In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Mary Keister, Principal at Mary Keister Consulting and a seasoned strategic communications pro, to unpack one of higher ed’s most pressing issues: the rapidly declining public trust in the value of college. With Gallup and Lumina Foundation data showing alarming trends in student and family skepticism, this conversation dives into what's fueling the crisis—and what institutions can actually do about it. From missed messaging opportunities to long-overdue operational pivots, Mary and Mallory explore how to reframe the higher ed value proposition for today’s reality. 

Related Links: 
https://news.gallup.com/poll/695003/perceived-importance-college-hits-new-low.aspx
https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/the-cost-vs-value-paradox-what-americans-really-think-about-college/
https://www.highereddive.com/news/higher-education-survey-new-america-varying-degrees-2024/722992/
https://www.bethel.edu/more/

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Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

Welcome to the debut episode of this new pulse check series, AI Arms Race: Navigating Leadership in the Agentic Admissions AI Era, hosted by Scott Cline. 

Guest Name: Dr. Stephen Ostendorff, Dean of Admissions, Molloy University

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

Guest Bio: Dr. Stephen Ostendorff is a strategic enrollment and marketing leader with over two decades of experience driving growth and innovation in higher education. Currently serving as Dean of Admissions at Molloy University, he has led record-breaking enrollment through data-informed strategies, advanced CRM integrations, financial aid optimization, and the ethical use of AI in recruitment. With a background spanning private, urban, and mission-driven institutions, he is known for collaborative leadership, taking a tech-forward approach to enrollment management, and a future-focused mindset when it comes to student engagement and retention.

He holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University, an M.S.Ed. in Student Development Practice in Higher Education from St. John’s University, and a B.A. in English from Clark University.

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Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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 Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Mallory and Gil Rogers break down the real reason 95% of AI projects fail—and it’s not the tech. From underground AI usage to rising trust issues and executive scrambling for structure, this episode explores how leadership—not capability—is the biggest hurdle for AI adoption in higher education and beyond. Whether you're an institutional leader or front-line staffer experimenting with AI, this conversation offers timely insights on how to approach AI integration with intention, empathy, and strategy.

Related Links: 
MIT Study: 95% of Generative AI Projects Fail
AI as Boss? Workers Push Back
Chief AI Officers Emerge Across Industries
The Shadow AI Workforce

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

Welcome to the final installment of this Pulse Check series — Advancement Amplified: The IA MarCom Shift — Part 5: The 90-Day Blueprint. Dan Giroux teams up with higher ed marketing powerhouse Jaime Hunt—host of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO and author of Heart Over Hype—for a co-led conversation that delivers big, bold ideas and actionable next steps. Together, they offer a compelling, cross-functional perspective on what it means to build future-ready advancement marketing and communications (MarCom) teams—and how to do it in just 90 days. If you're serious about integrated strategies, sustainable structures, and breaking down silos, this is the episode for you.

Notes / Resources:

• AI Maturity Matrix: https://www.solvehighered.com/ai-maturity-matrix
• Heart Over Hype: https://www.heartoverhypebook.com

Solve Higher Ed: https://www.solvehighered.com

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

Mallory Willsea welcomes Fran Zablocki, Head of Strategy at Fastspot, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming workflows—not by replacing human expertise, but by enhancing it. Drawing on two decades of experience in digital strategy, Fran shares how tools like Perplexity, Notion, and Claude are being integrated into agency workflows and what higher ed leaders can learn from past waves of technological disruption. If you're curious about practical AI adoption in higher education, this episode delivers fresh perspective grounded in strategy.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

Welcome to Part 4 of this Pulse Check series — "From Lessons to Action". Dan Giroux hits pause to distill key takeaways from the first three episodes and translate them into tangible actions for higher ed MarCom and advancement professionals. Whether you’re just tuning in or have been along for the ride, this episode offers a practical roadmap to help your team move from reactive order-takers to strategic partners in institutional advancement. Focused on real-world applications and actionable frameworks, this pulse-check episode lays the groundwork for sustainable, visible progress.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Dan’s newsletter, DJG Marketing Insights: https://djg-marketing.kit.com/newsletter

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

Learn about the 2025 AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.

The Advancement Strategic Communicators Network is a growing national hub for higher education philanthropic communicators. Learn more on the ASC website  (https://asc.ucdavis.edu/)  or join the ASC Linkedin Group (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12740101/) to get connected.

Guest Name: Gabrielle Giddings, Associate Vice Chancellor, Campaigns, University of Denver

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

Guest Bio: Gabrielle Giddings is the associate vice chancellor of campaigns at the University of Denver, leading campaign communications, advancement events, and campaign operations for the University’s $1B Denver Difference campaign. An advancement leader with 30+ years of experience, she believes clear, authentic storytelling builds donor trust and fuels giving. Previously, she served as assistant vice president for marketing and communications at Temple Health Institutional Advancement and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, directing an integrated program across the health system, the school, and the university. Her expertise spans campaign communications, high-impact events, direct response, donor and alumni engagement, community relations, and crisis/media management. She holds a B.A. in Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College and an M.S. in Communication Management from Temple University (communication theory and cross-cultural leadership).

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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 Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Faton Sopa, Co-Founder and CEO of Manaferra, to unpack the most in-depth research yet on how students are searching for colleges in 2025. From the rise of platform switching to the impact of AI and peer-driven validation, Faton shares actionable insights into how student behavior is evolving—and how enrollment marketers must adapt their strategies to keep pace. If you’re still focused solely on winning the first click on Google, this episode will shift your perspective fast.

Download: How Students Search for Colleges in 2025

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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 Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Dan Giroux sits down with Melissa Fincher and Shanna Hocking for a compelling look at how advancement marketing and communications teams can adapt to today's climate of fiscal uncertainty, evolving talent needs, and constant change. This episode dives deep into how higher ed leaders can rethink team structures, integrate AI responsibly, and develop talent that drives long-term value. Whether you're leading an advancement team or building one, this is a must-listen conversation for navigating the next era of higher education marketing.

Resources provided by Melissa:

• WittKieffer Open Searches in Marketing, Communications, & Strategy: https://wittkieffer.com/positions?excellence=227
• WittKieffer Interim Talent Network: https://wittkieffer.com/form/interim-talent-network
• WittKieffer Insights: https://wittkieffer.com/insights
• WittKieffer Executive Searches on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/current-executive-searches/

Resources provided by Shanna:

• HBR “5 Qualities to Look for in a New Hire”: https://hbr.org/2024/03/5-qualities-to-look-for-in-a-new-hire
• BOLD Blueprint for Women in Advancement: https://www.hockingleadership.com/research-study

Guest Names: 
Melissa Fincher, Principal and Practice Leader, Marketing & Communications, WittKieffer
Shanna Hocking, Founder and CEO, Hocking Leadership

Guest Socials:
Melissa: [email protected]
Shanna: [email protected]

Guest Bios: 
Principal Melissa Fincher serves as the Marketing & Communications Practice Leader for WittKieffer's Education Market. She has partnered on 170+ executive searches with a wide variety of mission-serving clients. Her varied experiences make her uniquely qualified to support institutions with their short and long-term talent strategies and solutions. She started her career at Rutgers University in undergraduate admissions. She then served Johns Hopkins, first as a member of the Development & Alumni Relations senior leadership team and then as the inaugural talent acquisition consultant. Prior to joining WittKieffer, Melissa was a talent and organizational development consultant at The Ohio State University.

Shanna (rhymes with Donna) is a nationally recognized expert in higher education advancement and nonprofit leadership, and the author of One Bold Move a Day (McGraw Hill). She is the founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership, a strategic advisory firm that helps universities and academic medical centers strengthen their leaders, build high-performing teams, and develop workplace cultures that increase retention and grow philanthropy. Shanna spent more than 20 years as a fundraising executive, leading teams and raising transformational gifts at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Alabama, and Duke University. Today, she partners with chief advancement executives and their teams to solve their most complex leadership challenges.

She is a LinkedIn Top Voice and her expertise has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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.