Idaho’s approach to student engagement. By connecting events, requests, and inquiries in one system, the university provides instant follow-ups through calls or texts, often within 24-48 hours. This shift eliminated delays and enhanced personalization, ensuring prospective students feel valued. Stoltz shared examples like event communications and data-driven campaigns, all contributing to Idaho's record-breaking enrollment achievements.

The Role of Leadership in Marketing Transformation 
According to Stoltz, success starts with leadership buy-in. At Idaho, leadership prioritized marketing and enrollment resources, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. Stoltz emphasized the importance of communicating wins—big and small—to garner support across campus. By engaging departments that initially hesitated, the team built momentum and a shared commitment to improving the student experience.

Results: Proof of Concept 
The results speak for themselves: three consecutive years of record-breaking enrollment, with the potential for a fourth on the horizon. These successes reflect the culmination of strategic investments, cultural transformation, and a relentless focus on the student journey. Stoltz credits collaboration, data insights, and an unwavering commitment to improvement for the university’s achievements.

Guest Name: Adam Stoltz, Director of Enrollment Marketing, University of Idaho

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstoltz/

Guest Bio: With over two decades of experience in higher education marketing and enrollment management, I earned my Ed.D in higher education administration from Saint Louis University. I also hold a Bachelor's degree in Arts Management with a minor in computer science, along with a master's degree in organizational leadership and management. My career has seen progressive leadership roles in various university settings, including private, public, land grant, flagship, and the largest state system in the country. I have been recognized with multiple marketing awards for my expertise, particularly in CRM, and I also work as a higher education consultant. Currently, I serve as the Director of Enrollment Marketing at the University of Idaho, where I am part of the university's marketing team reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer and embedded with the Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management. Notably, our university experienced its largest incoming class in fall 2022, the second largest in 2023, and set another record in fall 2024. The University of Idaho is a public land-grant research university, older than the state of Idaho itself. It has been recognized as the #1 Best Value Public University in the West for five consecutive years, and we are working towards achieving R1 status.

Guest Name: Joe Master, Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Carnegie

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjmaster/

Guest Bio: Joseph Master is the Senior Vice President of Brand Management for Carnegie, where he partners with colleges and universities to build brands that resonate with emotion and authenticity. His freelance work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, television commercials and on tiny screens across the nation.

Prior to his agency work, Joe spent 12 years leading marketing and communications teams at two large Philadelphia universities — Temple University and Drexel University. Joe served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Digital Strategy for Drexel University on the in-house team responsible for executing the award-winning Ambition Can’t Wait national brand awareness campaign, the enterprise overhaul of Drexel.edu, and the oversight of all paid and social media for the University’s 15 colleges and schools. 

Joe lives in South Jersey, just over the bridge from Philadelphia, with his wife and son. When he isn’t building brands, you can find Joe mixing cocktails or writing songs on his trusty Gibson J-45.

Guest Name: Alyssa Green, University Photography Manager at the University of Montevallo

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-luna-green/

Guest Bio: As a higher education photographer, Alyssa Green is the visual storyteller for the University of Montevallo. She tells the story of this idyllic college campus by capturing athletic games and theatre performances, photographing students, faculty, and alumni for the University’s alumni publication, providing professional headshot experiences for the campus community, and documenting special events, just to name a few. Her photos are used in print and digital marketing and can be seen on billboards, brochures, the University’s website, or various social media accounts. While Alyssa does enjoy serving her alma mater and building relationships, when she’s not on campus, you will find her spending time with her husband and their three children going on hikes, traveling to the beach, remodeling their mid-century modern home or looking for somewhere local to eat.

On this episode of Breaking Silos, I sat down with Joel Goodman, Principal and CEO of Bravery Media, to talk about how campuses can use their website and a website redesign to break down silos. Joel, a former higher ed marketer, has been helping colleges and universities rethink how they use their most significant marketing tool for over a decade with Bravery. 

How can a project like a website redesign create natural synergies between departments looking to improve collaboration, and how can conversations about how we use our website and for whom break down silos and increase understanding?

Check our Bravery’s work at https://bravery.co/ and see how your institution's speed compares to the industry with Bravery’s tool, SpeedyU.

Guest Name: Joel Goodman, Principal and CEO, Bravery Media

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgoodman/

Guest Bio: Joel Goodman is a digital strategist, marketer, and designer with nearly 20 years of professional experience. Hospitable design practices frame his work and put into practice at Bravery Media, the higher education-focused digital studio he founded in 2012. He speaks and writes about hospitable design, conversion rate optimization, UX research, digital strategy, and front-end development tools. He's also hosted the Thought Feeder and Appendix B podcasts, with some new things in the works.

Check out the Lessons in Leadership Course and Podcast.‍

Key Takeaways

• Leverage MARCOM as a Change Agent: MARCOM teams naturally bridge campus departments, making them effective agents for breaking silos.
• Implement Small, Strategic Changes: Adopting the "two degrees" philosophy helps in creating incremental change, reducing resistance.
• Enhance Collaboration by Building Rapport: Fostering personal connections with campus partners can strengthen collaboration.
• Define Priorities Clearly: Using "bucket A and bucket B" tactics helps focus on high-impact tasks while setting realistic expectations with campus partners.
• Advocate for MARCOM on the Cabinet: Having marketing represented in strategic leadership allows for comprehensive input on initiatives beyond just promotion.

How Can Leaders Break Silos on Campus? 
Phillips begins by explaining how MARCOM teams are inherently positioned to connect different areas of a university due to their widespread collaborations—from history departments to enrollment offices. With insight into various campus activities, MARCOM can spot and address inefficiencies that others may overlook. One example Phillips gives is mapping the enrollment funnel at a previous institution, a project that revealed fragmented communication across 17 offices in five divisions. By bringing everyone together, MARCOM was able to streamline processes and reduce student confusion.

Phillips emphasizes a “two degrees” approach—making small but meaningful adjustments with each project. This gradual, intentional change helps teams avoid resistance while fostering an environment that encourages progress.

Strategies for Enhancing Collaboration for New Leaders 
New leaders often struggle with collaboration, especially in complex higher ed environments. Phillips encourages leaders to actively engage with other departments by going to them instead of requiring formal office visits. Establishing rapport is crucial; arriving early to meetings to share personal updates builds camaraderie, transforming colleagues into genuine collaborators. Phillips also advises shared agendas and collaborative notes, creating transparency and mutual understanding during meetings.

Building strong relationships, she notes, is about establishing human connections and understanding each partner’s context, which ultimately supports more harmonious and efficient teamwork. 

Why Are Silos Prevalent in Higher Education, and How Can MARCOM Help? 
Phillips explains that silos stem from organizational structures where each unit operates according to its own strategic goals, often at the expense of cross-departmental collaboration. This fragmentation can create a resource tug-of-war, particularly when budgets are tight. MARCOM leaders, however, can work to align goals by identifying areas where different departments might be working on similar initiatives. By uniting teams around shared objectives, MARCOM can foster a more holistic approach to university goals, benefiting enrollment, student experience, and fundraising efforts.

How to Stay Focused on High-Impact Projects 
When overwhelmed with high-priority projects, Phillips shares her method of identifying “bucket A” versus “bucket B” priorities. Bucket A tasks are essential, long-lasting initiatives, while bucket B tasks are shorter-term or less impactful. Teaching her team to prioritize helps them manage workload and deliver maximum institutional impact. She also encourages aligning MARCOM goals with other departments' top priorities, ensuring that the highest-impact projects are consistently prioritized.

For instance, instead of dedicating resources to small events like a math department gathering, her team might focus on a campus-wide initiative with long-term benefits.

‍The Importance of a Seat at the Table for MARCOM Leaders 
Phillips argues that marketing’s role in leadership goes beyond promotion. As part of a university’s cabinet, MARCOM can influence broader strategies concerning product, price, and place. Historically, marketing has been restricted to promotion, but Phillips believes that MARCOM teams possess valuable insights that can contribute to product development, pricing, and service delivery. She stresses that MARCOM's presence on the cabinet allows for comprehensive planning, providing essential input early in decision-making processes.

‍Developing Confidence as a New Leader 
For emerging leaders, building confidence is key. Phillips recalls how early mentorship from industry veteran Terry Flannery helped her recognize her own value. She suggests that new leaders prepare rigorously for leadership discussions by learning essential skills like budgeting, strategic planning, and people management. Confidence grows, Phillips notes, when leaders are well-prepared to contribute insights in budgetary or strategic discussions—skills that aren’t always taught but are crucial for effective leadership.

‍Building the Next Generation of Higher Ed Leaders 
Higher ed has room to improve when it comes to training future leaders, according to Phillips. At her institution, a Faculty Leadership Academy has been established to guide faculty members transitioning into leadership roles. Beyond formal programs, she emphasizes the importance of understanding budget processes, HR dynamics, and campus procedures—fundamental areas where new leaders often lack training. By fostering partnerships with HR and finance, Phillips is working to empower her team and colleagues across campus.

Phillips is committed to growing the next generation of leaders through Enrollify’s Lessons in Leadership course and video series. With a focus on situational leadership, conflict management, and essential communication skills, the course provides young leaders with practical tools. Enrollify’s Lessons in Leadership playlist delivers quick insights on crucial topics like failure and managing criticism, offering actionable advice in digestible formats.

Guest Name: Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriehphillips/ 

Guest Bio: Dr. Carrie Phillips is the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at UA Little Rock where she is charged with telling the university’s incredible story. She considers herself part creative and part analyst but fully curious to solve challenges in higher education. Carrie earned her doctorate from Texas Tech University where she studied how regional public universities are using marketing efforts to mitigate the enrollment cliff. Prior to joining UA Little Rock, she worked 14 years at Arkansas Tech University where she led a brand study, the first comprehensive brand campaign and oversaw collateral development for the current comprehensive campaign. Carrie is a member of the American Marketing Association and holds the Professional Certified Marketer credential. She is also chair-elect of the District IV Cabinet for CASE and a member of UCDA. Finally, she is a puppy mom to Eleanor Belle—a 10-pound maltipoo.

Guest Name:  

• Jenny Petty, Vice President for Marketing, Communications, Engagement and Experience 
• Leslie Webb, Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management at the University of Montana

Guest Social: 
Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennydurnanpetty/
Leslie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliejwebb/

Guest Bios:
Jenny Petty: Jenny Petty left the corporate world where she worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Dolly Parton, Family Guy, Harley Davidson, Phantom of the Opera and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and joined the world of higher ed almost 7 years ago. She currently serves as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the University of Montana. In this role she oversees brand strategy, digital innovation, enrollment marketing, creative services and strategic communications as well as the public media arm of the University and the Alumni Association. Before coming to Montana, Petty was the Director of Enrollment Marketing at the University of Wyoming, where she was a key, driving force behind The World Needs More Cowboys campaign. She finds joy in building teams and helping others grow, as well as flexing her creative muscles whenever she can. She’s a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism and the University of Nevada and has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University where her studies are focused on the intersection of Servant Leadership and the marketing profession. She’s the host of “The Servant Marketer,” a podcast featuring marketing leaders, marketers, creatives, academics and entrepreneurs and shares thoughts on how marketers and leaders can serve first at servantmarketer.co.

Leslie Webb is the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management at the University of Montana. Prior, she was the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Boise State University. She was also at Central Washington University for six years as the Associate Vice President of Assessment and Strategic Planning and the Director of Diversity and Leadership. 
Webb holds a doctor of philosophy in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University and a master of science in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois university. She also has a bachelor of arts in Theatre Arts from Central Washington University

Our discussion covers higher education marketing from multiple lenses, including the progress made and work still needed to grow marketing’s influence and importance on campuses, Terry’s thoughts on silos in general and how campus leaders should address them, and a discussion on CASE’s new report: A Framework for Brand and Reputation Metrics in Education.

Guest Name: Terry Flannery, CASE

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-flannery-ph-d-2860b428/

Guest Bio: Terry Flannery is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at CASE, one of the largest global education associations in the world. CASE is the professional development home for 90,000 advancement professionals in eighty countries, who build relationships, revenue, and reputation in support of their institutions. 
One of the leading university marketing professionals in the world, Flannery has led two of the most successful brand campaigns in higher education. She held the chief marketing and communication role at Stony Brook University, American University, and the University of Maryland. Flannery authored How to Market A University, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press in their series for higher education leaders. 
Terry holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Education (College Student Personnel Administration) and a BA in English, all from the University of Maryland. She is a fellow at the American University Center for University Excellence and of the Academy of Innovative Higher Education Leadership.

Guest Name: Jaime Hunt, President, Solve Higher Ed Marketing

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/

Guest Bio: After a 20-year career in higher education, including nine years as a chief marketing officer, Jaime Hunt launched Solve Higher Ed Marketing in 2024. To this consultancy, Jaime brings a passion for building brands, telling stories, and leading with empathy. 
After beginning her career in 1997 in print journalism, Jaime began working in higher education in 2004. Since that time, she has been responsible for media relations, marketing, creative direction, crisis communications, branding, digital communications, reputation/issues management, multimedia, photography, public radio, enrollment/admissions communications, and government relations.
From 2015-2024, she served in vice president/chief communications and marketing officer roles at Old Dominion University (large, public R1), Miami University (large, public R2), and Winston-Salem State University (small, public HBCU). Prior to those positions, Jaime served in marketing, web strategy, branding, and media relations leadership roles at Radford University, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Northwestern Health Sciences University.
Throughout her career, Jaime has been a highly visible leader with volunteer service for a number of professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, HigherEdWeb, the College Communicators of the Carolinas, and the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem. She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences on a wide range of marketing communications topics. Her work has earned more than 40 industry awards.
Jaime holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. She is also a graduate of the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership.

Guest Name: Joshua Charles, Director of Web Strategy and Technology at Rutgers Business School.

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacharles/

Guest Bio: Joshua Charles is a senior marketing and communications leader in higher education. Josh is also a volunteer and Board Member for HighEdWeb, a professional development network supporting digital professionals who work in higher education.

We’ll discuss the challenges and future outlook of these roles from Fran and Keith's perspectives and discuss what young marketers and enrollment professionals can do to be successful in them. 

Guest Names: 
Fran Reed, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, Neumann University
Keith Ramsdell, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Ashland University

Guest Socials: 
Find Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-ramsdell-06784945/
Find Fran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-reed-6770b355/

Guest Bios: 
Francesca Reed - Ms. Francesca Reed, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Fran Reed has held the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing since January 2020 at Neumann University where she oversees Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, admissions operations, Financial Aid, Neumann Media, and Marketing and Communications. Before coming to Neumann University, she held multiple positions in enrollment management spanning over 20 years. Her career has included positions as Assistant Director of Summer Sessions and Adult Ed at the Catholic University of America, Coordinator of Graduate Enrollment, Director of Graduate Enrollment Services, and her last position as Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Marymount University. Francesca has presented at numerous conferences and has been identified as an expert particularly within graduate enrollment. She received the prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 2019 from The National Association of Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP)and has served the NAGAP Board in a variety of positions as Conference Chair, Marketing, and Education Chair and now serves as the Vice President for the Association.  She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University.

Keith Ramsdell - Keith Ramsdell has over 25 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education and enrollment management, with nearly 15 years focused exclusively on graduate enrollment.
He currently serves as Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ashland University in Ohio where he provides strategic leadership and vision for undergraduate, graduate, international and online admissions, enrollment operations, financial aid, military and veterans services, homeschool and classical learning initiatives.
Keith has been a member of NAGAP since 2006. Over the years he has chaired the Professional Development, Bylaws, and Awards Committees. He has served as Vice President and President of the Association, and is currently chair of the External Relations and Partnerships Committee and a member of the NAGAP Experts Bureau.
He was the recipient of the association’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award. He has presented at national conferences and consulted on topics including data-informed decision making, CRM selection and implementation,

Catch new episodes of The Application every other Tuesday, and new episodes of Breaking Silos every other Wednesday!

Guest Names:
Allison Turcio, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College
Shane Baglini, Senior Director of Marketing, Muhlenberg College

Guest Bios:
Allison Turcio - Allison Turcio, Ed.D., is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College, a marketing professor, freelance marketing consultant, host of The Application Podcast, and publisher of the Higher Education Marketer's Digest. She is known for her innovative and student-centered approach to college-wide marketing, market research, and enrollment communications efforts. The Siena team and their partners have won numerous awards, including a Best in Show Educational Advertising Award and AMA's inaugural Emerging Marketer in Higher Education Award She is a frequent presenter at industry conferences, including American Marketing Association’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, eduWeb and others. She serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing. Allison was selected for the Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 and Siena College’s Excellence in Administration award in 2020. She holds a doctorate degree in higher education leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s in communications and bachelor’s in English.

Shane Baglini - Shane Baglini leads Muhlenberg College's strategic recruitment and digital marketing efforts, manages all web and social media initiatives, and supports the College's brand and awareness endeavors across the institution. With a higher ed marketing career approaching a decade in length, Shane has a deep background in transforming strategies and tactics to maximize results and implementing best practices to meet institutional goals.

Guest Socials: 
Find Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio
Find Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini

Guest Name: Eddie Francis, Founder, Edify Ventures

Guest Bios: Eddie Francis, a brand strategy consultant, award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, and speaker, is driven by the deep belief in the importance of being valued. As the founder of Edify Ventures, a consultancy focusing on personal and employer branding, Eddie hosts "I Wanna Work There!" on employer branding in higher education and "For Our Edification" on personal leadership. With a background in radio, including hosting the "HBCU Lifestyle Podcast," Eddie's contributions extend to various platforms, earning him recognition as one of New Orleans Magazine's "30 People to Watch." In higher education, he played pivotal roles in brand identity, communications, and enrollment growth. As a speaker, Eddie shares leadership insights with college students and has contributed to the book "Leadership to Letters." Eddie holds a Master of Professional Studies in strategic leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. Proudly affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he is the husband of Dr. Halima Leak Francis and the father of Stevie.

Find Eddie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiefrancis/

This council, sponsored by senior university leaders, is enhancing collaboration between departments and campuses, with the ultimate goal of integrating AI into marcomm workflows safely and ethically. Tune in as Brian and Megan discuss the history and formation of the AI marcomm stakeholder group, the executive sponsorship backing their efforts, the specific tools and guidelines being tested, and the future objectives of their groundbreaking initiatives. 

Discover how their work is set to revolutionize marketing strategies and foster innovation at the University of Rochester.

Guest Names:
Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy and Assessment, University of Rochester
Megan Crawford, Senior Marketing Strategist, Center for Advanced Research Technologies (CART), University of Rochester Medical Center 

Guest Social Handles: 
Find Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/
Find Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-the-marketer/

Guest Bios: 
Brian Piper - Brian Piper is an author, international keynote speaker, and consultant. Brian has been optimizing digital content since 1996. He has created online training programs for hundreds of companies including Xerox, L3Harris, IBM, and Volvo, and has spoken at hundreds of conferences and events.
Brian has spent the last eight years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. Since 2021, he has been diving into AI, web3, community building, and the metaverse.
Brian wrote Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education and co-authored the second edition of Epic Content Marketing with Joe Pulizzi. He is a contributing author and co-editor of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever with Mark Schaefer and a co-author of The Content Entrepreneur with Joe Pulizzi. Brian was named one of the top 10 higher education marketers to follow in 2023.
When he’s not creating data visualizations, he teaches wingsuit skydiving and spends time with his wife and six children.

Megan Crawford - Megan Crawford is a marketing strategist for the University of Rochester Medical Center’s strategic communications team, supporting the biomedical research division. She recently transitioned to this role from the business sector, where she spent the majority of her 20-year marketing career working in luxury goods and consulting. 
Megan is also pursuing a STEM MBA part-time at Simon Business School, focusing on competitive strategy, innovation, and AI. Passionate about preventive healthcare research and emerging technologies, Megan co-chairs the University’s MarCom AI committee and engages with industry leaders as a corporate relations committee member for the Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities.
In her free time, Megan draws from her art background to design everything from interiors to logos, is an avid traveler and skier, and enjoys lake life along the shores of Lake Ontario.

Discover how Hartwick College established a new melt committee, implemented innovative communication plans, and redefined their orientation process with "Wick Week" to foster a sense of belonging among first-year students. Learn about the importance of process mapping, marketing strategies, admissions outreach, and the use of retention data in their mission to enhance student success.

Join us as Bryan and Gail share insights on addressing financial implications, reestablishing financial policies, and the pivotal role of data in driving their initiatives. This episode is a testament to the impact of breaking down silos and leveraging cross-divisional relationships to achieve institutional goals.

Guest Names:
Bryan Gross, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics
Gail Glover, Vice President for Strategic Communications

Guest Social Handles: 
Find Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-j-gross/
Find Gail on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gailglover/

Guest Bios:
Bryan - Dr. Bryan Gross is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, leading innovative strategies to enhance the quality and diversity of the College’s enrollment management and financial aid optimization plans. One of his primary responsibilities is to develop partnerships locally, nationally and internationally that strengthen the College’s position in the market that lead to positive college-going rates and student success outcomes. 
Prior to Hartwick College, Dr. Gross served as vice president for enrollment management and marketing, and as interim vice president of student affairs at Western New England University in Springfield, MA. He was also the associate vice president of enrollment management at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. and associate vice president of admissions, dean of admissions, and director of international admissions at the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT.
A national and international thought leader, Dr. Gross is a regular presenter, contributor and researcher to articles and workshops on enrollment management, leadership and collaboration, student belonging, international student mobility, and financial aid. He has been a co-principal investigator for a National Science Foundation grant and has served as an executive board member and treasurer of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC).
Dr. Gross earned a doctorate in organizational change and leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. His dissertation examined how collaboration among senior higher education leaders can facilitate positive revenue outcomes at regional and private institutions. Gross also holds a master’s degree from Springfield College and a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Gail - From NCAA championships to brand transformations, Gail Glover brings a wealth of experience to her role as vice president for strategic communications at Hartwick College. Throughout her career, Gail has consistently spearheaded successful communication initiatives across the higher education landscape.
Her dedication to impactful communication is evident in her previous roles. At Dutchess Community College, Gail's leadership in launching new programs wasn't just about creating awareness – it led to a significant enrollment increase. This exemplifies her ability to translate strategy into tangible results.
At Bucknell University, Gail's leadership and strategic vision proved invaluable during the emergence of COVID-19. Gail guided Bucknell's initial response, fostering clear communication both internally and externally.
Prior to that, at SUNY Geneseo, Gail wasn't just building a brand; she was crafting a powerful identity. Under her guidance, Geneseo unveiled a new logo and launched its first digital marketing and advertising campaigns, propelling the college into a more competitive market position.
Gail's ability to leverage communication for positive impact goes beyond traditional marketing. As senior director of communications and marketing at Union College, she spearheaded efforts to maximize media coverage for the college's successful bid for an NCAA Division 1 men's ice hockey championship – the Frozen Four. This resulted in not only national media attention but also extensive engagement on social media platforms, highlighting her talent for capitalizing on strategic opportunities.
Gail's career journey demonstrates a deep understanding of the diverse communication needs within higher education. From providing strategic counsel to senior administration at Binghamton University to acting as the university spokesperson and overseeing crisis management efforts, she has consistently proven her ability to navigate complex situations and deliver clear, effective communication.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gail is passionate about using strategic story-telling across platforms to elevate the voices of institutions and empower their communities.

Tune in as Maria and Noelle share the challenges they faced, the strategies they employed, and the successes they achieved in making Buffs All In a more collaborative and impactful event. Learn about the importance of empowering stakeholders, creating a consistent experience across campus, and leveraging social media to reach a wider audience. Discover how their efforts in process mapping, toolkit creation, and stakeholder training have set the stage for ongoing growth and success.

Join us for an insightful conversation on breaking down silos, fostering cross-campus collaboration, and driving meaningful change in higher education fundraising.

Guest Names:
Maria Kuntz, Creative Communications and Services Director for CU Boulder Advancement
Noelle Seybert, Director of Social Media, Colorado University Boulder

Guest Social: 
Find Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariakuntz/
Find Noelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelleseybert/

Guest Bios: 
Maria Kuntz: Maria Kuntz is a dynamic and growth-focused Communications and Marketing Director with extensive experience leading diverse teams and managing complex projects across various platforms. Her track record of exceeding goals and transforming creative strategies has made her a standout in her field. With over 15 years of inclusive communications and marketing experience in nonprofit and higher education organizations, she develops and leads teams to produce award-winning and impact-driving communications that advance institutional goals.

Noelle Seybert: Dr. Noelle Seybert is a higher education marketing career professional. With a career spanning more than 15 years and including three different institutions ranging from religiously affiliated private to R1 public, she enjoys the rewards and challenges that comes with the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing. In her current role at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado's flagship institution, she is charged with managing the strategy and engagement on the main @CUBoulder social media channels. She is happiest in a spreadsheet and brainstorming new ways to communicate with a variety of audiences. 
Noelle earned her Doctor of Business with an emphasis in quantitative marketing from George Fox University, her Master of Business Administration from Point Loma Nazarene University, and her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Point Loma Nazarene University. She lives in Denver, Colorado, and you can find her at local wine events or reading poolside on a sunny day.  

Guest Name: Troy Singer, Digital Marketing Specialist, Ring Digital and Co-Host of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast

Find Troy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troysinger/  

Guest Bio: As a Digital Marketing Specialist with a passion for Higher Ed, Troy loves gaining a clear understanding of the current outreach landscape of colleges and universities, both the wins and challenges. From there he works with them to together determine if his unique and proven digital solutions can enhance their enrollment programs or alumni engagement. Troy will help grow your number or get you to your desired goals faster in a cost-effective way.
Now with the power of Ring Digital, he enhances the current outreach methods schools use by adding cookie-free digital advertising which empowers them to be more accurate than ever and reaching their list or ideal audience with certainty.
Together, Troy and Ring Digital are obsessed with precision. Their digital marketing tools are the most targeted, most efficient, and most effective on the market today. Their digital video placement and display ad buying technology allows them to target your audience down to the household. Not zip code. Not block. Not range of IP address. Household. We use rifles, not shotguns. Scalpels, not cleavers.
Troy lives in Dayton, Ohio, and enjoys spending time with family and friends and cheering on his Cincinnati Bengals.

Guest Name: Bart Caylor, President and Founder of Caylor Solutions and host of The Higher Ed Marketer podcast.

Find Bart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartcaylor

Guest Bio: With over 35 years of experience in design and marketing, Bart Caylor has worked with top global brands and nonprofits like Motorola, RCA, Iams Pet Food, Lumina Foundation, Western Governors University, and the American Bible Society.
Bart founded Caylor Solutions, a higher education marketing and design firm, in 2011 to combine the best practices of his corporate, nonprofit, and education experience, specifically for higher education clients. In 2023, Bart was named one of the "Top 10 Higher Ed Marketers You Should Follow" for offering straightforward, practical advice on marketing challenges via The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast. With over 150 episodes featuring higher education marketing's leading voices, The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast regularly ranks in the top 3 "must-listen-to podcasts" by various blogs and higher ed industry influencers. 
Bart just released his first book, "Chasing Mission Fit: A Marketing Guide To Fill Your Institution With Students Who Will Succeed," which reached #1 in Marketing on Amazon. He is a sought-after speaker and trusted consultant for higher education institutions, businesses, and conferences because of his expertise in generative AI, marketing, and website design. Be sure to connect with Bart on LinkedIn.

Guest Name: Dr. Don Hunt, Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Services at North Carolina State University

Find Dr. Hunt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-don-hunt-b742911/

Guest Bio: Dr. Don Hunt serves as Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Services at NC State University. In this role, he is responsible for guiding the units within Enrollment Management and Services (EMAS), which includes undergraduate admissions, scholarships and financial aid, registration and records, enrollment systems and operations, communications, marketing and outreach, Community College Collaboration (C3), Goodnight Scholars Program, summer sessions, parents and families services, campus visits, Student Services Center, non-degree studies, veterans education benefits, and pre-college programs.
Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Department of Registration and Records, Summer Sessions, E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Non-Degree Studies, Goodnight Scholars Program, Community College Collaboration (C3) and Parent and Families Services. Hunt came to NC State in 2021 after serving as associate vice chancellor for enrollment at the University of California, Davis.
While at UC-Davis, Hunt led a team responsible for the university’s admissions, registrar, financial aid, enrollment analytics and business operations within academic affairs. He helped forge internal and external partnerships with UC-Davis’ student affairs, advancement and alumni relations, and information technology units, the Office of Institutional Research, as well as K-12 educational institutions, community colleges and the community at large.
Hunt received his Bachelor of Science in business administration, Master of Science in technology management from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Ed.D. in educational leadership from California State University, Fresno. He is a member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and College Admissions Officers and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Hunt is also a U.S. Army veteran.

For more about TEDxUArizona and the recent "Spirit of Wonder" event, visit their official site at https://tedx.arizona.edu.

Guest Name/Title/Employer: Emily Stulz, Director of Social Media

Joe Klug, Assistant Director of the Experience Team

Guest Email: Emily Stulz: emilystulz@arizona.edu

Joe Klug: jckdesigns@arizona.edu

Guest Bio: 

Joe's bio:

Joe C. Klug’s roots as a live performance and experiential designer have led him to re-engage an audience that is disconnected from our institutions, brands, and one another. Through his work exploring, shifting, and challenging the traditional relationship between audience and performance, he aims to connect us in new ways through memorable moments. Joe’s paradigm-changing scenic design work has been seen in theaters nationwide and has now expanded past the proscenium to touch audiences in the boardroom and beyond. In 2018 Live Design acknowledged Joe’s impact in “30 Under 30,” a feature on the young movers and shakers rising to the forefront of their field. In 2020 Joe was honored with Live Design and USITT’s Rising Star Award, recognizing emerging professionals for their artistic achievement. 

Emily's bio

Emily Stulz has spent her career in higher ed social media, manning the helm of flagship social accounts through brand updates, crises, and viral moments. As the Director of Social Media for the University of Arizona, she oversees the flagship and enrollment accounts. She provides guidance and support for social media professionals across campus, working to create a cohesive university-wide presence on social media.

Guest Social Handles:  Joe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jckdesigns/

Emily's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilystulz/

Website link: 

https://tedx.arizona.edu/

Learn more about undergraduate research in this piece from Inside Higher Ed.

Guest Names:
Nate Jorgensen, Senior Director of Marketing
Dr. Joyce J. Fernandes, Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research, Miami University (OH)

Guest Social Handles: 
Find Nate on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgensennate
Find Joyce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-j-fernandes-9b54b58b/

Guest Bios: 
Nate Jorgensen is the Senior Director of Marketing at Miami University in Ohio where he leads the university's brand marketing, website, creative, and social media teams. Prior to Miami, Nate served for five years as the Director of Marketing for the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He has 20 years of marketing and communications experience with 15 years in higher education.

Joyce J Fernandes is Professor of Biology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she has been teaching and conducting research there since 1999. Dr Fernandes teaches courses in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology and Neurobiology. Her research focuses on the reorganization of motor systems in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, which has been funded by the National Science Foundation as well as the National Institutes of Health. Since Fall 2017, Dr Fernandes has served in an additional role as Director of Undergraduate Research at Miami University. She oversees an institutional First Year Research Experience program [FYRE] which she helped to develop. Dr Fernandes is a passionate advocate for undergraduate research and is involved in collaboratively engaging partners across the institution to raise the profile of undergraduate research at the institution and beyond. Email: joyce.fernandes@miamioh.edu

Guest Names:
Kin Sejpal, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Kevin Dyerly, Vice President, Enrollment

Guest Social: 
Find Kin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinsejpal/
Find Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dyerly-6b217513/

Guest Bios:
Kinnari “Kin” Sejpal is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications/Chief Marketing Officer at University of Redlands where she oversees brand management, enrollment marketing, and communications and digital teams. Before joining Redlands, Kin served as the Associate Vice President, Marketing and Creative Services at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Among her many accomplishments there, Kin developed RIT’s brand strategy and launched its first national reputation campaign. Kin started her career in the U.S. by joining Purdue University’s Office of Marketing and Media where she held progressively responsible roles in the areas of advertising, marketing strategy, and marketing intelligence. Dedicated to advancing higher education and the importance of marketing in shaping the perception of our industry, Kin serves in prominent positions with CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) and AMA (American Marketing Association). Kin has an M.B.A in Marketing and Strategic Management, and an M.A. in Communications from Purdue University.

Kevin Dyerly, a double alumnus of the University of Redlands, brings 24 years of experience in the enrollment management space and serves as Vice President of Enrollment. He’s led enrollment efforts at the University of Redlands since 2012 and, prior to that, Whitman College where he served as director of admissions.
Kevin was appointed as the Vice President of Finance and CFO at University of Redlands in July 2020 and served in that role for three years where he helped lead the institution through and out of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Kevin began his career in Admissions at Redlands before his seven-year stint at Whitman.  He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2000 and his MBA in 2004 from the University of Redlands.
Kevin has been active in leadership of professional organizations during his career.  He served as president on the executive board of the Pacific Northwest Association of College Admission Counselors and on advisory boards or committees for the Western and National Associations for College Admissions Counseling and the College Board

Guest Names: 
Courtney Skiles, Director of Recruiting and Admissions
Joanna Fritz, Director of Marketing and Communications

Guest Social Handles:   
Find Courtney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyskiles56/
Find Joanna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-fritz-iom-79382122/

Guest Bios: 
Courtney Skiles is the Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, TX. She found her passion for higher ed as a student at TVCC in 2016 and has relentlessly pursued her higher ed career and education ever since. She is a proud gen-z leader specializing in student engagement, creative problem-solving, and organizational change. She is less than a month away from earning her Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from Maryville University and aims to utilize her career to continuously promote higher education to underserved populations.

Joanna Fritz has spent the past 30+ years in marketing and communications for companies large and small, for-profit and non-profit, and as a consultant. She has also worked in marketing for Texas A&M University Development Foundation, Western Wyoming Community College, and is currently Director of Marketing and Communications at Trinity Valley Community College, a position she held since 2022. Joanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Communications from Montana Tech in Butte, Montana. She and her husband of 38 years, Clark, have one son and a beautiful daughter-in-law who are both attorneys in Wyoming.

Guest Names: 
Dr. Jacquelyn Fetrow, President, Albright College
Michelle Arevalo, Enrollment Marketing Communications Manager
Matthew Bieber, Assistant Professor of Business

Guest Social:   
Find Dr. Fetrow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelynfetrow/
Find Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-b-86b8513/
Find Matthew on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bieber/

Guest Names: 
Maya Demishkevich, Chief Marketing Officer
Kristie Crumely, Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Marketing

Guest Social Handles:   
Find Maya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/
Maya's Website: https://mayademishkevich.com/
Maya's Podcast: https://mayademishkevich.com/podcast/
Maya's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/
Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycollegecrusader/

Find Kristie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiecrumley/  

Guest Bios: 
Maya Demishkevich is a chief marketing officer at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Maryland. She has over 15 years of experience in higher education, ranging from leading marketing, communications and retention initiatives and teaching undergraduate and doctoral level courses to developing programs. She is also a host of a community college focused podcast, the Hidden Gem.

Dr. Kristie Crumley currently serves as the Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Marketing at Carroll Community College. She oversees the Student Affairs division of the College, which comprises, Admissions, Advising, Transfer and Retention, Records and Registration, Financial Aid, Student Engagement, Disability Support Services and Student Care and Integrity. In addition, she has oversight for the Marketing and Creative Services department for the College. Dr. Crumley is known as an enthusiastic educator and collaborative administrator with a student-centered philosophy. She is passionate about student development and engagement leading to the achievement of academic, transfer and career goals.
Prior to her position as Associate Provost, she served in a variety of positions at Carroll Community College, including Director of Student Life, Senior Director of Student Engagement and Completion, and Dean of Student Affairs. Before moving into Student Affairs, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department for 5 years in a full-time position and 2 years as an adjunct professor. Dr. Crumley taught a variety of courses including Calculus 1 and 2, Precalculus, Introduction to College Mathematics, Transitional Math, Geometry, and Mathematical Concepts and Structures. Dr. Crumley also developed and served as Director of the Hill Scholars Program for 13 years.
Before coming to Carroll Community College, Dr. Crumley taught mathematics at Damascus High School in Montgomery County, Maryland for 6 years. While at Damascus, she taught Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, and Advanced Placement Calculus. She also coached varsity girl’s lacrosse, junior varsity field hockey, and served as the Student Government Association advisor."Dr. Crumley holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from American University, a master’s degree in education, with a focus on curriculum and instruction from Western Maryland College, and a Doctorate degree in Management from the University of Maryland, University College.

Guest Names: 
Dr. Janet Spriggs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Forsyth Tech Community College
Devin Purgason, Executive Director of Marketing and Student Care

Guests Social:   
Find Dr. Spriggs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetnspriggs/
Find Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinpurgason/

Guest Bios: 
Dr. Janet Spriggs - Bringing over two decades of dedicated service in public higher education, Dr. Janet Spriggs’ journey has led her to the proud presidency of Forsyth Technical Community College. Her institution is more than an educational entity; it's a transformative force for workforce empowerment and a driver of economic vitality. Her academic roots are firmly planted, with an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, enriched by the prestigious Aspen Institute's New Presidents and Rising Presidents fellowships.

Devin Purgason - Devin brings a unique blend of creativity and advocacy to his role as the Executive Director of Marketing and Student Care at Forsyth Technical Community College. With a background rich in media, he has seamlessly transitioned his artistic passions into impactful marketing strategies. Devin's dedication to education and community development is highlighted by his selection for the American Association of Community College Future Leaders Institute. His academic journey is marked by a degree in theology from Piedmont International University, a master's of divinity in historical theology from Southeastern Seminary, and a graduate certificate in digital media and marketing from Duke University. At the heart of his work lies a commitment to empowering lives and transforming communities, resonating deeply with Forsyth Tech's vision.

Key Takeaways:

• Jamie discussed the importance of communicating the value of marcomms teams, especially when expectations and profile around campus becomes elevated.
• Learn how CUPRAP has changed over the years and what marketers can take back to campus and implement immediately.
• Jamie talks about why being a strong communicator from the top marcomm position on campus is vital to breaking silos and building relationships

Guest Name: Jamie Yates, CCMO, Gettysburg College

• Learn how Kent State University expanded mental health resources and services across an eight-campus system and an international campus.
• Engage in discussion on developing effective marketing strategies for a comprehensive mental health campaign.
• Apply practical examples from lessons learned through the lens of both a marketing professional and a student affairs senior administrator.

Learn more at www.kent.edu/mentalhealth

Guest Names: 
Angelique Daniels, Director of Marketing Strategy and Research, Kent State University
Dr. Talea Drummer-Ferrell, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Kent State University

Guest Social:   
Angelique Daniels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelique-cunningham-6956b540/
Talea Drummer-Ferrell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taleadrummer/

Guest Bios: 
Angelique Daniels:
Angelique Daniels is the director of marketing strategy and research for University Communications and Marketing at Kent State University and leads marketing research and strategy initiatives for priorities that advance Kent State’s Strategic Roadmap. She has also worked in roles that support first-year and transfer student transition and retention-based programs, as well as advancement and alumni communications at Kent State. She has taught journalism, mass communications, public speaking, and intercultural communication courses as an assistant lecturer. Angelique holds a bachelor's degree in electronic media, speech, and PR from Ashland University and a master's in communication from The University of Akron. Angelique resides in Cuyahoga Falls, OH with her husband, Michael Daniels, Ph.D., and their Doberman, Apollo.

Talea Drummer-Ferrell: 
Dr. Taléa R. Drummer-Ferrell, or Dr. D. for short, is the Associate Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students at Kent State University. Within the Division of Student Life, Dr. D.’s pillar is Advocacy, Support, and Well-being where she oversees 8 areas including the Care Team and the Office of the Dean of Students. Before her current role, Dr. Drummer-Ferrell has held roles within the Student Multicultural Center (SMC), Intercollegiate Athletics, Upward Bound, Residence Services, and Student Organizations including Fraternity & Sorority Life. Throughout her career, her focus has been on advocacy, leadership, academics, diversity, and the empowerment of the individual student. Dr. D. attended undergrad at Miami University where she became a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Louisville in College Student Personnel, and earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Kent State University in Higher Education Administration & Student Personnel. Dr. Drummer-Ferrell resides in Kent, OH with her family including her five-year-old daughter, who is her light and joy!

Welcome to Breaking Silos, a new podcast that aims to showcase the remarkable work of marketing professionals and their non-marketing colleagues from different departments across campus, who come together to achieve common goals, implement new initiatives, enhance the student experience, and foster better collaboration among teams.

Each episode will feature a marketer and their non-marketing colleague to talk about their partnership. This unique format will inspire marketers to try new things and connect with colleagues in new ways, while also allowing non-marketing professionals an inside look at some of the most collaborative projects in higher education marketing.

Breaking Silos is hosted by Shane Baglini and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.