The first guest on the "Education Marketing Leader" podcast in 2024 is well-known on the higher-ed conference circuit.

Her passion for empathy in communications and mission to break down content walls benefit equity-deserving students from around the globe.

Meet Day Kibilds, Strategy Director at Ologie and host of the "Talking Tactics" podcast.

During our chat, we focused on how to create inclusive Higher-Ed Web content.

Her experience as an international student who had difficulties enrolling in a U.S.-based university, combined with her extensive background as an admissions professional, qualifies her to illuminate the challenges many students face, particularly those unfamiliar with academic jargon.

Day emphasized the need for empathy in the application process, advocating for simplicity over complexity in web content.

She highlighted the essential role of clear, straightforward language on websites, stressing the importance of tools like the Hemingway app and ChatGPT to ensure content is accessible to all.

The statistics Day shared are eye-opening - 57% of high school seniors feel overwhelmed by the admissions process, often missing out on crucial opportunities due to complex language and procedures.

She challenges higher education institutions to lower these barriers, making the journey more inclusive.

Day also tackled the misconceptions around web accessibility.

She argues that simplifying web content isn't about dumbing down but about equity and inclusion.

🤝 Day's message is clear: empathy, equity, and simplification are key to democratizing the higher education application process.

Listen to the complete episode to dive deeper into Day's insights and vision for a more inclusive higher education landscape, and join her session at Hannon Hill's Cascade CMS User Conference on February 21, where she'll present the topic in depth.

🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please hit like, subscribe, and leave a review of the Education Marketing Leader. 🙏

Until next time. ✌