AI for U

Host Brian Piper sits down with Dayana Kibilds, VP of Strategy at Ologie, to explore AI’s growing role in email marketing campaigns. Dayana shares why AI was a driving force behind her book, Mailed It, and how institutions can use AI effectively — without sacrificing strategy or authenticity. She also discusses the challenges of training AI models, the evolution of custom GPTs, and the persistent stigma around AI in higher ed.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [6:10] Training custom GPTs and how they can help you refine emails
• [16:47] Personal use cases and the lingering stigma around AI tools
• [25:14] Advice to institutions dragging their feet on AI implementation

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Mailed It! By Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds
• MailedIt GPT
• Midjourney

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 email marketing copywriter and strategist.  Your goal is to create highly effective and personalized email subject lines that resonate with customers and increase open rates.

Based on the data provided on previous subject lines and open rates, generate 3-5 compelling subject line options for the email below. These should be engaging, relevant to the customer, [describe your ideal customer here], and optimized for high open rates.

Create 3-5 subject lines for testing, please. Take your time.

Guest Name: Dayana Kibilds, VP of Strategy at Ologie

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

Guest Bio: Day is vice president of strategy at Ologie, the marketing and branding agency for education. For over a decade, Day has been leading innovative marketing work with universities worldwide, pushing institutions to use their communications as tools for equity and access. She is an international keynote speaker on enrollment marketing, email strategy, productivity, and stakeholder management. Day hosts Enrollify's Talking Tactics podcast, and co-authored Mailed It!: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results.

- - - -

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.

Brian Piper sits down with Andrew Maynard, a leading expert on AI and its implications for higher education. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI, the existential challenges it poses for universities, and how institutions can embrace AI as an opportunity rather than a threat. From AI-driven research advancements to the shifting role of educators, this conversation explores what the future of learning might look like in an AI-powered world.

Episode prompt: 

Create a table with columns [insert column names (identifiers like, text, email, id, date, etc)] and [number] rows.

Guest Name: Andrew Maynard, Director of the Arizona State University Future of Being Human initiative and professor in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University

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

Guest Bio: Andrew Maynard is Director of the Arizona State University Future of Being Human initiative and is a professor in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. 

His research focuses on successfully navigating transitions at the nexus of emerging technologies, society, and the future — including the intersection of AI and education. 

He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the Research Council of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and he currently serves on the selection committee for the World Economic Forum annual list of top ten emerging technologies. 

As well as publishing in the academic press, Andrew writes for a number of platforms, including the Substack The Future of Being Human.  

He is also the author of the books Future Rising: A Journey from the Past to the Edge of Tomorrow, and Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies, and co-host of the podcast Modem Futura.  

Andrew has a BSc in physics from the Birmingham University, UK, and a PhD in physics from Cambridge University, UK.

- - - -

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.

Host Brian chats with Tracy Playle, founder of Pickle Jar and the Content Ed community, about the role of AI in content strategy for higher education. Tracy shares how her team at Pickle Jar is using AI to enhance audience research, content co-creation, and administrative workflows. She also explores the biggest challenges institutions face when integrating AI and offers actionable advice on how schools can start experimenting with these tools. Whether you're a skeptic or an enthusiast, this episode provides a practical and thought-provoking look at AI’s impact on content and marketing in higher ed.

While AI continues to improve, Tracy believes that its real impact will come from how institutions use it, not just how powerful the technology becomes. The key will be rethinking workflows, fostering AI literacy, and integrating AI into strategic priorities rather than treating it as a quick-fix tool.

Episode prompt:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikekaput\_you-can-use-ai-to-level-up-your-speaking-activity-7288952513226031104--ST5

https://aistudio.google.com/

You are an expert public speaking coach specializing in delivery techniques. Your role is to provide detailed feedback on the delivery of a presentation, focusing on aspects such as intonation, tone, talking speed, cadence, clarity, body language (if visible), and audience engagement. You provide constructive criticism and actionable advice while highlighting strengths.

I will provide you with a video or audio recording of my presentation. Your task is to analyze my delivery and provide expert feedback. Focus on the following elements:

Intonation and expressiveness: Does my tone engage the audience?

Cadence and talking speed: Is my pacing too fast, too slow, or just right?

Clarity and articulation: Are my words easy to understand?

Audience engagement: Does my delivery hold attention effectively?

Professionalism: Do I come across as confident and credible?

Your Response Should Include:

Strengths: Highlight specific moments where my delivery shines and explain why they work well.

Areas for Improvement: Point out specific moments or patterns that could use improvement. Provide actionable techniques or exercises to address these areas (e.g., breathing techniques, pacing drills).

Overall Grade: Give a grade on a scale of 1–10 for my delivery, along with a brief explanation for the score.

General Tips: Summarize a few tips or exercises to enhance my overall delivery.

Example Format:

Strengths: "Your intonation is excellent; it varied naturally and kept the audience engaged. For example, at 1:45, your tone became more dynamic as you introduced an important point, which emphasized its significance."

Areas for Improvement: "Your speaking speed is slightly too fast between 2:00–3:00, which made it harder to follow. Try practicing deliberate pauses at the end of each sentence to improve pacing."

Grade: 8/10.

Tips: "Record yourself practicing with intentional pauses. Work on controlling your tone by practicing modulation exercises like reading aloud dramatically."

Key Notes:

Take your time and provide detailed, step-by-step feedback for each element of my delivery.

If anything is unclear in the video or audio, let me know, and I'll clarify or provide more context.

When you deliver the feedback, ensure it is constructive, specific, and actionable.

• AI enhances content strategy – AI can help process audience research, identify trends, and develop content architectures.
• Co-creation, not replacement – AI is best used as a collaborator, accelerating brainstorming and ideation rather than replacing human creativity.
• Overcoming barriers to AI adoption – The biggest challenges in higher ed include lack of time, slow policy development, and messy data.
• Change management is key – AI adoption requires leadership buy-in and a shift in mindset toward workflow transformation.
• Start small and iterate – Institutions new to AI should begin with low-risk tasks like reformatting documents or summarizing meeting notes before scaling up.
• Structured content is essential – AI-driven personalization requires highly structured content and robust taxonomy frameworks.
• AI literacy is a must – Institutions should invest in training and hiring for AI proficiency to fully leverage its potential.

Tracy’s team at Pickle Jar heavily relies on AI for audience research—one of the most critical components of content strategy. AI tools help process vast amounts of data, from survey responses to interview transcripts, identifying key themes and trends more efficiently than manual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages AI provides is the ability to generate audience personas and "motivational tribes." By analyzing patterns in student and stakeholder behaviors, AI helps marketers design content architectures that better align with user needs. This ensures that institutions are delivering the right messages to the right people at the right time.

For higher ed marketers, AI offers an opportunity to shift from intuition-based decisions to data-driven strategies. Institutions that integrate AI into their research processes will be better equipped to create content that resonates with prospective students and stakeholders.

Tracy describes her use of AI as a “second shower” for creativity—meaning it accelerates the ideation process much like those moments of inspiration that happen in the shower. Instead of waiting for the perfect idea to strike, AI tools can quickly generate options that Tracy and her team can refine.

Rather than relying on AI to write content from scratch, she uses it as a collaborator. For example, when working on brand messaging for a client, Tracy briefed ChatGPT to generate multiple versions of the same message with different tones—bold, moderate, and subtle. This kind of AI-assisted content iteration speeds up the creative process and provides fresh perspectives.

AI can also enhance storytelling. Tracy frequently uses it to find compelling anecdotes and case studies to strengthen her presentations and talks. This allows her to focus on crafting a narrative rather than spending hours searching for the perfect example.

Despite AI’s potential, higher education institutions often struggle with adoption. Tracy identifies three major barriers:

1. Time and Space to Experiment – Staff are overwhelmed with growing workloads and shrinking resources, making it difficult to carve out time to explore AI tools. Ironically, AI could be the solution to these productivity challenges, but institutions need to invest time upfront to see the long-term benefits.
2. Slow Policy Development – Universities tend to wait for formal policies before implementing AI. Tracy argues that this cautious approach stifles innovation. Instead, institutions should encourage hands-on experimentation to inform policy development, rather than delaying progress.
3. Data Quality Issues – Higher ed has a wealth of data, but much of it is unstructured or outdated. AI works best with clean, well-organized data. Institutions must improve their data governance practices to fully capitalize on AI’s capabilities.

Tracy also emphasizes the importance of educating senior leadership on AI’s potential and limitations. Many university leaders have unrealistic expectations about what AI can do, assuming that it can instantly create highly personalized content experiences. However, without structured content, robust taxonomies, and audience insights, AI-driven personalization simply isn’t possible.

For universities looking to integrate AI into their workflows, Tracy recommends starting small and focusing on six key task areas:

1. Repetitive Tasks – Automate administrative work like formatting documents or summarizing meeting notes.
2. Boring Tasks – Use AI for routine work that human employees find tedious, freeing them up for more strategic efforts.
3. 24/7 Availability – Implement AI chatbots to provide instant responses to FAQs for students and prospective applicants.
4. Easily Trainable Tasks – Identify tasks that AI can be trained to handle quickly and efficiently.
5. Low-Risk Activities – Begin with AI applications where errors won’t have significant negative consequences.
6. Complex Data Analysis – Leverage AI to analyze large datasets and uncover insights that human analysts might miss.

By identifying opportunities within these areas, institutions can ease into AI adoption without feeling overwhelmed.

Looking ahead, Tracy predicts that AI in higher education will evolve in three major ways:

1. More Advanced Multimedia Capabilities – AI-driven video editing and voice synthesis will enhance content creation and accessibility, including seamless language translation for international students.
2. Specialized AI Applications – Instead of generic AI models, institutions will see more AI tools tailored for specific higher ed functions like SEO optimization, student engagement, and course design.
3. Agentic AI Growth – AI will shift from being a passive tool to an active assistant, capable of performing complex tasks and making decisions within defined parameters.

Guest Name: Tracy Playle, CEO and Chief Content Officer, PickleJar Communications

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

Guest Bio: Tracy is CEO and Chief Content Strategist at Pickle Jar Communications. She is also a public speaker and coach. 

Since founding Pickle Jar Communications she has worked with over 300 education institutions around the world to help them advance their approach to content strategy, content design and content marketing. 

The best version of Tracy comes out to play when she’s running workshops, training sessions, coaching individuals and teams or delivering presentations and conference keynotes. She dedicates herself to develop others to become powerful content professionals. 

Before founding Pickle Jar Communications in 2007, Tracy worked in-house at the University of Warwick, latterly as Head of Research-TV. She chose to become a consultant so that she could have an impact across the education sector, not just within a single institution, and to have greater breadth and variety in her work. 

She is also the founder of ContentEd and Utterly Content. And she is the author of "The Connected Campus: Creating a content strategy to drive engagement with your university" (2020). 

- - - -

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.

Host Brian Piper sits down with Dave Hunt, Executive Creative Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Old Dominion University (ODU), to explore how AI is revolutionizing marketing, admissions, and advising. From AI-powered project management tools to the creation of custom GPTs, Dave shares how his team is integrating AI into daily workflows, saving time, and enhancing efficiency. They also discuss AI adoption trends in higher education, challenges institutions face, and what the future holds for AI-driven marketing and operations.

Episode prompt:

You are a higher education social media expert.

I’m going to ask you to come up with post ideas for the month for [insert platform of choice here] targeting [insert target audience here]. Generate at least 20 post ideas for the month. Make them timely, valuable, and relevant to our target audience.

Use the attached brand guidelines [or provide an online link], important dates and events, personas, key messages, and strategic priorities [use whatever examples, information, and resources you have that are relevant]. Look at the existing posts at [insert your social channel page URL] to better understand our brand voice for the channel.

Generate the posts, please. Take your time.

• AI is already deeply embedded in marketing workflows – From design tools like Adobe Creative Suite to AI-powered project management in monday.com, automation is streamlining repetitive tasks.
• Custom GPTs are a game-changer for enrollment marketing – ODU’s brand-specific AI assistant helps with content creation, strategic planning, and even leadership tasks like performance management.
• Higher education is still in the early stages of AI adoption – While some institutions embrace AI, many face challenges due to procurement policies, IT concerns, and change resistance.
• AI can enhance—not replace—human roles – By automating routine tasks, AI frees up time for more strategic and human-centered work, such as personalization in student engagement.
• The future of AI in higher ed includes AI agents and deeper integration – AI-powered assistants could soon help manage workflows, track strategic goals, and provide real-time insights.

At ODU, Dave Hunt and his team are leveraging AI to automate time-consuming tasks across marketing, admissions, and advising. AI-powered design tools like Photoshop and Canva are eliminating hours of manual work by enabling quick background removal and content generation. Similarly, AI features in monday.com help streamline project management by automating task creation for large-scale initiatives.

The adoption of AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about freeing up time for more strategic work. As Dave points out, tools like generative AI allow designers and marketers to shift their focus from production work to more creative and high-impact projects. This shift is essential in an era where personalization and responsiveness are key to engaging students.

One of the most impactful AI innovations at ODU has been the development of a brand-specific GPT. By integrating ODU’s brand voice, messaging, and strategic priorities, this AI-powered assistant helps with everything from ad copy creation to leadership tasks like planning team retreats and setting performance goals.

Dave explains that this custom GPT acts as a thought partner, offering insights and recommendations that align with ODU’s mission. Whether it’s brainstorming personalized marketing campaigns or structuring professional development plans, AI ensures that marketing efforts remain consistent and strategic.

While AI adoption is growing in higher ed, it’s not without challenges. Many institutions struggle with procurement hurdles, IT security concerns, and skepticism from staff who are hesitant to change long-standing workflows. However, Dave emphasizes that the key to successful AI integration is demonstrating its immediate value—starting with simple tools that save time and reduce manual work.

At conferences, Dave and his peers have observed a wide spectrum of AI adoption levels. While some institutions are actively using AI for advanced marketing strategies, others are still in the early exploration phase. He predicts that AI-powered assistants and automation tools will soon become a standard part of the higher ed marketing tech stack, helping institutions personalize outreach and scale their engagement efforts.

Looking ahead, Dave sees AI evolving in several key ways:

• AI Agents Will Become More Powerful – With advancements in AI, institutions will likely see more AI-powered virtual assistants managing workflows, analyzing data, and providing actionable insights.
• More Seamless Integration Across Platforms – AI will become a built-in feature across marketing, admissions, and advising platforms, further streamlining processes.
• Greater Focus on Strategic and Creative Work – As AI handles routine tasks, marketers will have more time to focus on storytelling, relationship-building, and high-level strategy.

For those just starting to explore AI in higher ed marketing, Dave’s advice is simple: start small, focus on time-saving tools, and remain open to experimentation.

Guest Name: Dave Hunt, Executive Creative Director, Old Dominion University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hunt-a343048/

Guest Bio: Dave Hunt is a creative strategist with deep expertise in branding, design, writing, editing, marketing plan development, audio/video, print production, art direction and project management. He is currently the executive creative director for Old Dominion University’s Division of Digital Transformation and Technology. In his role, he oversees a team responsible for the creative expression of the ODUGlobal brand, as well as graphic design, content strategy, social media and digital marketing in support of student recruitment. Prior to his current role, he was the director of strategic digital marketing for Miami Online at Miami University, graphic design manager and art director for the Wake Forest School of Business, and director of communications for the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. A first-generation college graduate, Dave holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

- - - -

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.

Brian Piper sits down with Devin Purgason from Forsyth Tech to explore how the community college is strategically integrating AI to enhance student engagement, boost enrollment, and deliver better outcomes. Devin shares the innovative ways Forsyth Tech is leveraging tools like AI chatbots, automated workflows, and Microsoft Co-Pilot to create efficiencies while maintaining the human connection that drives student success. This conversation also tackles concerns like AI hallucinations, resource allocation, and how to balance automation with personal interaction to make a meaningful impact in higher education.

Episode prompt: 

Using Claude.ai: Create an app for me that takes the attached spreadsheet and does X‍

• AI Can Enhance, Not Replace, Human Interactions
  Forsyth Tech uses AI to automate routine processes, freeing up staff to focus on more complex, human-centered student needs—ultimately increasing trust and connection.
• The Impact of AI Chatbots in Enrollment
  By integrating an AI chatbot, Forsyth Tech decreased call volume by 30%, increased call length by a minute (indicating deeper conversations), and saw a 10% rise in enrollment within six months.
• Human Oversight is Key to Managing AI
  Forsyth Tech's success hinges on having a dedicated team member who constantly updates the AI knowledge base and monitors chat interactions to prevent errors.
• Start Small, Scale Strategically
  Institutions new to AI should begin with small pilot projects to measure impact and refine processes before scaling larger initiatives.
• AI's Role in Personalization and Automation
  AI tools are helping Forsyth Tech create tailored messaging, workflows, and content for prospective students, streamlining operations without losing the personal touch.

How Forsyth Tech is Using AI to Meet Student Needs 
Forsyth Tech's integration of AI began in 2023 with the formation of an AI task force—a forward-thinking move for a community college. One of their most successful implementations has been an AI chatbot powered by generative AI and large language models (LLMs). The chatbot, customizable to the institution’s specific needs, provides students with real-time answers to questions like office hours or deadlines. This frees up staff to tackle more complicated issues, like FAFSA support, ensuring that high-need students get the attention they deserve.

Beyond chatbots, AI has been incorporated into enrollment workflows using their CRM system. Prospective students are guided through personalized journeys based on their behavior and responses. For example, if a student completes an inquiry form, they receive automated emails or text messages tailored to their actions. What sets this apart is the integration of a student care team, which adds a human touch by personally reaching out to students during key points in their journey. This balance of AI and human intervention has been pivotal in driving enrollment growth.

Addressing Concerns About AI Accuracy 
One of the top challenges institutions face when adopting AI is the risk of errors—so-called "AI hallucinations." Devin acknowledges these challenges but emphasizes that no system, human or AI, is immune to mistakes. To combat inaccuracies, Forsyth Tech monitors chat interactions in real time and uses triggers to notify staff when a chat requires human intervention. They also have a dedicated team member who updates the chatbot’s knowledge base regularly to ensure accuracy.

Additionally, Devin advises that institutions shouldn't expect perfection when implementing AI. The focus should be on making incremental improvements that add value while mitigating risks. By taking this pragmatic approach, Forsyth Tech has reaped significant benefits without being derailed by occasional hiccups.

The Future of AI in Higher Education 
Looking ahead, Devin predicts AI will drive greater personalization across all areas of higher education. From tailored academic content in learning management systems (LMS) to customized marketing messages, AI is poised to revolutionize the way colleges interact with students. Tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot, which summarizes emails and provides real-time assistance, are already helping Forsyth Tech's staff be more efficient in administrative tasks.

For enrollment marketers, Devin believes AI will make A/B testing, process automation, and personalized campaigns more accessible and effective. The goal, he notes, isn’t just to attract students but to support them throughout their journey—from inquiry to graduation—with tools that reduce barriers and create meaningful engagement.

Advice for Institutions New to AI

For institutions just starting their AI journey, Devin recommends the following steps:

1. Define Objectives: Clarify what you want AI to achieve—whether it’s boosting enrollment, improving learning outcomes, or streamlining administrative tasks.
2. Invest in Training: Equip staff with the skills to use and manage AI tools effectively.
3. Pilot Projects: Start small, evaluate impact, and scale based on what works.
4. Balance Automation and Human Touch: Always ensure that AI complements, rather than replaces, human interaction to maintain trust and connection with students.

- - - -

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.

Brian Piper sits down with Ardis Kadiu, founder and CEO of Element451, to explore the transformative role of AI in higher education. From personalized student engagement tools to cutting-edge AI assistants, Ardis shares how AI is reshaping the student journey and breaking down barriers to success. Tune in for insights on AI adoption, overcoming institutional challenges, and the exciting possibilities ahead in 2025 and beyond.

Episode prompt: 

Looker data studio dashboard template - https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/bc82429a-f580-42de-b80f-d87e7eeeffad

You are a content marketing and data expert.
I’m going to ask you to look at Google Search Console data and identify opportunities for me to optimize existing content or create new content that would be the most valuable for my target audience while also helping me meet my strategic business goals.

My target audience consists of {describe target audience or upload persona resources}. And my strategic goals include {list company goals, upload a document, or point to a URL}.

Give me a list of 10 existing pieces of content to optimize and a list of 10 new pieces of content to create. 

Take your time.

Key Takeaways

• Transforming Student Engagement: AI-powered tools like Element451 provide tailored solutions for prospect engagement, application management, and ongoing student support.
• AI Agents in Higher Ed: Multi-agent AI systems mimic campus staff roles, providing specialized support while improving efficiency and the student experience.
• Combatting AI Misconceptions: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) ensures chatbots provide accurate, context-specific responses, addressing fears of misinformation.
• Leadership's Role in AI Adoption: Transformative AI adoption requires leadership-driven change management, not just grassroots experimentation.
• Future of AI in Higher Ed: By 2025, agent-based workflows and personalized discovery tools are poised to redefine administrative and academic processes.

Element451 is an AI-first platform designed to enhance student engagement across the higher education lifecycle. From marketing to advising, its tools integrate AI to streamline processes and personalize experiences. The platform’s innovative multi-agent system simulates real-world campus roles, offering specialized assistance for admissions, financial aid, and beyond. This structure allows seamless handoffs between AI agents and human staff, ensuring students receive accurate, timely support.

Ardis explained how modern AI systems combat "hallucinations" or inaccuracies through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). By leveraging authoritative data sources such as institutional knowledge bases and websites, the AI ensures responses are contextually accurate and relevant. Educating institutions on these methodologies has been key to overcoming skepticism and building trust in AI tools.

Despite AI’s potential, many institutions view it as a tool rather than a transformational technology. Leadership often delegates AI exploration to teams without equipping them with the tools for meaningful change management. Ardis emphasized that a shift in mindset, driven by leadership, is essential for realizing AI’s full potential.

Ardis advised institutions to focus on removing friction from the student experience. Start with areas like program exploration, application processes, or course catalog navigation. AI solutions can provide personalized recommendations and streamline workflows, enhancing both student satisfaction and institutional efficiency.

Faculty often drive institutional innovation, with academic applications of AI gaining traction due to concerns about cheating and learning outcomes. Administrative areas like enrollment and marketing lag behind, partly due to a lack of urgency and purpose-driven leadership. However, Ardis predicts a shift as institutions recognize AI’s broader organizational value.

Ardis forecasts 2025 as the "year of AI agents," with agent-driven workflows becoming mainstream in education and beyond. As AI models become cheaper and more powerful, institutions will move from experimentation to full-scale deployment. Personalized discovery tools, enhanced reasoning models, and advanced world models promise to revolutionize the higher education landscape.

Guest Name: Ardis Kadiu, Founder and CEO of Element451

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

Guest Bio: Ardis is the Founder and CEO of Element451, an EdTech company renowned for its AI-powered student engagement and CRM products. His expertise spans AI, technology, education, and design, making significant contributions to higher education. At Element451, Ardis has been instrumental in developing advanced personalization engines and AI features, demonstrating his deep understanding of AI's practical applications. As an educator at NYU, he has shared his knowledge in user experience design, web, and mobile development. A thought leader in the field, Ardis shares his insights on Generative AI, ChatGPT, and AI-enhanced engagement strategies at key industry events like AMA, NAGAP, EDUCAUSE, and NACAC. He also hosts the "Generation AI" podcast, exploring the impact of AI in education and marketing. Ardis Kadiu combines a rich academic foundation with professional acumen, holding an MBA in Innovation & Technology Management and Digital Media Innovation, an MS in Integrated Digital Media, and a BS in Computer Engineering, all from New York University. This educational blend underpins his practical and innovative approach in the EdTech sector.

- - - -

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.

Join us as Kellie Campbell, CIO of Vermont State Colleges System, shares insights on building AI readiness across multiple institutions. Learn about creating system-wide approaches to AI adoption, preparing institutional data foundations, and developing strategies for workforce preparation.

Episode prompt: 

You are an experienced higher education HR professional specializing in job description development at [school name] [provide url if using chatGPT]. Before creating the job description, ask me the neccesary questions ONE AT A TIME in order to gather all the information needed about the job based on the sample job descriptions that have been provided. After I provide a response, ask the next relevant question. Do not move on until you have gathered the necessary information to create a new job description based on the supplied example.

Potential Information Gathering Questions:

1. Position Basics

- What is the position title?

- Which department/unit?

- Who does this position report to?

- Is this full-time, part-time, or temporary?

- What is the FLSA status (exempt/non-exempt)?

- Are there any special work arrangements (hybrid, remote, etc.)?

2. Role Context

- What is the primary purpose of this position?

- What strategic goals does this role support?

- What challenges is this role meant to address?

- What makes this role unique at your institution?

3. Team Structure

- How many direct reports (if any)?

- What other positions will they work closely with?

- What committees or working groups will they serve on?

- What stakeholders will they interact with regularly?

4. Requirements

- What required education level?

- What required years of experience?

- What specific technical skills are required?

- What certifications or licenses are needed?

- What soft skills are essential?

5. Responsibilities

- What are the primary duties?

- How is time typically divided between different duties?

- What are the key deliverables?

- What routine tasks are involved?

- What strategic initiatives will they lead?

6. Institution-Specific

- What values should be emphasized?

- Are there any special institutional requirements?

- What unique aspects of your culture should be highlighted?

- Any specific DEI commitments to include?

After gathering this information, I will:

1. Analyze your sample job description to match style and format

2. Draft a comprehensive description following your institutional template

3. Include any standard language or sections from your sample

4. Ensure all required compliance statements are included

5. Maintain consistent tone and terminology

Important Reminders:

- All language will be inclusive and unbiased

- Skills will be clearly marked as required vs. preferred

- Responsibilities will be action-oriented and specific

- Format will match institutional standards from the supplied example

- Salary range will be included if required by law

- Equal opportunity and accessibility statements will be included

Begin asking the necessary questions. Do NOT ask a question from the list above unless it is specifically required in the example job description, and then, take your time creating the new job description in the same format as the example.

Guest Name: Dr. Kellie Campbell (EdD), Chief Information Officer/Vice President, Vermont State Colleges System

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kellie-b-campbell-edd-75a83253

Guest Bio: As Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technology for the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), Kellie works in close partnership with the Council of Presidents to provide leadership, management, and strategy for the Information Technology (IT) shared services division. Inclusive of seven key service areas, the IT division provides direct IT services to the entire VSCS. Kellie also serves on the executive leadership team driving transformation objectives for the state colleges system. As a commissioner and committee co-chair on the Vermont Commission on Women, Kellie works with others on non-partisan issues to advance the rights and opportunity for women in the state of Vermont. 

- - - -

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.

Join us as Mike Miles, Director of Web Development at MIT Sloan, shares insights on integrating AI into development workflows, fostering team collaboration, and preparing for the future of AI-assisted coding. Learn practical approaches to using tools like GitHub Copilot and strategies for optimizing web content for AI consumption.

Episode prompt:

You are an SEO expert specializing in higher education websites. Help me create optimized page titles and meta descriptions for our university webpages. Please analyze the content and context of the following page and provide recommendations that balance search visibility with our educational mission.

Consider these institutional factors:

- Primary target audience(s) for this page (e.g., prospective students, current students, faculty)

- Competitive academic programs or unique offerings

- Core institutional values and brand voice

- Search intent for different audience segments

Please generate:

1. Page Title (50-60 characters)

- Primary version optimized for search

- Alternative version emphasizing brand/value

- Mobile-friendly shortened version

2. Meta Description (130-155 characters)

- Primary version with clear call-to-action

- Alternative version focusing on unique value proposition

- Mobile-friendly shortened version

3. Provide brief explanations for:

- Key terms/phrases targeted

- Why these choices align with user intent

- How these support our SEO goals

Guidelines:

- Include location/institution name where relevant

- Avoid keyword stuffing

- Maintain academic tone while being engaging

- Consider local/regional search impact

- Follow higher ed best practices for accessibility

After analyzing the page content, please ask clarifying questions about:

- Specific program differentiators

- Target geography

- Primary conversion goals

- Competing pages/institutions

Guest Name: Mike Miles, Director of Web Development, MIT Sloan

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemiles86/

Guest Bio: Mike Miles is a web engineer with 20+ years of experience in open-source development, proficient in various languages and frameworks.  As the Director of Web Development at MIT Sloan, Mike manages the team responsible for the development, maintenance, and growth of the schools public facing web properties to deliver high-quality solutions for the school's community. Mike presents talks at technical conferences around the world and is one of the organizers of the New England Drupal Camp (https://nedcamp.org).

- - - -

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 Enrollify webinar, Balancing Bites and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed, Mallory Willsea and an expert panel dive deep into how artificial intelligence is transforming student engagement in higher education. Featuring AI for U host Brian Piper, Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO host Jamie Hunt, Generation AI co-host JC Bonilla, and The Hidden Gem host Maya Demishkevich, the discussion addresses the dual challenge of automating processes while maintaining meaningful, human connections. Through innovative examples, insights, and lively conversation, this episode provides a roadmap for leveraging AI to create more personalized and efficient student experiences.

Key Takeaways:

• AI as a Personalization Multiplier: AI enables hyper-personalization, allowing institutions to deliver tailored experiences at scale while freeing staff for high-touch student interactions.
• Balancing Efficiency and Empathy: AI can handle repetitive tasks and provide instant answers, allowing human advisors to focus on meaningful, personalized connections.
• Student-Centric Approach: Despite concerns, students generally value efficient solutions over the origin of communication, provided their needs are met.
• Ethical AI Use: Transparency, data security, and empathy should be foundational to AI implementations in higher ed.
• AI’s Potential for Scaling Impact: Tools like virtual assistants and predictive modeling have proven success in improving outcomes, such as higher grades and retention rates.

1. How does AI enhance student engagement without dehumanizing it?
Panelists agreed that AI’s strength lies in its ability to manage repetitive tasks and provide hyper-personalized interactions. For instance, Dr. JC Bonilla emphasized that AI acts as a "personalization multiplier," allowing institutions to address individual student needs with a level of nuance and efficiency impossible through manual methods alone.
AI-powered tools, such as predictive analytics, enable institutions to identify at-risk students early. Brian Piper shared a compelling example from Ivy Tech Community College, where AI monitoring alerted counselors to students in danger of failing, resulting in a 98% success rate for these students in achieving a C grade or higher. 

2. What are examples of successful AI use in higher education?
Several panelists highlighted successful AI applications:

• Georgia State University: Direct text messages powered by AI helped first-generation students improve their grades by an average of 11 percentage points.
• Virtual Campus Tours: Maya Demishkevich shared an example where AI-powered avatars significantly increased engagement during online campus tours, providing institutions with scalable alternatives to human guides.
• AI Virtual Assistants: Institutions like Forsyth Tech have saved thousands of staff hours by automating responses to routine queries, enabling human staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

3. Do students care if AI is part of their experience?
Surprisingly, the consensus was that students care more about getting their needs met efficiently than whether the solution involves AI. However, transparency remains critical. As Brian Piper pointed out, institutions should disclose when AI tools are being used to ensure trust isn’t eroded. 

4. What are the ethical considerations in using AI for student communications?
Panelists underscored the importance of ethical AI use, advocating for transparency, data security, and empathy as foundational principles. Jamie Hunt stressed the need to ensure AI-generated content aligns with institutional values and human oversight remains part of the decision-making process. 

5. How can institutions address faculty and staff fears about AI replacing jobs?
To build trust, institutions should focus on training faculty and staff to use AI tools as enhancements to their roles, not replacements. As Maya Demishkevich noted, AI can save time by automating mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on strategic, human-centric work. JC Bonilla added that embracing the role of “AI champions” within institutions can help bridge the gap between AI skeptics and early adopters. 

6. What does the future of AI in higher ed look like?
Panelists agreed that AI’s future lies in hyper-personalization, advanced virtual assistants, and smaller, task-specific language models (LLMs). The emergence of AI "agents" tailored for distinct tasks will allow for even greater efficiency and impact.AI is transforming higher education by bridging the gap between efficiency and empathy. The insights shared in this episode reveal the exciting potential for AI to not only streamline processes but also amplify the human connections at the heart of higher education. To dive deeper, listen to the full episode of Balancing Bites and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed, and explore the possibilities for your institution.

- - - -

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 of AI for U, live from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, host Brian dives into the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) with Faton Sopa, co-founder and CEO of Manaferra. Specializing in SEO for higher education, Sopa discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping search behavior, SEO practices, and the student recruitment journey. This conversation offers actionable insights for higher education marketers navigating the future of AI-driven search.

• AI's Impact on SEO: AI is fundamentally disrupting traditional search behaviors and content strategies in higher education. Institutions must optimize not just for Google but for AI-driven search engines.
• Content Optimization: Structuring and digesting content effectively is essential for visibility in generative AI searches. Clear, authoritative, and user-focused content outperforms generic outputs.
• Future of SEO in Higher Ed: Institutions that adapt quickly to AI will thrive, while those that don’t risk losing visibility, traffic, and prospective student engagement.
• AI Tools in SEO Strategy: AI enhances content creation, technical SEO, and digital PR, enabling faster and more accurate optimizations with a necessary layer of human oversight.
• Importance of Trust and Authority: Link-building, digital PR, and maintaining credible, authoritative content are critical in building trust with AI-driven search algorithms.

What is Manaferra, and How Does it Support Higher Ed? 
Faton Sopa introduces Manaferra as an SEO agency exclusively serving the higher education sector. By leveraging expertise in search marketing, Manaferra helps colleges and universities attract students through organic search. Sopa emphasizes the importance of aligning SEO strategies with the evolving digital landscape to enhance visibility and drive meaningful traffic.

How is AI Changing Search Behavior and SEO? 
The rise of AI is transforming how prospective students search for information. Instead of sifting through multiple search engine results, users increasingly rely on AI tools to provide concise, relevant answers. For higher education marketers, this means fewer touchpoints in the traditional search journey but opportunities for higher-quality leads. Institutions must optimize content for AI by making it digestible, well-structured, and authoritative.

How Can Higher Ed Adapt to AI-Powered Search? 
Adapting to AI requires a multi-pronged strategy:

1. Technical SEO: Ensure page speed, schema usage, and robust information architecture.
2. Content Strategy: Focus on creating pillar pages that unify siloed information to showcase institutional expertise.
3. AI Optimization: Make content easy for AI tools to crawl and understand, improving the chances of ranking in AI-driven search engines.
   Sopa highlights that universities adopting these strategies can position themselves as authoritative sources, maintaining visibility even as traditional traffic declines.

What Role Does Trust and Authority Play in AI-Driven SEO? 
 Authority matters more than ever in the AI era. Sopa explains how link-building and digital PR reinforce a site’s credibility, which AI algorithms prioritize when delivering answers. By maintaining a strong presence on trusted platforms, universities can ensure their content is selected as reliable and authoritative.

How Can Institutions Use AI to Enhance SEO? 
AI is a powerful ally for SEO professionals:

• Data Analysis: AI accelerates insights by processing data from tools like Google Search Console and SEMrush.
• Content Creation: AI generates content briefs and drafts, but human oversight is critical to ensure accuracy, relevance, and creativity.
• Custom Solutions: Institutions can build custom GPTs to streamline their marketing processes and improve internal efficiencies.

- - - -

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.