Breaking Silos

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.

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.

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.

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,

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

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/

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.

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.

In this episode, we’re joined by Maria Kuntz, Creative Communications and Services Director for CU Boulder Advancement, and Noelle Seybert, Director of Social Media at CU Boulder. They will discuss their innovative approach to amplifying Buffs All In, CU Boulder’s Giving Day, by building a cross-campus stakeholder group to enhance campus buy-in and increase engagement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shane is joined live at Engage Summit 2024 by Troy Singer, Digital Marketing Specialist, Ring Digital and Co-Host of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast. Troy and Shane discuss his experience working with institutions across higher ed, helping them achieve mid-funnel marketing success, and some lessons learned nearly 200 episodes of his podcast. 

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

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

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