Seth and Mallory reflect on the career-defining moments that have shaped their journeys. From Seth’s unexpected leap into TV production to Mallory’s early adoption of social media strategy, they share the pivotal decisions and lucky breaks that have driven their professional growth. Listen in for candid stories and valuable lessons on how to recognize and seize opportunities that could transform your career.

• Hard Work Pays Off: Seth's first career-defining moment highlights the value of work ethic over initial skill. Sometimes, showing up and taking on what others won't can lead to big opportunities.
• Make Your Own Luck: Mallory turned an early opportunity in social media into a career shift by proactively presenting her vision to leadership. Creating your own luck is about recognizing potential and acting on it.
• Build Your Own Platform: Seth's creation of Higher Ed Live was driven by a desire to demonstrate competence and connect with industry leaders. Building your own platform can open doors to new opportunities and lasting relationships.
• Leverage Educational Credentials: Mallory's strategic pursuit of a master's degree helped her transition into higher-level roles with increased responsibilities and compensation. It's about aligning education with long-term career goals.
• Say Yes to New Challenges: Seth's decision to pitch against an external agency led to the creation of SNHU’s in-house agency and long-lasting career impact. Don’t hesitate to take on challenges outside your comfort zone.
• Take the Leap: Seth’s decision to launch Kanahoma in the midst of uncertainty demonstrates the importance of following your passion and trusting your ability to build something meaningful.

Get your Leadership Handbook.

Become the leader you aspire to be! Sign up for Enrollify’s Lessons in Leadership course today.

- - - -

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

In this final part of this Pulse Check series, guest Terry Flannery joins Kin Sejpal to reflect on her 40 years of serving higher education.

Key points/takeaways include:

• Higher education marketing is evolving and offers opportunities for creativity and innovation.
• Finding joy and meaning in the work helps stay resilient during challenging times
• The post-pandemic landscape has brought professionals from all around the world together to collaborate on higher ed issues like never before.
• The future of higher education is promising, and professionals have the opportunity to shape it by contributing to the field.

Guest Name: Terry Flannery

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-flannery-ph-d-2860b428/

Guest Bio: Teresa (Terry) Flannery is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she directs the divisions of Education; Membership, Marketing and Communications; Data, Research and Technology; and Strategic Partnerships. Terry is a strategic, innovative, and collaborative higher education leader with more than 35 years of experience in a wide range of functions, including advancement, admissions and enrollment management, and student affairs. She has worked at large, medium, and small institutions, both public and private.
One of the leading university marketing professionals in the world and recognized in 2018 as “International Brand Master,” Flannery has led some of the most successful brand campaigns in all of higher education. She is also a consultant, speaker, and author of How to Market A University: Building Value in a Competitive Environment, a new book published by the Johns Hopkins University Press in their series for higher education. In cooperation with several leading higher education marketing agencies, Flannery launched an asynchronous master course based on the book.
Before coming to CASE, Flannery held the chief marketing officer role at three institutions, as Interim Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Stony Brook University, as Vice President of Communication at American University, and as Assistant Vice President at the University of Maryland.
Flannery maintains an appointment as a Policy Fellow at American University’s Center for University Excellence. She has been a fellow in the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership and served for a decade on the CASE Board of Trustees, including as Chair.
Flannery holds a BA in English (American Literature) and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Education (College Student Personnel), all from the University of Maryland.

- - - -

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

In this episode, Jaime Hunt emphasizes the need for those in higher ed adjacent roles to stay connected to the mission of higher education and offers advice on finding fulfillment and making a broader impact.

Key points/takeaways include:

• Higher ed marketing is essential to conveying the value of education to students and society.
• Higher education needs to be saved, and each of us - internal and external - can play an important role
• External partners can help solve institutional problems, freeing campus leaders to focus on their day-to-day responsibilities.
• Professionals in the higher education adjacent sector should consider teaching or mentoring as a way to stay connected to the mission and impact.

Guest Name: Jaime Hunt

Guest Social: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

- - - -

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

Mallory and Seth dive into the growing influence of AI in non-student facing roles within higher education. They explore practical applications, such as AI-powered website searches, content management tools, and the rise of AI assistants. Highlighting real-world examples, including the use of AI in web management and data analytics, they discuss how these technologies are streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and reshaping the workforce. Whether you’re an enrollment marketer or a higher ed professional looking to leverage AI, this episode is packed with insights to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Key Takeaways:

• AI-Enhanced Websites: Tools like Element451's Bolt Discovery are revolutionizing how website visitors interact with higher ed websites, making navigation more intuitive and user-friendly.
• AI in Enrollment: AI's ability to support enrollment reps is expanding, with some organizations already integrating AI chatbots and assistants to handle nuanced inquiries.
• Operational Efficiency: AI-powered tools like ClassifAI are being used to automate content tagging and image descriptions, significantly speeding up web management tasks.
• Data-Driven Decisions: AI can help non-data experts uncover insights and make informed decisions by simplifying complex data analysis.
• AI in Content Creation: The strategic use of AI in content production can lead to higher-quality outputs by allowing senior editors to focus on prompt engineering and content refinement.
• AI as a Team Member: The future workforce might see more senior roles managing AI tools, effectively treating AI like human team members to boost productivity.

Listen to AI For U on Enrollify – the network’s newest podcast!

- - - -

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

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check Series, guest Dr. Thom Chesney, President of Southwest College, talks about taking a step back to recenter his why and embarking on a year-long journey of discernment.

Key points/takeaways include:

• Check in with yourself regularly to ensure you are still aligned with your why
• Have open conversations with your circle of trust within your network 
• Know what it is you do NOT want to do, not just what you do
• Take stock of your strengths and be true to yourself

Guest Name: Thom Chesney

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-d-chesney-0109276/  

Guest Bio: Thom joined SWC as president in July 2024, following presidencies at Clarke University (IA) and Brookhaven College (TX) and prior roles as Associate Professor of Humanities and Associate Provost for Student Success and Assessment, The University of Texas at Dallas; District VP of Academic Affairs and Provost, Collin College (TX); and various faculty and staff positions at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Texas Wesleyan University, East Tennessee State University, and Whitman College.
An avid and accessible mentor and coach to aspiring education and community leaders and governing boards, Thom has been recognized for his transparent approach to personal and institutional storytelling on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram.

- - - -

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

In this bonus edition of the Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory is joined by Dayana Kibilds, host of Talking Tactics and VP at Ologie, and Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University, to discuss their new book, "Mailed It!" They explore the vital role of email marketing in higher education, share practical insights on building trust and empathy with subscribers, and provide actionable tips for creating engaging email content that gets results.

Key Takeaways:

• The Importance of Email: Despite common misconceptions, email remains a highly effective marketing channel with significant ROI.
• Trust Triangle: Successful emails build trust through authenticity, empathy, and logic.
• Audience Engagement: Focus on creating content that resonates with the reader's current experiences and emotions.
• Clarity and Simplicity: Use natural language and straightforward messaging to avoid wasting the reader’s time.
• Email Metrics: Track key metrics like open rates and click rates to gauge engagement and refine strategies.

Get your copy of Mailed It!: https://emailbook.co/ 

Guest Names:
Dayana Kibilds
Ashley Budd

Guest Social:
Dayana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanakibilds/
Ashley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleybudd/

Guest Bios:
Dayana is strategy director at Ologie, an employee-owned marketing and branding agency built for education. Prior to Ologie, Day led enrollment and digital innovation work at Penn State, Cornell and Western (Canada). She regularly speaks about enrollment marketing, email strategy, productivity and stakeholder management at conferences worldwide. Day is the host of Enrollify's Talking Tactics podcast, and is co-authoring a book about email to be released in spring 2024. As a lifelong immigrant who has lived in six different countries, equity and diversity are really important to her. She sees content as a tool for equity, and part of her motivation to work in higher ed is to help students access the educational institutions they deserve to be a part of.

Ashley is a senior marketing director at Cornell University. She works remotely for the university from her hometown Saratoga Springs, where she lives with her partner, daughter, and two beloved peach trees. 

- - - -

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

Hosts Seth and Mallory discuss untraditional strategies to enhance traditional undergraduate recruitment and enrollment marketing. As the new recruitment cycle kicks off, they explore innovative approaches that go beyond the basics of list buying and email marketing. From using paid social media to drive campus visit RSVPs to creating shareable milestones in the admissions process, Seth and Mallory provide actionable insights for enrollment professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve. They also highlight the rising trend of behavioral and psychographic targeting in marketing and discuss the potential game-changing role of a Chief Revenue Officer in higher ed institutions.

• Alternative Calls to Action: Leverage digital marketing to drive specific outcomes, like campus visit RSVPs, and quantify the impact with cost-per-action metrics.
• Video in Direct Mail: Stand out by combining video content with direct mail, a strategy successfully implemented by the University of Idaho, enhancing engagement and social buzz.
• Targeted Awareness Campaigns: Focus on increasing perceived quality among parents with highly targeted awareness marketing, using streaming platforms to reach specific demographics.
• Behavioral and Psychographic Segmentation: Move beyond demographic segmentation by targeting based on behavior and implied psychographics to better align with prospective students' interests and concerns.
• Socially Shareable Milestones: Create moments in the admissions process that are not only memorable but also encourage social sharing, like personalized scholarship notifications.
• Chief Revenue Officer Role: Consider the strategic importance of a CRO in higher education to oversee and integrate recruitment, marketing, and retention efforts, ensuring a holistic approach to revenue generation.

Tune into Kin’s final Pulse Check series of 2024, “Finding Your Why”

Order Your Copy of Mailed It!

- - - -

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

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Kin is joined by W. Kent Barnds, who has 33 years of experience in higher ed and shares his why and the importance of working at a college campus.

Key points/takeaways include:

• The need for leaders to stay at institutions to fight the good fight.
• The comfort level of employees with a delayed sense of gratification that often is part and parcel of working in higher ed.
• The importance of giving space to break out of the mundane, repetitive work
• The difference between what can be controlled and what cannot as circumstances change around us.
• Finding opportunities to be surrounded by student stories and the larger purpose of advancing education. 

Guest Name: W. Kent Barnds

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

Guest Bio: W. Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President for Strategy & Innovation, Augustana College 
Kent Barnds is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in higher education, known for his strategic acumen and proficiency in driving organizational success. His strategic vision has played a pivotal role in advancing the objectives at Elizabethtown College and Augustana College, contributing to their sustained growth and impact. 
Having served in key leadership positions, including Vice President for Enrollment, Communication, and Planning at Augustana College and as the Executive Vice President at Augustana College, Kent has honed his skills in strategic planning, enrollment management, and communication. His experience equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education institutions and non-profits today. 

- - - -

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

Join hosts Seth and Mallory as they share invaluable career advice for rising leaders in higher education. From building a strong network to developing financial savvy, this episode is packed with practical tips and personal anecdotes to help you advance in your career. Whether you're aiming for a director title or aspiring to join the C-suite, this conversation will provide you with the tools and inspiration you need to succeed.

• Think of Your Career in Chapters: Focus on creating a clear narrative and move on when you've achieved it.
• Invest in Your Network: Relationships are crucial for career growth; prioritize both mentors and peer connections.
• Solve Your Boss's Problems: Your primary goal should be to help your boss achieve their objectives.
• Develop a Give-A-Shit Scale: Determine which battles are worth fighting to avoid burnout.
• Hire Slow, Fire Fast: Make careful hiring decisions and don't hesitate to make changes if necessary.
• Be Financially Savvy: Understand budgets and financial statements to make informed strategic decisions.

Get your Leadership Handbook

- - - -

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

In this debut episode of our new Pulse Check on seeking purpose in the world of Higher Ed, guest Carrie Phillips joins guest host Kin Sejpal to discuss her purpose as higher ed leader, and what keeps her - and her team - going. 

Insightful takeaways include:

• Personal and professional experiences can shape one’s purpose.
• Making space in the day-to-day grind to soak in the environment can be invigorating. 
• Regularly centering conversations around institutional mission can help teams stay focused and motivated.
• Integrating students as student workers, focus group members, and/or ambassadors can keep MarComm close to the student experience.
• MarComm can add value by breaking silos and connecting the whole student experience, thus contributing to student success and institutional mission. 

Guest Name: Dr. Carrie Phillips

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

Connect with Guest Host Kin Sejpal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinsejpal/

- - - -

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