AI for U

How do you stay authentic when AI touches everything you create? In this episode, we talk with Stu Eddins, Chief Digital Strategy Officer at Stamats, about the human side of artificial intelligence and why authenticity matters more than ever. Stu shares how AI has quietly shaped digital marketing for years and why technology alone will never replace genuine connection. The conversation turns to higher education and the growing pressure to sound real in a world of automated tools and machine-written messages. Stu explains how schools and marketers can use AI to amplify their voice instead of losing it, focusing on clarity, purpose, and the kind of communication that actually feels human.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:39] Is AI a bubble or the next big shift?
• [9:48] AI as the medium, not the message
• [17:27] How personalization and agentic AI could impact higher ed

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• NotebookLM

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

You are a strategic marketing expert with a deep understanding of higher education. I need to conduct a competitive content analysis to identify gaps in my institution's messaging and content. I want you to help me systematically compare multiple competitor pages against my own to discover what I'm missing or where I could strengthen my positioning.

**My Context:**

- Institution: [Your institution name and type]

- Content being analyzed: [Program page, admissions page, financial aid, etc.]

- My page URL: [Your URL]

- Target audience: [Who this content serves]

- Key goals for this content: [What should it accomplish]

**Competitor URLs to analyze:**

1. [Competitor 1 URL]

2. [Competitor 2 URL]

3. [Competitor 3 URL]

4. [Competitor 4 URL]

5. [Competitor 5 URL]

[Add up to 10 total]

Please visit each URL and analyze the content. Then provide:

1. **Common Themes**: What topics, benefits, or information appear on 3+ competitor pages but are missing or underrepresented on mine?

2. **Unique Differentiators**: What unique angles is each competitor taking that others aren't?

3. **Content Depth Comparison**: Where do competitors provide more comprehensive information than my page?

4. **Messaging Patterns**: What language, tone, or framing approaches are competitors using successfully?

5. **Missing Questions**: What prospective student questions do competitors answer that I don't address?

Guest Name: Stu Eddins, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, Stamats

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

Guest Bio: Stu leads a team of digital marketing and analytics professionals that provides strategic support to higher education clients striving to increase awareness and demand generation for their brands and their programs. He brings decades of digital marketing expertise, having led enterprise-level initiatives in advertising and SEO for industries such as healthcare, higher education, ecommerce, and manufacturing.

Certified in Google Ads, Analytics, and Tag Manager, Stu uses his background in sales, customer service, analytics, and marketing to plan and implement successful campaigns that address overarching strategic goals and outcomes with data-driven tactics.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Brian talks with Rob McDole, Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, about how AI is transforming the way higher education teaches and learns. The conversation explores how AI supports recall-based learning, helping students move beyond cramming for tests to actually retaining and understanding what they study. They also discuss why institutions need to move past fear and start engaging directly with AI, how guidelines work better than rigid policies in fast-moving environments, and why responsible experimentation is the key to smarter adoption.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [5:58] Overcoming hesitation and building responsible AI frameworks
• [11:17] The wake-up call: “If you’re not using it, your students are”
• [16:20] AI and learning science: recall, retention, and real understanding

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Hugging Face
• Grok AI
• ChatGPT
• Transform Your Teaching with Dr. Barbara Oakley
• Uncommon Sense Teaching

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

This prompt framework comes directly from Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader.

The acronym stands for:

Context: Provide all the specific background information about your unique situation, business, and goals (e.g., “I am the marketing director at an R1 research university that is trying to increase applications and enrollments.”

Role: Assign the AI a specific expert persona, such as "an expert higher education marketer with a deep understanding of the admissions funnel" or an "organizational psychologist".

Interview: Ask the AI to interview you with a set number of questions (e.g., "ask me one question at a time, up to three questions") to gain deeper context.

Task: This is the final step where you tell the AI what to accomplish after it has gathered all the necessary information from the interview, such as, “based on the previous campaigns and initiatives we’ve attempted, create a list of additional opportunities and options that may help us better reach our goals.”

Guest Name: Dr. Robert McDole, Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mcdole-509ba1113/

Guest Bio: Dr. Rob McDole is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Cedarville University, where he leads initiatives in faculty development, instructional innovation, and online education. Since assuming this role in 2016, he has overseen the design and delivery of workshops, consultation services, and technical support to promote excellence in pedagogy across the university.

Dr. McDole earned his PhD in Educational Leadership from Columbia International University, where he developed a strong foundation in academic leadership, instructional strategy, and the effective integration of technology in higher education. His academic background informs his work in supporting Cedarville’s mission of equipping faculty and students for excellence in teaching and learning. 

A Cedarville alumnus (Class of 1998), Dr. McDole returned to his alma mater after serving as the Director of Online Education at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. There, he led the development and implementation of online programs, gaining extensive experience in distance learning and instructional design. 

At Cedarville, he oversees a dynamic team at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), providing services such as faculty consultation, course design support, multimedia production, and technology integration. His team plays a vital role in enhancing the university’s educational practices and helping faculty adapt to evolving instructional needs. 

Dr. McDole is also the co-host of the Transform Your Teaching podcast, where he explores contemporary issues in education—from pedagogy and learning theory to emerging tools like artificial intelligence and their practical application in the classroom. His leadership encourages innovation while staying grounded in Cedarville’s Christ-centered academic mission.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to be an AI-first institution? In this episode, Kyle Campbell, Founder and Managing Director of Education Marketer, joins Brian to break down how higher education can move beyond surface-level innovation. Kyle shares how to make AI part of the system, not just a shortcut. He also explains why leaders need the most AI education and how technology can make university messaging sound more human. This conversation pushes past buzzwords and shows what real transformation looks like.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:32] Why content is no longer a differentiator in higher ed marketing
• [1-:25] How to avoid the “better trap” by creating new systems instead of faster old ones
• [17:38] The end of the knowledge worker and the rise of creative catalysts

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• VirtuousAI
• Exponential View
•  Category Pirates

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

You are a content strategy expert. 

I'm going to analyze my content performance data against our strategic priorities to identify gaps and misalignments. Conduct a comprehensive audit that reveals where we're missing opportunities.

Content Data to Analyze: [PASTE YOUR EXPORTED CONTENT DATA - social posts, blog titles, email subjects, etc.]

• Platform: [SPECIFY: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Instagram, Blog, etc.]
• Time period: [DATE RANGE]
• Engagement metrics: [INCLUDE IF AVAILABLE]

Institutional Context:

• Institution type: [PUBLIC/PRIVATE, SIZE, RESEARCH LEVEL]
• Strategic priorities: [LIST YOUR TOP 3-5 INSTITUTIONAL GOALS]
• Brand values: [CORE VALUES YOUR INSTITUTION PROMOTES]
• Target audiences: [PRIMARY AUDIENCE SEGMENTS]
• Desired reputation: [WHAT YOU WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR]

Analysis Requested:

1. Content Categorization
   • Categorize all content by theme/topic
   • Calculate the percentage of content in each category
   • Identify dominant themes vs. neglected areas
2. Strategic Alignment Assessment
   • Map content categories to our strategic priorities
   • Calculate what % of content supports each priority and how much content doesn't support any current strategic priorities
   • Identify priorities with minimal content support
3. Audience-Content Match
   • Analyze if content themes match audience interests
   • Identify content getting engagement from the wrong audiences
   • Spot missed opportunities with existing followers
4. Gap Identification
   • List strategic priorities with <20% content support
   • Identify audiences we're not effectively reaching
   • Highlight brand values not reflected in content
5. Actionable Recommendations
   • Suggest specific content topics to increase
   • Recommend content to reduce or eliminate
   • Propose content calendar adjustments

Output Format: Provide results in a clear report format with:

• Executive summary of key findings
• Data visualized as percentages
• Top 3 critical gaps to address immediately
• 90-day action plan for alignment

Focus on patterns and insights I might miss in manual review, but flag any categorizations that seem questionable for human verification.

Guest Name: Kyle Campbell, Founder, Managing Director, Education Marketer

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

Guest Bio: Kyle Campbell is a higher ed marketing consultant and the managing director of Education Marketer, an insights and consultancy firm for higher ed. Every week on a Tuesday, he publishes The Education Marketer Newsletter, an accessible (yet hard-hitting) overview of the state of the sector and what matters to education marketers. He brings over a decade of experience for university professionals looking to build and engage student audiences.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Worried about falling website traffic? You’re not the only one. In this episode, Megan Andrews, Digital Strategy Consultant at Squiz, joins us to talk about why fewer clicks do not necessarily mean less engagement, and how conversational AI is changing how students find and interact with information online. She also shares why it’s time to stop obsessing over visitor counts and start measuring real value, how AI-powered search can reveal what students are really thinking, and why there’s no better time to experiment than right now.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:45] What a dip in organic website traffic really means
• [10:01] The real challenge: starting before it is perfect
• [16:34] Why higher education’s culture of sharing is a superpower

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on 

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode Prompt: 

Replace the items in brackets [] with the specifics for your institution. You may need to focus this prompt down to look for one strategy for one audience depending on the results you get.

You are an expert in higher education marketing and AI search discoverability.

Your task is to analyze how [institution name], [institution URL], appears in AI-generated search results.

Based on the following, generate a list of conversational searches that audiences might run to learn about the school that could be used to test the visibility in ChatGPT around strategic priorities for their target audience.

Strategic Priorities: [insert institution’s strategic priorities here or link to URL]
Mission Statement: [insert institution’s mission statement here or link to URL]
Primary Audiences: [insert institution’s key audiences for reaching strategic priorities]

Examples:
“Is [institution name] a good school for [priority program/field]?”
“What is [institution name] known for?”
“Best colleges for business in [state].”
“Student experience at [institution name].”
“How much does it cost to attend [institution name]?”

Run these conversational searches in ChatGPT.

For each, capture whether the institution appears in the AI-generated results.

Provide a narrative summary that answers:
Where and how does the institution appear across AI platforms?
What information (facts, claims, rankings, or highlights) do the AI results display?
What links, if any, are included (official site, third-party rankings, Wikipedia, etc.)?
How well does this representation align with the institution’s strategic priorities, mission, and key audiences?
What gaps or risks are present in the current AI search presence? (e.g., outdated info, missing strengths, unfavorable comparisons)

Output a single narrative summary, connecting the institution’s visibility back to its mission and strategic goals, and highlighting areas where content or visibility could be improved.

Guest Name: Megan Andrews, Digital Strategy Consultant at Squiz

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

Guest Bio: Megan Andrews is a seasoned digital consultant with deep expertise in content strategy, brand development, and user experience. In her role at Squiz, she partners with higher education institutions to modernize their digital presence and create student-centered experiences that drive engagement and outcomes. Her recent work emphasizes the use of AI-powered conversational search tools to help universities better understand user behavior and deliver more intuitive, impactful digital interactions. Previously, Megan worked in content and channel strategy at Stanford University, shaping communications for one of the world’s leading academic brands. With nearly two decades of experience across industries, she brings a unique ability to bridge storytelling, technology, and strategy to help organizations build stronger connections with their audiences.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Brian sits down with Carrie Pitts-Densmore, VP of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnston Community College, to talk about how higher ed can embrace AI as a partner rather than a threat. Carrie shares how her team built ten AI agents inside their CRM to handle student inquiries, scale enrollment communications, and free staff to focus on more complex, human-centered work. From saving 120,000+ human minutes in one year to envisioning AI as a personal assistant, Carrie’s insights show how institutions can move from hesitation to hands-on experimentation and success.

Join us as we discuss:

• [2:12] How Johnston saved 120,000 human minutes with automation
• [12:36] Why AI is a teammate, not a replacement
• [17:25] How higher ed jobs are evolving with AI, not disappearing

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Higher Ed Pulse, episode 77

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

You are an expert writer.

I'm going to ask you to help me overcome writer's block that I'm experiencing with a piece of content I need to create. Instead of writing it for me, I want you to help me work through this creative obstacle as a collaborative partner.

**What I'm Working On:**

- Content type: [Email, blog post, social media, website copy, etc.]

- Target audience: [Who will read this]

- Main purpose/goal: [What I want to accomplish]

- Key message: [The core point I want to make]

- Approximate length: [How long this should be]

- Deadline pressure: [Timeline I'm working with]

**Where I'm Stuck:**

- What I've tried so far: [Any drafts, notes, or approaches attempted]

- Specific obstacle: [Can't find the right opening, don't know how to organize ideas, struggling with tone, etc.]

- What's making this challenging: [Complexity of topic, multiple audiences, sensitive subject matter, etc.]

Help me diagnose what's causing my block and suggest 3-4 specific strategies to move forward, but don't write the content for me.

Guest Name: Carrie Pitts-Densmore, M.S., APR, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, Johnston Community College

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

Guest Bio: Carrie Pitts-Densmore serves as Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnston Community College, bringing more than 25 years of communications expertise to her role. She began her career as a television news journalist, earning a national award for a documentary on domestic violence and reporting major stories in Myrtle Beach, Buffalo, and Raleigh.

After leaving the newsroom, Carrie guided organizations in video production, media relations, and integrated marketing, while also excelling as an award-winning real estate agent—an experience that sharpened her skills in customer relations and emerging technologies. She is energized by the evolving intersection of technology and storytelling in higher education.

Carrie holds Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and a Master of Science in Communications from Purdue University. Beyond her professional life, she is mom to Archer and wife to Shawn. She enjoys yoga, watching documentaries, and exploring new ideas that blend communication, technology, and human connection.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Lee, Director of Web User Experience and Digital Strategy at Colorado College, to unpack the promises and the pitfalls of bringing AI into higher education. Mark reveals how he treats AI as a coworker instead of a content machine, why fear and resistance remain the biggest roadblocks on campus, and how schools can win buy-in by starting small with low-risk, high-reward use cases. From AI-powered tutors and chatbots boosting student success to the radical shift from SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), this conversation explores what it takes to truly future-proof higher ed in an AI-driven world.

Join us as we discuss:

• [5:30] Where to start with change management and why tedious tasks matter
• [14:35] AI in student success: virtual TAs and chatbots that improve grades
• [19:51] The “avalanche” analogy and how to stay flexible in an era of disruption

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on 

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode Prompt: 

You are a strategic advisor and critical thought partner.

I’m going to ask you to help me test a plan I'm developing. Your role is to challenge my thinking, identify blind spots, and push back on assumptions, not to validate or agree with me.

Before you create a response, ask any questions that will create a better output.

**My Initiative/Plan:**

[DESCRIBE YOUR STRATEGY, CAMPAIGN, OR INITIATIVE]

**Context & Background:**

- Institution type: [PUBLIC/PRIVATE, SIZE, LOCATION]

- Target audience: [WHO YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH]

- Primary goals: [WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE]

- Timeline: [WHEN THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN]

- Budget/Resources: [CONSTRAINTS YOU'RE WORKING WITHIN]

- Key stakeholders: [WHO NEEDS TO BUY IN OR BE INVOLVED]

**My Current Thinking:**

[OUTLINE YOUR PROPOSED APPROACH, STRATEGY, OR SOLUTION]

Now, please challenge this plan by addressing:

1. **Assumption Testing**: What assumptions am I making that might be wrong?

2. **Gap Analysis**: What important factors am I not considering?

3. **Risk Assessment**: What could go wrong that I haven't planned for?

4. **Stakeholder Blind Spots**: Whose perspectives might I be missing?

5. **Alternative Approaches**: What completely different strategies might work better?

Be direct and critical—I need honest analysis, not encouragement.

Guest Name: Mark Lee, Director of Web User Experience & Digital Strategy, Colorado College

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

Guest Bio: Mark Lee is a higher ed web technologist, digital builder and a lifelong learner who is currently obsessed with learning everything he can about AI and how it intersects with the future of the web and higher education.

He's worked in higher ed web since the early 2000s, starting as a full-stack developer and moving slowly over the years more towards user experience, though he still loves to write code.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can higher education move beyond theory and actually adopt AI in ways that matter? In this episode, we talk with Allen Karns, Chief AI and Technology Officer at Vanderbilt’s Center for Generative AI, to unpack what it really takes to integrate AI across a university. Allen shares the story of Amplify, Vanderbilt’s homegrown AI platform, and explains why leadership buy-in is the single biggest factor in campus adoption. He discusses how his team built momentum by starting small, highlights creative use cases already transforming workflows, and offers advice for preparing marketing and admissions teams for AI’s growing role.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [7:21] The biggest challenge for AI in higher ed: leadership buy-in
• [10:18] How to build a curious, experiment-driven team
• [18:52] Why today’s AI already offers 10 years of learning

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Vanderbilt Amplify
• Ethan Mollick

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode prompt: 

I have an important meeting coming up and need help preparing comprehensively. Here are the details:

**Meeting Details:**

- Date/Time: [WHEN]

- Attendees: [WHO - include roles/departments]

- Meeting Purpose: [PRIMARY OBJECTIVE]

- Meeting Type: [Budget planning, strategic planning, crisis response, project kickoff, etc.]

- Expected Duration: [TIME ALLOCATED]

**Background Context:**

- Previous relevant meetings or decisions: [BRIEF HISTORY]

- Current challenges we're facing: [KEY ISSUES]

- Organizational priorities this relates to: [STRATEGIC GOALS]

- Any tensions or concerns among attendees: [INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS]

Please help me prepare by creating:

1. **Strategic Agenda** - Prioritized list of topics that maximizes our time

2. **Key Questions** - Critical questions I should ask to drive productive discussion

3. **Potential Obstacles** - Issues that might derail the meeting and how to handle them

4. **Decision Framework** - Structure for making decisions if we reach key choice points

5. **Success Metrics** - How to know if this meeting accomplished its purpose

Focus on making this meeting outcome-oriented rather than just informational.

Guest Name: Allen Karns, Chief AI and Technology Officer, Amplify Gen AI Innovation Center, Vanderbilt University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-karns-1888731/

Guest Bio: Allen Karns is an accomplished IT professional with 25 years of extensive experience guiding organizations through the ever-changing technology landscape of cloud architecture, generative AI, infrastructure, and system administration. 

Currently, he serves as the Chief AI and Technology Officer for the Amplify Gen AI Innovation Center at Vanderbilt University leading Generative AI industry research and projects that drive process innovation as well as institutional applications of Amplify, the university's Open-Source Generative AI platform. 

In this role, he collaborates across the university to leverage Generative AI for solving institutional challenges. Prior to this, Allen was the Technical Leader of the Cloud Engineering and Architecture team, responsible for architecting, deploying, and maintaining solutions in AWS and Azure. 

His career has been marked by a strong focus on innovation, leadership, and customer satisfaction, boasting proficiency in cloud architecture and technologies, Infrastructure as Code, security frameworks, and cost optimization. 

With multiple industry certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional and Azure Administrator, Allen is committed to mentoring teams and driving successful project outcomes. 

Notable achievements include being named a Gartner Eye on Innovation finalist, recipient of Vanderbilt’s Pacesetter and multiple Kudos Awards for his contributions to innovation and customer satisfaction. 

Passionate about the future of technology, Allen continues to seek opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking projects.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Deperro, Michael Deperro, Senior Coordinator of Faculty Development & Professionalism at Case Western Reserve University, to uncover how AI is shaking up higher education. Michael pulls back the curtain on how his team is using AI to clear away the “digital laundry” of repetitive back-office work, build a retrieval-augmented generation hub that simplifies faculty processes, and make room for staff to focus on what really matters: people.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [5:45] Why legacy systems are one of the biggest hurdles to AI integration
• [10:33] “Boring AI” use cases that really work
• [16:38] Trust, transparency, and responsibility in AI adoption

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• SmarterX.ai
• MAICON

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode Prompt:
Episode prompt: 

Initial Setup Prompt:

I need to work through a strategic decision/challenge and want to use you as a thought partner. Here's my situation:

**Challenge/Decision:** [DESCRIBE YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION OR DECISION]

**My Current Thinking:** [OUTLINE YOUR PROPOSED SOLUTION OR APPROACH]

**Context:** 

- My role: [YOUR POSITION]

- Institution type: [E.G., PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, PRIVATE COLLEGE]

- Stakeholders involved: [LIST KEY GROUPS AFFECTED]

- Timeline: [WHEN DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE]

- Resources available: [BUDGET, STAFF, TIME CONSTRAINTS]

I want you to act as a critical thought partner. Your job is to:

1. Challenge my assumptions and reasoning

2. Identify potential blind spots or risks I haven't considered

3. Suggest alternative approaches or solutions

4. Help me stress-test this idea before presenting it to stakeholders

Please be direct in your feedback - I need honest analysis, not validation.

Round 1: Devil's Advocate Analysis

Now I want you to play devil's advocate with my proposal. Assume you're a skeptical colleague who needs to be convinced this is a good idea.

Push back on my reasoning by addressing:

- What are the weakest points in my logic?

- What could go wrong with this approach?

- What am I not considering about implementation challenges?

- How might different stakeholders react negatively?

- What are the opportunity costs of pursuing this direction?

- Where might I be overestimating benefits or underestimating costs?

Be specific about potential problems and explain your reasoning.

Round 2: Alternative Solutions

Based on our discussion, now help me brainstorm alternative approaches to this challenge.

Consider:

- What would a completely different solution look like?

- How would someone with [SPECIFIC EXPERTISE - e.g., finance background, student affairs experience, technology focus] approach this differently?

- What if we had unlimited resources? What if we had severely limited resources?

- What are 2-3 entirely different ways to solve the underlying problem?

- What would the "do nothing" option look like and what are its implications?

Present these alternatives with brief pros/cons for each.

Round 3: Implementation Reality Check

Let's get practical about implementation. Assume my organization decides to move forward with [CHOSEN APPROACH].

Help me identify:

- What are the first 3 concrete steps we'd need to take?

- What resistance should I expect and from whom?

- What metrics should we use to measure success?

- What would "failure" look like and how would we know?

- What contingency plans should we have ready?

- How long should we expect this to take realistically?

- What skills or resources do we need that we might not have?

Be specific about potential roadblocks and mitigation strategies.

Cross-Model Analysis Prompt (for use with different AI models):

I've been working through a strategic decision with another AI model. Here's what I proposed and the feedback I received:

**My Original Proposal:** [RESTATE YOUR IDEA]

**Previous AI's Analysis:** [PASTE KEY FEEDBACK FROM OTHER MODEL]

Now I want your perspective:

1. Do you agree or disagree with the previous analysis? Why?

2. What did the other model miss or get wrong?

3. What additional considerations should I factor in?

4. How would you refine or modify the previous recommendations?

Feel free to challenge the other model's reasoning if you see flaws in its logic.

Final Synthesis Prompt:

I've now worked through this decision with multiple AI models and perspectives. Help me synthesize everything into a final recommendation.

Based on all our discussions, provide:

**Recommended Action:** What should I do and why?

**Key Success Factors:** What are the 3 most critical elements for success?

**Primary Risks:** What are the 2-3 biggest threats to watch for?

**Communication Strategy:** How should I present this to stakeholders?

**Decision Timeline:** What's the optimal sequence and timing for implementation?

**Metrics for Success:** How will we know if this is working?

Keep your final recommendation concise but actionable.

Guest Name: Michael Deperro, Senior Coordinator, Faculty Development and Professionalism

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-deperro/

Guest Bio: Michael DePerro designs and leads leadership development programs for faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he's passionate about helping individuals and institutions think creatively, embrace change, and pursue bold ideas through innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. His approach combines practical leadership development with forward-thinking strategies that prepare academic leaders for an evolving landscape.

Michael launched the first AI Council for Administration at Ohio University's College of Business and co-founded AI Woodstock Cleveland, a grassroots initiative bringing together technologists, business leaders, and problem solvers to explore AI's potential. He now helps higher education leaders build AI literacy, focusing on responsible and ethical implementation that enhances human expertise. His work spans healthcare education, business administration, and institutional leadership, always with an eye toward practical applications that solve real problems and elevate the unique skills educators bring to their work.

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The search landscape for prospective students is changing dramatically, and the shift to AI search optimization is now a critical part of any higher ed marketing strategy. In this episode, Faton Sopa, Cofounder and CEO at Manaferra, joins Brian to discuss new research on how prospective students are using AI in their college search journey. Faton shares his insights on what this new behavior means for institutions and how they can adapt their strategies to ensure they remain visible and competitive. Join us as we explore the future of student search and how to master AI's role in it.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:29] How prospective students are searching for schools in the Age of AI
• [10:09] Why not showing up in AI results can be a dealbreaker for certain demographics
• [17:18] Tools and metrics that schools should start auditing in their AI strategy

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• State of College Search 2025 Report

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode Prompt:
First prompt - I prefer ChatGPT o3, Claude Opus 4.1, and Gemini 2.5 Pro for this prompt

You are a higher education and SEO expert.

I need to conduct an AI visibility audit for [INSTITUTION NAME and URL], a [TYPE OF INSTITUTION - e.g., public research university, private liberal arts college, community college] located in [LOCATION].

I want to evaluate the institution's visibility across the student search journey in three stages:

**Stage 1: Awareness/Discovery** - Broad searches when students are exploring options
**Stage 2: Shortlisting** - Specific program comparisons and evaluations  
**Stage 3: Decision-Making** - Final checks on requirements, outcomes, and fit

For each stage, I'll provide you with search queries, and I want you to respond as if you were a prospective student searching for this information. Please provide detailed, specific answers and note which institutions you mention and in what order.

Let's start with Stage 1: Awareness/Discovery queries.
Stage 1: Awareness/Discovery Queries
Test these broad discovery searches:
"What are the best [FIELD/MAJOR] programs in [STATE/REGION]?"

"I'm looking for colleges with strong [FIELD] programs and good financial aid. What are my options?"

"Which universities have the best reputation for [SPECIFIC PROGRAM AREA] in [GEOGRAPHIC AREA]?"

"What colleges should I consider for [DEGREE TYPE] in [FIELD] if I want to work in [INDUSTRY/CAREER]?"


Second prompt (remove any of the questions if the answers were included in the first query):

Stage 2: Shortlisting Queries
Test these comparative searches:
"Compare [YOUR INSTITUTION] vs [COMPETITOR 1] vs [COMPETITOR 2] for [SPECIFIC PROGRAM]"

"What are the admission requirements for [SPECIFIC PROGRAM] at top universities in [REGION]?"

"Which [DEGREE TYPE] programs have the best job placement rates and starting salaries?"

"I have a [GPA] GPA and [TEST SCORES]. What [FIELD] programs am I likely to get into?"

Final prompt:

Stage 3: Decision-Making Queries
Test these specific evaluation searches:
"What is the total cost of attendance at [YOUR INSTITUTION] including room and board?"

"What are the specific admission requirements for [SPECIFIC PROGRAM] at [YOUR INSTITUTION]?"

"What career outcomes and job placement rates does [YOUR INSTITUTION] have for [PROGRAM] graduates?"

"What financial aid and scholarships are available at [YOUR INSTITUTION] for [STUDENT TYPE - e.g., out-of-state students, transfer students]?"

Based on the responses you've provided, help me analyze:

1. In which stage of the search journey does this institution have the strongest visibility?
2. What are the most significant gaps or weaknesses in our AI presence?
3. Which competitor institutions appear most frequently and prominently?
4. What specific information about our programs or requirements was inaccurate or missing?
5. What topics or program areas should we prioritize for improving our AI visibility?

Please provide specific, actionable recommendations for improving this institution's presence in AI search results.

Guest Name: Faton Sopa, Co-founder/CEO, Manaferra

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

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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Brian sits down with Nicole Brini, Head Manager of International Reputation at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, to talk about what it really takes to integrate AI into higher education. Nicole explains how a seemingly simple chatbot project uncovered deeper problems with data, communications, and processes, sparking a larger transformation of their student experience, website, and organizational mindset. She also shares why universities often struggle with change, how generative AI is raising student expectations, and what higher education can learn from road cycling (yes, really!). 

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:20] Why higher ed resists change and how to overcome it
• [10:36Treating your favorite AI application like a “wingman” instead of just another tool
• [23:03] Tips for starting with AI when leadership isn’t driving the charge

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Element451

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for AI for U with Brian Piper in your favorite podcast player.

Episode Prompt:
You are an expert in higher education content strategy, SEO for the zero-click search era, and natural language rewriting.

Review the attached CSV files exported from Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console (GSC), containing engagement, traffic, and query data for the university website, [provide URL].

Your task is to perform deep research and analysis, and deliver a strategy to optimize the program and admissions content for the realities of modern search, where nearly 60% of queries end in zero-clicks, and users increasingly consult AI tools for answers.

Follow these steps meticulously:

• From GA4 & GSC data, identify the most critical program and admissions pages based on traffic, engagement, and queries.
• List the top 10–20 pages to prioritize for optimization.

• Using the GSC query data, compare what students are asking for (queries) with the existing content of the top pages.
• Identify gaps where student questions are not directly or clearly answered on the page.
• Create a table with:
  | Student Question | Existing Content Answer (if any) | Gap Description |

• For each of the top pages, rewrite key sections of content:
  • Use natural, conversational language students actually use, avoiding institutional jargon.
  • Structure content clearly: with meaningful H2/H3 headings, bulleted lists where useful, and concise, direct answers to common questions.
  • Optimize for featured snippets, AI scraping, and human readability.

• If gaps cannot be addressed by revising existing pages, recommend entirely new page topics to fill unmet needs.
• Provide suggested page titles & descriptions for these.

• For each optimized or recommended page, suggest:
  • Meta title (under 60 characters, compelling and keyword-aligned)
  • Meta description (under 160 characters, clear and enticing)
  • Appropriate structured data/schema (e.g., FAQ Page, How-To, Article)

1. Table of top prioritized pages.
2. Gap analysis table as defined above.
3. Rewritten content snippets for each prioritized page (student-centered and AI-friendly).
4. List of recommended new pages with titles and brief descriptions.
5. Suggested meta titles and descriptions, and schema markup types for each page.

The goal: Make our content discoverable, accessible, and effective, whether consumed directly by students, displayed in featured snippets, indexed by AI models, or surfaced in zero-click results.

Be explicit, precise, and actionable. Perform deep research, beyond simple keyword matching — consider search intent, competitive content, and conversational tone.

Guest Name: Nicole Brini

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-brini-0675bb4/

Guest Bio: Nicole Brini serves as the Associate Director for International Reputation at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy, Europe’s largest non-state university. Since joining the university’s Global Engagement and International Education Department in 2008, Nicole has played a pivotal role in enhancing its global engagement and visibility. She currently oversees strategic projects, including international university rankings, storytelling and communication strategies, social media, and CRM operations, designed to attract and engage both international and domestic students. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and European Integration and a specializing Master’s in Marketing and Communication Management.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.