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In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Nick Martin, Co-Founder of Direqt, to explore how AI is transforming the student experience. Martin and his team have built conversational AI chatbots trained on a college’s website, data, and social media content—allowing students to get real-time answers to common questions like “How do I apply for financial aid?” or “Where can I change my class schedule?”

Martin shares how these chatbots improve both prospective and current student engagement by providing fast, personalized support and identifying areas where students struggle to find information. The episode also dives into how AI can surface hidden UX issues and improve digital touchpoints for better outcomes.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI chatbots are being used to support student services
• The benefits of training AI on institutional data and content
• Ways chatbots improve website usability and engagement
• How to use AI to uncover hidden friction points in the student journey
• Why personalization and speed matter in digital student support

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Beth Noel, Director of Communications & Creative Services at Middlesex Community College, to talk about accessibility and inclusive design in higher education. What started with a compliance letter about inaccessible PDFs became a turning point in Noel’s journey toward building a culture of belonging for students with disabilities. She shares how her institution formed a cross-college accessibility team and began embedding inclusive practices into all communications.

Noel also offers practical guidance on how to write and design with accessibility in mind, showing how these shifts can positively impact student success and retention. This conversation explores the business case for accessibility, how to build buy-in, and how to lead change, even in environments where “we’ve never done it that way before.”

What You’ll Learn:

• What sparked one communicator’s journey into accessibility
• How to start building accessible communications and teams
• Practical tips for inclusive writing and design
• The connection between accessibility, retention, and student success
• How to navigate resistance to inclusive practices

Beth Noel's NCMPR Presentation

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom talks with Christine Rose, Regional Senior Marketing Director at Outfront, about the fast-evolving world of out-of-home (OOH) media. Rose shares how she oversees marketing strategy across ten Western U.S. markets and explains why OOH is one of the most effective and underutilized tools in a college’s media mix. The conversation explores how creative execution, sustainability practices, and data-informed placement all contribute to high-impact campaigns. Rose also shares tips for integrating OOH with digital efforts, targeting audiences with precision, and thinking beyond the billboard to elevate your brand in unexpected ways.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why OOH media is gaining traction in higher ed marketing
• How design and messaging drive OOH campaign performance
• Ways to integrate OOH with digital marketing for broader reach
• How to use data and audience insights for smarter ad placement
• Tips for ensuring your OOH campaign is sustainable and effective

Click here to view some of the billboards the GradComm team has designed.

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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On this Higher Ed Conversations episode, I host a conversation with an Al expert and, more impressively, my sister-in-law, Suzi Boynton! Suzi is the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees for the San Marcos Unified School District, where she utilizes the tool of Al in her day-to-day work for the school system. In our conversation, we discussed Suzi's journey with AI and how its practical applications in her role enlightened her to its broader, more practical implications in education and the general workplace. We also tackle the subject of the importance of AI literacy, the ethical and responsible usage of Al, and its future applications. There's a lot to digest, so grab your coffee, sit back in your comfy chair, and join us as we focus on viewing AI through the lens of efficiency and its potential, not only for current educational needs but also for the future.

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom talks with Keith Goodman, a direct mail marketing expert, about the renewed power of direct mail in today’s digital-first world, especially for education marketers. Goodman explains how direct mail allows for precise, personalized outreach by using rich demographic and psychographic data, including household makeup, interests, and behaviors.

The conversation explores how colleges are using direct mail to promote everything from summer courses to career-focused certificate programs. Goodman shares how data like drive time and proximity can sharpen targeting, and how direct mail works hand-in-hand with digital campaigns to boost engagement. The episode also highlights how to measure campaign success and why continuous testing is key to long-term results.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why direct mail is making a comeback in education marketing
• How audience segmentation drives better results than digital alone
• Ways colleges use direct mail to target parents and prospective students
• How to combine print and digital for higher ROI
• Tips for testing and optimizing campaign performance

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Connect with GradComm:
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Send us a message: GradComm.com

Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom hosts her first solo conversation to celebrate the release of her new ebook, "Why Your Community CollegeMarketing is Failing: Lessons From Online Dating," which quickly became a #1 bestseller in multiple online categories. Cheryl shares a behind-the-scenes look at the book and breaks down three core themes that have helped hundreds of colleges dramatically improve their marketing efforts.

This episode explores how online dating strategies can transform the way colleges attract and connect with prospective students. Cheryl offers practical tips from the book to help you start improving your outreach right away. And if you stick around until the end, she shares a fun personal story about how online dating has impacted her own life.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most community college marketing struggles to connect, and how to fix it
• How online dating principles apply to student engagement
• Three key themes from Cheryl’s bestselling ebook
• Immediate takeaways you can apply to your marketing today

Link to survey here.

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Connect with GradComm:
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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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Many students cannot enroll in traditional two- or four-year college programs, but they still want access to professional skills that lead to higher-paying jobs. In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom speaks with Linda Kurokawa, Executive Director of Community Education & Workforce Development at MiraCosta College, about how noncredit workforce programs are helping to fill that gap.

Kurokawa shares how MiraCosta has become a statewide model through flexible offerings like brew-tech, machining, and phlebotomy. She explains how her department’s self-funded structure allows them to respond quickly to industry needs, leading to strong student outcomes. The conversation also explores the role of employer partnerships, future-thinking leadership, and how word-of-mouth and social media continue to drive enrollment.

What You’ll Learn:

• How noncredit workforce programs meet urgent student and industry needs
• The benefits of self-funded, flexible continuing education models
• Why colleges should build strong employer relationships
• Marketing tactics that work for short-term career programs
• Why entrepreneurial thinking is essential in today’s community colleges

Thanks for listening!

Connect with GradComm:
Instagram: @gradcommunications
Facebook: @GradCommunications
LinkedIn: @gradcomm
Send us a message: GradComm.com

Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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As higher education continues to evolve and expand, the presidency of its institutions has become an increasingly demanding role. GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Jeff Julian, Chief of Staff at Harper College and President of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations, to discuss the shifting landscape of higher ed leadership.

In this episode, Julian shares insights from his extensive background in communications, public awareness, and PR, and discusses the catch-all yet crucial function of the Chief of Staff role. While the structure and delegation of duties vary across institutions, he emphasizes that at its core, the role embodies servant leadership. Often serving as a trusted advisor and right-hand to the college president, Julian offers a second, unbiased perspective on key decisions. He also underscores the value of professional involvement and volunteerism, noting that leadership is built through experience, something he has honed through roles with NCMPR and the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.

What You’ll Learn:

• What the Chief of Staff role looks like in a college setting
• Why servant leadership is foundational to effective executive support
• How volunteering can fast-track leadership development
• Insights into the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship
• Why communications professionals are uniquely positioned for executive roles

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Connect with GradComm:
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Send us a message: GradComm.com

Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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It’s undeniable that social media has transformed into an essential platform for both cultivating a presence and nurturing community connections. With platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook becoming key spaces for interaction and staying informed, colleges and universities must have a strong and consistent social presence to stay relevant. In this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom discusses the evolving role of social media in higher education with Megan Ellisor, Director of Social Media at North Carolina State University.

This conversation explores how Ellisor leads an 11-member social media team to create authentic, student-centered content while maintaining the university’s voice and tone across multiple accounts. She shares how NC State fosters connection through gamified fundraising efforts, branded hashtags, and story-driven content that captures student life. Throughout this discussion, she also offers practical tips for empowering social media teams and ensuring content resonates with students, alumni, and the broader community.

What You’ll Learn:

• How NC State structures and empowers a centralized social media team
• Strategies for building genuine online relationships with students
• The role of storytelling in effective social media content
• How to use hashtags, fundraising campaigns, and student voices to drive engagement
• Tips for balancing institutional branding with authentic student-centered content

Thanks for listening!

Connect with GradComm:
Instagram: @gradcommunications
Facebook: @GradCommunications
LinkedIn: @gradcomm
Send us a message: GradComm.com

Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom discusses the realities of balancing motherhood and a demanding career with Letitia Clark, Chief Communications Officer at South Orange County Community College District, elected official, and author. Balancing children and a career may seem unachievable, but Letitia Clark unveils the secrets to harmonizing professional life and motherhood. From her dynamic career path to her role on the Tustin City Council, Clark delves into the intricacies of being a mother while excelling in the professional realm. She discusses her two books, with a particular focus on her latest, Baby’s Room to the Boardroom, where she emphasizes the intersectionality of motherhood and career pursuits.

This episode explores Clark's pearls of wisdom as she highlights the significance of positive self-talk, the support of a nurturing tribe, the celebration of personal victories, and the joy of pursuing one’s passions. The conversation takes a deeper dive into fostering better work environments for women and parents, healthily navigating work-life transitions, the necessity of learning on the job, and the importance of recharging amidst a busy schedule. This episode empowers working moms through invaluable workplace lessons and real-life anecdotes taken directly from Clark's parenting journey.

What You’ll Learn:

• How working mothers can balance career growth and family life without burnout
• Why positive self-talk and community support are critical to long-term success
• Ways employers can create more supportive environments for women and parents
• How to navigate career transitions while continuing to learn on the job
• Why celebrating personal wins matters as much as professional milestones

Thanks for listening!

Connect with GradComm:
Instagram: @gradcommunications
Facebook: @GradCommunications
LinkedIn: @gradcomm
Send us a message: GradComm.com

Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.