By Shane Baglini
5
22 ratings
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.
In this episode of Breaking Silos, host Shane Baglini dives deep into higher education leadership with Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. They explore effective leadership strategies for breaking down silos within higher education institutions, fostering meaningful collaboration, and developing the next generation of leaders. Phillips brings practical advice on cultivating team engagement, setting priorities, and strengthening inter-departmental relationships to drive institutional success.
Check out the Lessons in Leadership Course and Podcast.
Key TakeawaysHow Can Leaders Break Silos on Campus?
Phillips begins by explaining how MARCOM teams are inherently positioned to connect different areas of a university due to their widespread collaborations—from history departments to enrollment offices. With insight into various campus activities, MARCOM can spot and address inefficiencies that others may overlook. One example Phillips gives is mapping the enrollment funnel at a previous institution, a project that revealed fragmented communication across 17 offices in five divisions. By bringing everyone together, MARCOM was able to streamline processes and reduce student confusion.
Phillips emphasizes a “two degrees” approach—making small but meaningful adjustments with each project. This gradual, intentional change helps teams avoid resistance while fostering an environment that encourages progress.
Strategies for Enhancing Collaboration for New Leaders
New leaders often struggle with collaboration, especially in complex higher ed environments. Phillips encourages leaders to actively engage with other departments by going to them instead of requiring formal office visits. Establishing rapport is crucial; arriving early to meetings to share personal updates builds camaraderie, transforming colleagues into genuine collaborators. Phillips also advises shared agendas and collaborative notes, creating transparency and mutual understanding during meetings.
Building strong relationships, she notes, is about establishing human connections and understanding each partner’s context, which ultimately supports more harmonious and efficient teamwork.
Why Are Silos Prevalent in Higher Education, and How Can MARCOM Help?
Phillips explains that silos stem from organizational structures where each unit operates according to its own strategic goals, often at the expense of cross-departmental collaboration. This fragmentation can create a resource tug-of-war, particularly when budgets are tight. MARCOM leaders, however, can work to align goals by identifying areas where different departments might be working on similar initiatives. By uniting teams around shared objectives, MARCOM can foster a more holistic approach to university goals, benefiting enrollment, student experience, and fundraising efforts.
How to Stay Focused on High-Impact Projects
When overwhelmed with high-priority projects, Phillips shares her method of identifying “bucket A” versus “bucket B” priorities. Bucket A tasks are essential, long-lasting initiatives, while bucket B tasks are shorter-term or less impactful. Teaching her team to prioritize helps them manage workload and deliver maximum institutional impact. She also encourages aligning MARCOM goals with other departments' top priorities, ensuring that the highest-impact projects are consistently prioritized.
For instance, instead of dedicating resources to small events like a math department gathering, her team might focus on a campus-wide initiative with long-term benefits.
The Importance of a Seat at the Table for MARCOM Leaders
Phillips argues that marketing’s role in leadership goes beyond promotion. As part of a university’s cabinet, MARCOM can influence broader strategies concerning product, price, and place. Historically, marketing has been restricted to promotion, but Phillips believes that MARCOM teams possess valuable insights that can contribute to product development, pricing, and service delivery. She stresses that MARCOM's presence on the cabinet allows for comprehensive planning, providing essential input early in decision-making processes.
Developing Confidence as a New Leader
For emerging leaders, building confidence is key. Phillips recalls how early mentorship from industry veteran Terry Flannery helped her recognize her own value. She suggests that new leaders prepare rigorously for leadership discussions by learning essential skills like budgeting, strategic planning, and people management. Confidence grows, Phillips notes, when leaders are well-prepared to contribute insights in budgetary or strategic discussions—skills that aren’t always taught but are crucial for effective leadership.
Building the Next Generation of Higher Ed Leaders
Higher ed has room to improve when it comes to training future leaders, according to Phillips. At her institution, a Faculty Leadership Academy has been established to guide faculty members transitioning into leadership roles. Beyond formal programs, she emphasizes the importance of understanding budget processes, HR dynamics, and campus procedures—fundamental areas where new leaders often lack training. By fostering partnerships with HR and finance, Phillips is working to empower her team and colleagues across campus.
Phillips is committed to growing the next generation of leaders through Enrollify’s Lessons in Leadership course and video series. With a focus on situational leadership, conflict management, and essential communication skills, the course provides young leaders with practical tools. Enrollify’s Lessons in Leadership playlist delivers quick insights on crucial topics like failure and managing criticism, offering actionable advice in digestible formats.
Guest Name: Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriehphillips/
Guest Bio: Dr. Carrie Phillips is the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at UA Little Rock where she is charged with telling the university’s incredible story. She considers herself part creative and part analyst but fully curious to solve challenges in higher education. Carrie earned her doctorate from Texas Tech University where she studied how regional public universities are using marketing efforts to mitigate the enrollment cliff. Prior to joining UA Little Rock, she worked 14 years at Arkansas Tech University where she led a brand study, the first comprehensive brand campaign and oversaw collateral development for the current comprehensive campaign. Carrie is a member of the American Marketing Association and holds the Professional Certified Marketer credential. She is also chair-elect of the District IV Cabinet for CASE and a member of UCDA. Finally, she is a puppy mom to Eleanor Belle—a 10-pound maltipoo.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
On this episode of Breaking Silos, we’re taking a deep dive into marketing’s expanding role in the student experience and why CMOs must partner with student life leadership to ensure students are experiencing what promise they will on campus. I’m joined by Jenny Petty, Vice President for Marketing, Communications, Engagement and Experience, and Leslie Webb, Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management at the University of Montana, to discuss how their partnership has helped grow a flourishing and robust student experience from the time students express interest to the time they walk across the stage at commencement.
Guest Name:
Guest Social:
Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennydurnanpetty/
Leslie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliejwebb/
Guest Bios:
Jenny Petty: Jenny Petty left the corporate world where she worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Dolly Parton, Family Guy, Harley Davidson, Phantom of the Opera and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and joined the world of higher ed almost 7 years ago. She currently serves as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the University of Montana. In this role she oversees brand strategy, digital innovation, enrollment marketing, creative services and strategic communications as well as the public media arm of the University and the Alumni Association. Before coming to Montana, Petty was the Director of Enrollment Marketing at the University of Wyoming, where she was a key, driving force behind The World Needs More Cowboys campaign. She finds joy in building teams and helping others grow, as well as flexing her creative muscles whenever she can. She’s a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism and the University of Nevada and has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University where her studies are focused on the intersection of Servant Leadership and the marketing profession. She’s the host of “The Servant Marketer,” a podcast featuring marketing leaders, marketers, creatives, academics and entrepreneurs and shares thoughts on how marketers and leaders can serve first at servantmarketer.co.
Leslie Webb is the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management at the University of Montana. Prior, she was the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Boise State University. She was also at Central Washington University for six years as the Associate Vice President of Assessment and Strategic Planning and the Director of Diversity and Leadership.
Webb holds a doctor of philosophy in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University and a master of science in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois university. She also has a bachelor of arts in Theatre Arts from Central Washington University
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
On this episode of Breaking Silos, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Terry Flannery, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), author of How to Market a University, and one of the world’s leading university marketing professionals.
Our discussion covers higher education marketing from multiple lenses, including the progress made and work still needed to grow marketing’s influence and importance on campuses, Terry’s thoughts on silos in general and how campus leaders should address them, and a discussion on CASE’s new report: A Framework for Brand and Reputation Metrics in Education.
Guest Name: Terry Flannery, CASE
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-flannery-ph-d-2860b428/
Guest Bio: Terry Flannery is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at CASE, one of the largest global education associations in the world. CASE is the professional development home for 90,000 advancement professionals in eighty countries, who build relationships, revenue, and reputation in support of their institutions.
One of the leading university marketing professionals in the world, Flannery has led two of the most successful brand campaigns in higher education. She held the chief marketing and communication role at Stony Brook University, American University, and the University of Maryland. Flannery authored How to Market A University, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press in their series for higher education leaders.
Terry holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Education (College Student Personnel Administration) and a BA in English, all from the University of Maryland. She is a fellow at the American University Center for University Excellence and of the Academy of Innovative Higher Education Leadership.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
Jaime Hunt is the Founder of Solve Higher Ed Marketing, a consulting firm helping institutions address their biggest challenges, and the host of ‘Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO’ on Enrollify. Jaime is also one of the largest opponents of silos in the higher ed industry today. So much so that she ends every episode of the podcast reminding listeners to “Go Bust Some Silos.” After a 20-year career as a higher education marketing leader, Jaime founded Solve to help institutions work better together. In this episode, we’ll talk about the root causes of silos across higher ed, why leaders and non-leaders must address silos, and how Solve Higher Ed Marketing is helping institutions bust silos.
Guest Name: Jaime Hunt, President, Solve Higher Ed Marketing
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
Guest Bio: After a 20-year career in higher education, including nine years as a chief marketing officer, Jaime Hunt launched Solve Higher Ed Marketing in 2024. To this consultancy, Jaime brings a passion for building brands, telling stories, and leading with empathy.
After beginning her career in 1997 in print journalism, Jaime began working in higher education in 2004. Since that time, she has been responsible for media relations, marketing, creative direction, crisis communications, branding, digital communications, reputation/issues management, multimedia, photography, public radio, enrollment/admissions communications, and government relations.
From 2015-2024, she served in vice president/chief communications and marketing officer roles at Old Dominion University (large, public R1), Miami University (large, public R2), and Winston-Salem State University (small, public HBCU). Prior to those positions, Jaime served in marketing, web strategy, branding, and media relations leadership roles at Radford University, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Northwestern Health Sciences University.
Throughout her career, Jaime has been a highly visible leader with volunteer service for a number of professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, HigherEdWeb, the College Communicators of the Carolinas, and the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem. She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences on a wide range of marketing communications topics. Her work has earned more than 40 industry awards.
Jaime holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. She is also a graduate of the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
On this episode of Breaking Silos, I sat down with Josh Charles, Director of Web Strategy and Technology at Rutgers Business School and Vice President of the Board of Directors for HighEdWeb. Josh and I discussed life in the silo and what working at the College of School level at a major, R1 University, is like. Josh gives tips on collaboration, forming relationships across a large, complex ecosystem, and how marketers are in non-central roles. We also talked about breaking silos within the specific School or College you work in and how forming relationships within your area can further your work.
Guest Name: Joshua Charles, Director of Web Strategy and Technology at Rutgers Business School.
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacharles/
Guest Bio: Joshua Charles is a senior marketing and communications leader in higher education. Josh is also a volunteer and Board Member for HighEdWeb, a professional development network supporting digital professionals who work in higher education.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
On this episode of Breaking Silos, we’re bringing a popular NAGAP Summit session to your earbuds. I sat down with Francesca Reed, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Neumann University, and Keith Ramsdell, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Ashland University, to discuss an ever-evolving and often misunderstood role in higher ed: The Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing (VPEM). Hear from these two industry experts about their roles overseeing marketing and enrollment, why the position is so valuable, and what collaboration is required to succeed.
We’ll discuss the challenges and future outlook of these roles from Fran and Keith's perspectives and discuss what young marketers and enrollment professionals can do to be successful in them.
Guest Names:
Fran Reed, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, Neumann University
Keith Ramsdell, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Ashland University
Guest Socials:
Find Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-ramsdell-06784945/
Find Fran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-reed-6770b355/
Guest Bios:
Francesca Reed - Ms. Francesca Reed, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Fran Reed has held the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing since January 2020 at Neumann University where she oversees Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, admissions operations, Financial Aid, Neumann Media, and Marketing and Communications. Before coming to Neumann University, she held multiple positions in enrollment management spanning over 20 years. Her career has included positions as Assistant Director of Summer Sessions and Adult Ed at the Catholic University of America, Coordinator of Graduate Enrollment, Director of Graduate Enrollment Services, and her last position as Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Marymount University. Francesca has presented at numerous conferences and has been identified as an expert particularly within graduate enrollment. She received the prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 2019 from The National Association of Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP)and has served the NAGAP Board in a variety of positions as Conference Chair, Marketing, and Education Chair and now serves as the Vice President for the Association. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University.
Keith Ramsdell - Keith Ramsdell has over 25 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education and enrollment management, with nearly 15 years focused exclusively on graduate enrollment.
He currently serves as Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ashland University in Ohio where he provides strategic leadership and vision for undergraduate, graduate, international and online admissions, enrollment operations, financial aid, military and veterans services, homeschool and classical learning initiatives.
Keith has been a member of NAGAP since 2006. Over the years he has chaired the Professional Development, Bylaws, and Awards Committees. He has served as Vice President and President of the Association, and is currently chair of the External Relations and Partnerships Committee and a member of the NAGAP Experts Bureau.
He was the recipient of the association’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award. He has presented at national conferences and consulted on topics including data-informed decision making, CRM selection and implementation,
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
In this special crossover episode, Allison Turcio, host of the Application with Allison Turcio, and Shane Baglini, host of Breaking Silos, are taking a deep dive into their popular session from Element451’s 2024 Engage Summer titled “There’s a GPT for That.” Shane and Allison take turns as interviewer and interviewee, and talk about the many ways marketers can us AI to expand capacity, increase efficiency and revolutionize the way they market programs, create content, analyze data and much more.
Catch new episodes of The Application every other Tuesday, and new episodes of Breaking Silos every other Wednesday!
Guest Names:
Allison Turcio, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College
Shane Baglini, Senior Director of Marketing, Muhlenberg College
Guest Bios:
Allison Turcio - Allison Turcio, Ed.D., is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College, a marketing professor, freelance marketing consultant, host of The Application Podcast, and publisher of the Higher Education Marketer's Digest. She is known for her innovative and student-centered approach to college-wide marketing, market research, and enrollment communications efforts. The Siena team and their partners have won numerous awards, including a Best in Show Educational Advertising Award and AMA's inaugural Emerging Marketer in Higher Education Award She is a frequent presenter at industry conferences, including American Marketing Association’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, eduWeb and others. She serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing. Allison was selected for the Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 and Siena College’s Excellence in Administration award in 2020. She holds a doctorate degree in higher education leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s in communications and bachelor’s in English.
Shane Baglini - Shane Baglini leads Muhlenberg College's strategic recruitment and digital marketing efforts, manages all web and social media initiatives, and supports the College's brand and awareness endeavors across the institution. With a higher ed marketing career approaching a decade in length, Shane has a deep background in transforming strategies and tactics to maximize results and implementing best practices to meet institutional goals.
Guest Socials:
Find Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio
Find Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
Eddie Francis is a champion for employer branding. The host of “I Wanna Work There” on Enrollify, Eddie has spent his career in higher ed marcomm leadership roles, and talent management, recruitment and staffing roles. Eddie brings a unique perspective to all things higher ed organizational culture, and one of the biggest killers of culture is silos. Eddie and Shane sat down to discuss how institutions can address silos within their organization, why silos are one of the leading causes of employee frustrations, and how they can impact an employers brand, recruitment and retention efforts.
Guest Name: Eddie Francis, Founder, Edify Ventures
Guest Bios: Eddie Francis, a brand strategy consultant, award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, and speaker, is driven by the deep belief in the importance of being valued. As the founder of Edify Ventures, a consultancy focusing on personal and employer branding, Eddie hosts "I Wanna Work There!" on employer branding in higher education and "For Our Edification" on personal leadership. With a background in radio, including hosting the "HBCU Lifestyle Podcast," Eddie's contributions extend to various platforms, earning him recognition as one of New Orleans Magazine's "30 People to Watch." In higher education, he played pivotal roles in brand identity, communications, and enrollment growth. As a speaker, Eddie shares leadership insights with college students and has contributed to the book "Leadership to Letters." Eddie holds a Master of Professional Studies in strategic leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. Proudly affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he is the husband of Dr. Halima Leak Francis and the father of Stevie.
Find Eddie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiefrancis/
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
In this episode of Breaking Silos, we're joined by Brian Piper and Megan Crawford from the University of Rochester and the University of Rochester Medical Center. Brian and Megan are spearheading an interdepartmental AI Council, aiming to formalize and standardize the use of AI in marketing and communications across the campus.
This council, sponsored by senior university leaders, is enhancing collaboration between departments and campuses, with the ultimate goal of integrating AI into marcomm workflows safely and ethically. Tune in as Brian and Megan discuss the history and formation of the AI marcomm stakeholder group, the executive sponsorship backing their efforts, the specific tools and guidelines being tested, and the future objectives of their groundbreaking initiatives.
Discover how their work is set to revolutionize marketing strategies and foster innovation at the University of Rochester.
Guest Names:
Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy and Assessment, University of Rochester
Megan Crawford, Senior Marketing Strategist, Center for Advanced Research Technologies (CART), University of Rochester Medical Center
Guest Social Handles:
Find Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/
Find Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-the-marketer/
Guest Bios:
Brian Piper - Brian Piper is an author, international keynote speaker, and consultant. Brian has been optimizing digital content since 1996. He has created online training programs for hundreds of companies including Xerox, L3Harris, IBM, and Volvo, and has spoken at hundreds of conferences and events.
Brian has spent the last eight years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. Since 2021, he has been diving into AI, web3, community building, and the metaverse.
Brian wrote Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education and co-authored the second edition of Epic Content Marketing with Joe Pulizzi. He is a contributing author and co-editor of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever with Mark Schaefer and a co-author of The Content Entrepreneur with Joe Pulizzi. Brian was named one of the top 10 higher education marketers to follow in 2023.
When he’s not creating data visualizations, he teaches wingsuit skydiving and spends time with his wife and six children.
Megan Crawford - Megan Crawford is a marketing strategist for the University of Rochester Medical Center’s strategic communications team, supporting the biomedical research division. She recently transitioned to this role from the business sector, where she spent the majority of her 20-year marketing career working in luxury goods and consulting.
Megan is also pursuing a STEM MBA part-time at Simon Business School, focusing on competitive strategy, innovation, and AI. Passionate about preventive healthcare research and emerging technologies, Megan co-chairs the University’s MarCom AI committee and engages with industry leaders as a corporate relations committee member for the Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities.
In her free time, Megan draws from her art background to design everything from interiors to logos, is an avid traveler and skier, and enjoys lake life along the shores of Lake Ontario.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
In this episode, we're joined by Bryan Gross, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics, and Gail Glover, Vice President for Strategic Communications at Hartwick College. Together, they discuss their strategic efforts to combat summer melt, an initiative that has brought together multiple divisions across the campus.
Discover how Hartwick College established a new melt committee, implemented innovative communication plans, and redefined their orientation process with "Wick Week" to foster a sense of belonging among first-year students. Learn about the importance of process mapping, marketing strategies, admissions outreach, and the use of retention data in their mission to enhance student success.
Join us as Bryan and Gail share insights on addressing financial implications, reestablishing financial policies, and the pivotal role of data in driving their initiatives. This episode is a testament to the impact of breaking down silos and leveraging cross-divisional relationships to achieve institutional goals.
Guest Names:
Bryan Gross, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics
Gail Glover, Vice President for Strategic Communications
Guest Social Handles:
Find Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-j-gross/
Find Gail on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gailglover/
Guest Bios:
Bryan - Dr. Bryan Gross is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, leading innovative strategies to enhance the quality and diversity of the College’s enrollment management and financial aid optimization plans. One of his primary responsibilities is to develop partnerships locally, nationally and internationally that strengthen the College’s position in the market that lead to positive college-going rates and student success outcomes.
Prior to Hartwick College, Dr. Gross served as vice president for enrollment management and marketing, and as interim vice president of student affairs at Western New England University in Springfield, MA. He was also the associate vice president of enrollment management at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. and associate vice president of admissions, dean of admissions, and director of international admissions at the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT.
A national and international thought leader, Dr. Gross is a regular presenter, contributor and researcher to articles and workshops on enrollment management, leadership and collaboration, student belonging, international student mobility, and financial aid. He has been a co-principal investigator for a National Science Foundation grant and has served as an executive board member and treasurer of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC).
Dr. Gross earned a doctorate in organizational change and leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. His dissertation examined how collaboration among senior higher education leaders can facilitate positive revenue outcomes at regional and private institutions. Gross also holds a master’s degree from Springfield College and a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University.
Gail - From NCAA championships to brand transformations, Gail Glover brings a wealth of experience to her role as vice president for strategic communications at Hartwick College. Throughout her career, Gail has consistently spearheaded successful communication initiatives across the higher education landscape.
Her dedication to impactful communication is evident in her previous roles. At Dutchess Community College, Gail's leadership in launching new programs wasn't just about creating awareness – it led to a significant enrollment increase. This exemplifies her ability to translate strategy into tangible results.
At Bucknell University, Gail's leadership and strategic vision proved invaluable during the emergence of COVID-19. Gail guided Bucknell's initial response, fostering clear communication both internally and externally.
Prior to that, at SUNY Geneseo, Gail wasn't just building a brand; she was crafting a powerful identity. Under her guidance, Geneseo unveiled a new logo and launched its first digital marketing and advertising campaigns, propelling the college into a more competitive market position.
Gail's ability to leverage communication for positive impact goes beyond traditional marketing. As senior director of communications and marketing at Union College, she spearheaded efforts to maximize media coverage for the college's successful bid for an NCAA Division 1 men's ice hockey championship – the Frozen Four. This resulted in not only national media attention but also extensive engagement on social media platforms, highlighting her talent for capitalizing on strategic opportunities.
Gail's career journey demonstrates a deep understanding of the diverse communication needs within higher education. From providing strategic counsel to senior administration at Binghamton University to acting as the university spokesperson and overseeing crisis management efforts, she has consistently proven her ability to navigate complex situations and deliver clear, effective communication.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gail is passionate about using strategic story-telling across platforms to elevate the voices of institutions and empower their communities.
- - - -
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.