As higher ed faces increasing headwinds, hiring a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is no longer a luxury—it's a strategic necessity. As demographic shifts, escalating costs, and growing competition put more pressure on institutions, a CRO's role in unifying revenue-generating efforts becomes critical. 

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Steven Rutt, the Chief Revenue Officer for Abilene Christian University, to tackle this topic. This episode includes insights about:

• the ways a CRO can connect the dots between admissions, marketing, online programs, and fundraising;
• how a CRO ensures that  traditionally siloed departments work together toward shared institutional goals;
• how a CRO can foster a culture of strategic thinking around student acquisition, retention, and lifetime value; and
• the ways a CRO enhances financial sustainability and encourages innovation.

Guest Name: Steven Rutt, Chief Revenue Officer, Abilene Christian University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-rutt-02922832/

Guest Bio: Steven is a higher education executive with over 20 years of experience focused heavily in the online education space.  His breadth of experience spans finance, student finance, business intelligence, analytics and performance marketing.  With almost 14 years at one of the largest online universities, he has implemented significant operational efficiency initiatives as well as managed one of the largest marketing budgets in the industry.  

Since 2019, Steven has been at Abilene Christian University mainly as the Chief Operating Officer of their Online Campus managing the finance, analytics, marketing, and campus operations departments.  Over his first 5 years, he has helped the online campus more than double in size.  As of September 2024, he has also added the role of Chief Revenue Officer over the entire university, focused on aligning marketing and enrollment strategies around an analytical culture and driving net tuition revenue growth.  

Steven resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Celina, Texas with his wife (Jo) and 3 daughters (Annora, Ginger and Hollister). 

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO 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 next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

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