Higher Ed Pulse

By Mallory Willsea

Higher Ed Pulse is your weekly no-fluff guide to AI in higher ed. Higher ed leaders are expected to master AI overnight. But let’s be real — no one has time to sift through every headline, hot take, o... more

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FAQs about Higher Ed Pulse:

How many episodes does Higher Ed Pulse have?

The podcast currently has 520 episodes available.

Higher Ed Pulse episodes:

June 09, 2025 Catching Up with Seth Odell
Mallory Willsea reunites with Seth Odell, CEO of Kanahoma, in a candid, unscripted conversation recorded live from the CASE conference in Los Angeles. From sponsoring a mechanical bull to building an AI-enabled agency, Seth dives into how Kanahoma is embracing artificial intelligence, transforming workflows, and preparing for a world where entry-level roles may be on the verge of extinction. This episode is equal parts insight and inspiration—and it might just change how you think about AI in higher ed.
Related Links:
Google Marketing Live 2025 Update
Google Marketing Live 2025: Everything you need to know

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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 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
...more
23min
June 05, 2025 Pulse Check: The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity — Part 1
Welcome to this new Pulse Check series, The Culture Code: Leading with Diversity. On today's Part 1, we’ll discuss the role of minority leadership in shaping higher education culture and messaging, how strategic leadership can drive positive outcomes, and how institutions can engage diverse communities through effective branding and outreach.
Guest Name: Frank Tramble, VP Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs, Duke University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-tramble-mps-a7b81711/
Guest Bio: Frank is a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience in executive communications, crisis management, marketing, and brand strategy, playing a key role in shaping Duke’s reputation and strategic goals.
As a strategic adviser to President Vincent Price, Frank oversees Duke's communications, marketing, media relations, and brand efforts, guiding professionals across the university to ensure a unified approach. Previously, Frank served as Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Howard University, where he led innovative initiatives like the award-winning redesign of the university magazine and the creation of The Dig, a daily storytelling platform.
His work has earned national recognition, including the historic feature of Howard’s swim and dive team on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Frank has also worked with notable figures such as Pete Souza, Phylicia Rashad, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.
In addition to his role at Duke, Frank is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, teaching brand strategy. He holds a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from Georgetown and a bachelor's in advertising management from Michigan State University.

- - - -

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 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
...more
37min
June 02, 2025 Is Your College Showing Up in AI Search?
Mallory Willsea welcomes Jason Smith, founder of OHO, to discuss a game-changing shift in college discovery: the rise of AI as the starting point. With nearly a third of students now using generative AI like ChatGPT and Gemini to explore college options, and over half saying the results beat Google, this episode explores what it means for colleges to remain discoverable—and trustworthy—in the age of AI-first search.
Related Article:
OHO Report: The Influence of AI Chatbots in the College Search Process
Guest Name: Jason Smith, Managing Director and Founder at OHO
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsmith1/
Guest Bio: As Managing Director of OHO, Jason leads a talented team of designers, developers, and strategists to create award-winning digital marketing and strategy work. He's launched numerous websites for clients and offers a deeply insightful perspective into each business and industry with which he consults. Jason's depth of experience in marketing, user research, graphic design, and television advertising make him uniquely qualified to create successful marketing strategies that marry messaging with design, information architecture, and technology.

- - - -

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 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
...more
26min
May 29, 2025 Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 3
In this final episode of High School to Higher Ed II, Emma and her father discuss the expectations and dynamics of college visits from a high school student's perspective. They explore what an ideal college visit looks like, including the importance of small group tours, engaging with current students, and the significance of seeing both the positive and negative aspects of a campus. The conversation also touches on the role of tour guides, the importance of professionalism, and the realities of college life that students should consider when making their decisions.

- - - -

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 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
...more
27min
May 26, 2025 Is Meta’s AI Rewriting the Future of Advertising?
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Marina Cooper, Senior Associate Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Brand at Johns Hopkins University, to unpack how AI is rewriting the advertising playbook. As platforms like Meta roll out real-time ad optimization tools, Marina shares her perspective on the opportunities and pitfalls of letting AI take the reins in campaign creative. This conversation dives into the nuance of brand guardrails, ethical AI use, and why higher ed marketers must stay both curious and cautious.
Related Articles:
Meta claims new tech ‘redefining’ advertising as an ‘AI agent’
Meta Previews New Optimization Tools As It Hypes AI-Driven Ad Revenue Growth

- - - -

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 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
...more
25min
May 22, 2025 Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 2
High School to Higher Ed II - Part 2 - A Ninth Grader’s Reaction to Your Website
On today's Part 2 of High School to Higher Ed II: A Father/Daughter Perspective, Kevin and Emma dive into what makes a college website stand out—or fall flat—for prospective students. With Emma reviewing 10 university websites prompted by recent outreach efforts, the duo explores why first impressions, clean design, and simple navigation make all the difference in a Gen Z user's experience. For higher ed marketers, this is a must-listen crash course in what your future applicants actually notice (and what makes them bounce).

- - - -

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 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
...more
30min
May 19, 2025 Inside the 2025 CIO Survey: Only 11% Have an AI Strategy
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with Kellie Campbell, the newly appointed CIO at the University of Vermont, to unpack the findings of Inside Higher Ed’s 2025 survey of CTOs and CIOs. The numbers confirm what many in Higher Ed already feel — AI is rapidly advancing on campus, but governance and policy are struggling to keep pace. Kellie brings her boots-on-the-ground expertise to the conversation, sharing how she’s building AI governance from scratch while the tech is already in full flight.
Related Articles:
Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers
EDUCAUSE Framework for AI Literacy
Guest Name: Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, University of Vermont
Guest Social: LinkedIn
Guest Bio: As Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technology for the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), Kellie works in close partnership with the Council of Presidents to provide leadership, management, and strategy for the Information Technology (IT) shared services division. Inclusive of seven key service areas, the IT division provides direct IT services to the entire VSCS. Kellie also serves on the executive leadership team driving transformation objectives for the state colleges system. As a commissioner and committee co-chair on the Vermont Commission on Women, Kellie works with others on non-partisan issues to advance the rights and opportunity for women in the state of Vermont.

- - - -

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 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
...more
27min
May 15, 2025 Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed II (2025) — Part 1
Welcome to the return of our Pulse Check series High School to Higher Ed.
In this episode, we will be recapping some of our discussions from our episodes in the Fall, focusing especially on questions we’ve received from listeners regarding those episodes.
Hosts:
Kevin Cavanagh
Emma Cavanagh

- - - -

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 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
...more
32min
May 12, 2025 The AI Layoffs Are Here
Mallory Willsea sits down with Jackie Davis, strategic program leader and former global employee experience head at Salesforce, to unpack the new wave of AI-driven workforce shifts. From hiring freezes to job displacement, the conversation explores how higher ed leaders can maintain trust and reframe their strategies in the age of automation. With over 300 proposals submitted for the 2025 AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Ed, the AI conversation is heating up fast—and this episode is your pulse check on what’s coming next.
Related Articles:
Duolingo shifts to AI-first model, cutting contractor roles
CrowdStrike lays off 500 in latest example of AI costing people their jobs
IBM CEO Says AI Has Replaced Hundreds of Workers but Created New Programming, Sales Jobs
‘The frog is boiling’: is 2025 when AI finally comes for your job?

- - - -

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 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
...more
21min
May 08, 2025 Behind the Agenda: What's Hot at Engage 2025
This special bonus episode is your exclusive backstage pass to the upcoming Engage Summit — Element451’s flagship event happening June 24–25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Host Erin Fields is joined by Element451 team members Erin Newton, Danielle Bradley, and Savanna Mcdede to break down why Engage is more than just another higher ed conference.
Register for Engage Summit 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 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
...more
22min

FAQs about Higher Ed Pulse:

How many episodes does Higher Ed Pulse have?

The podcast currently has 520 episodes available.

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