Talking Tactics

In this episode of Talking Tactics, host Safaniya Stevenson sits down with Jana Hanson of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and Kata Traxler from Student Ready Strategies to explore how tribal colleges model culturally rooted, community-centered student support. Together, they dive deep into how embracing Indigenous values can reshape how institutions approach family engagement, enrollment communication, and student success. This conversation offers higher ed leaders tactical guidance for more inclusive, empathetic, and effective enrollment strategies.

Guest Names: 
Katalina (Kata) Traxler, PhD, Director of Postsecondary Strategy, Student-Ready Strategies
Jana M. Hanson, PhD, Senior Director of Member and Student Services, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)

Guest Socials: 
Jana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jana-hanson-54723270/ 
Kata: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katalinatraxler/

Guest Bios: 
Dr. Katalina (Kata) Traxler is the Director of Postsecondary Strategy at Student-Ready Strategies. In this role, she is primarily responsible for project management, data analysis, report writing, and technical assistance support. Kata's interest in higher education began in college. Her roles as a teaching assistant and peer mentor ignited her passion for removing barriers to student success. Kata has over a decade of experience in higher education across private and public institutions, with expertise in admissions, multicultural affairs, residential life, and academic advising. Kata’s professional practice is grounded in fostering an environment where all college students can achieve their academic and personal goals. When Kata is not working, you can find her weight lifting, reading, or spending time with her support network. Kata holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Services with a specialization in College Student Personnel from the University of Louisville, where her research focused on implicit racial bias in multiracial college students. She also earned a Master of Education in College Student Personnel Administration from Marquette University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication Studies from DePaul University.

Dr. Jana M. Hanson is the Senior Director of Member and Student Services at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). She earned her PhD in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The University of Iowa, a Master’s in Psychology from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Augustana University. With over 15 years of experience in higher education leadership, Dr. Hanson is known for her expertise in integrated planning, institutional assessment, research, and effectiveness. She is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making and innovative leadership. In her current role at AIHEC, Dr. Hanson provides strategic support to the 35 accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) across the United States. She works closely with each institution to advance initiatives that enhance Native student learning, improve student outcomes, and strengthen student support services.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

When TikTok bans threatened to upend their social strategy, one university's marketing team discovered an unlikely ally: their SEO colleagues. In this episode, Amanda Ferrill reveals how Temple University turned platform uncertainty into opportunity by marrying keyword research with vertical video content on YouTube Shorts. Learn why ditching cute captions for searchable titles might be the smartest move your social team makes this year. Plus, find out how a video aimed at parents became their surprise hit, all thanks to thinking like a search engine instead of just a content creator.

Guest Name: Amanda Ferrill, Senior Associate Director of Social Media, Temple University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-ferrill/

Guest Bio: Amanda Ferrill is the Senior Associate Director of Social Media at Temple University, specializing in strategic storytelling, audience engagement, and brand amplification. With a background spanning social media, marketing, and communications across higher education, she combines creative vision with analytics to build meaningful connections. Passionate about the power of community and conversation, Amanda turns ideas into strategy, strategy into content, and content into real connection.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

This week on Talking Tactics we’re talking social media championships and test kitchens? We’re joined by Michaela Taylor, Senior Social Media Strategist at the University of South Carolina—home of Rival IQ’s back-to-back social media champs. She’s breaking down how a “try it on LinkedIn” mindset turned into a growth engine for the university’s digital strategy. Whether you're managing a university account or just trying to figure out if facilities services really needs its own Instagram, this episode is packed with tactics that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about LinkedIn for higher education marketing.

Guest Name: Michaela Taylor, Senior Social Media Strategist, University of South Carolina

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

Guest Bio: Michaela Taylor has spent the last seven years working in higher education marketing and communications with the last three and a half years working on the social media at the University of South Carolina. She currently works as the senior social media strategist at USC where her team keeps their audience at the center of their social media strategy keeping Gamecock alumni, near and far, connected. She's a visual communicator at heart, font snob, joyful storyteller and creative solution enthusiast.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

NC State University sold out 700 tickets in just two days when they brought Alton Brown to campus, but that was only the beginning. Nash Dunn and Allie Bloom Whitley share how NC State’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences transformed a single keynote into a year-long initiative that engages students, alumni, donors, and faculty across multiple touchpoints. Discover the tactical framework behind "The Human Factor" speaker series and why your next keynote should be more than just a one-night event.

Guest Names: 
Nash Dunn, Director of Communications and Marketing, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, NC State University 
Allie Bluhm-Whitley, Assistant Director of Communications, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, NC State University 

Guest Socials: 
Nash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nashdunn/ 
Allie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliebluhm/

Guest Bios:
Nash: Nash Dunn is the director of communications and marketing for NC State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He leads a creative team that develops strategies and content to showcase the impact of the humanities and social sciences, attract students, and inspire support. Most recently, his team launched The Human Factor, a premier speaker series exploring the human side of today’s global challenges.

Allie: Allie Bluhm-Whitley is the assistant director of communications for NC State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She aides in promoting the strategic goals of the college internally while helping communicate the value of humanities and social sciences to external audiences.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

What happens when a fundraiser decides to end one of higher ed’s most sacred traditions—the senior giving campaign? In this episode, Safaniya sits down with Alex Rodríguez from UC Berkeley, who made the bold move to shut it down and rebuild student giving from the ground up. From pandemic pivots to Mario-inspired metaphors, Alex shares how he turned a once-obligatory tradition into a culture of authentic student philanthropy. Tune in to hear how rethinking generosity, meeting students where they are, and redefining “giving” beyond dollars changed the game entirely.

Guest Name: Alex Rodríguez, Assistant Director, Digital Campaigns, University of California, Berkeley

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

Guest Bio: Alex Rodríguez engages all generations of the Cal community through digital marketing and social media for crowdfunding and giving days as UC Berkeley’s Assistant Director, Digital Campaigns. After overhauling student philanthropy through social content creation and digital giving, Alex now oversees the Crowdfunding program, launching and marketing ~80 projects and raising over $1 million annually. Throughout his different roles at Berkeley, Alex helped pioneer social media strategy in fundraising at his alma mater - he created the school’s first Instagram Reel! Alex uses his passion for social media (and chronically online experience) to put the “fun” back in fundraising at Berkeley.

Outside of his professional life, Alex loves to express himself creatively through thrifted fashion, dance, and TikTok, and can likely be found listening to K-Pop at any given moment. Alex lives in SoCal with his very photogenic cat, Chromeo Kiwi Lunario (@chromeo.kiwi)!

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

Safaniya Stevenson sits down with Daniel Freeman, Chief Development Officer at Gaston Community College, to unpack how a “curiosity-first” approach reshaped alumni engagement. Tapping into years of fundraising experience and his knack for building authentic relationships, Dan shares how he turned passive alumni into active supporters using low-cost, high-impact development tactics. If you're in enrollment marketing or advancement and you're wondering how to spark alumni giving at a two-year institution, this is your must-listen guide.

Guest Name: Dan Freeman, Chief Development Officer, Gaston College

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

Guest Bio: After earning his degree in sociology from UNC Charlotte, Daniel Freeman Ed.D entered the collegiate athletics industry to explore his passion for sports, coaching, marketing, and external relationships. His journey continued with an MS in Exercise Science/Sport Management and a Doctorate in Education/Global Sport Leadership, two more stops in athletics fundraising, and then settled into the realm of academic fundraising, where he currently resides. His work in higher education fundraising is focused on individual giving, campaign fundraising, and development leadership & strategy.

Due to the multiple roles Dr. Freeman has held, he considers himself a fundraising generalist with multiple specialties. Those roles have allowed him to experience all elements of a successful advancement department. 

Dr. Freeman is a school record holder in the javelin at UNC Charlotte where he competed on the track and field team. He is a cook, a DIY'er, and a nationally known track and field throws coach.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

Most higher ed campaigns play it safe—and end up milk toast. In this episode of Talking Tactics, Safaniya Stevenson sits down with Baldwin&’s Ashley Yetman and Emily Watson to unpack why bold ideas beget bold design. Partnering with the North Carolina School Board Association on a hearts & minds campaign, they leaned into disarming nostalgic illustrations and creator collaborations to humanize messaging. They reveal how taking creative risks can unite communities, energize audiences, and spark real impact in education marketing.

Guest Names:
Ashley Yetman, Co-CEO, Director of Brand Strategy, Baldwin&
Emily Watson, Group Creative Director, Baldwin&

Guest Socials: 
Ashley Yetman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-yetman-a39a0b14/
Emily Watson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-watson-b9383312/

Guest Bios:
Ashley Yetman - As 1/3 of the kick-ass, co-CEO team, Ashley Yetman has been growing and leading the brand strategy practice at Baldwin& since 2016 — after years in the Bay Area, working on global brands like Apple, Audi, AAA and Callaway Golf. Since joining B&, she’s tackled all things brand and strategy for brands across all industries; from established companies like Radio Flyer, Krispy Kreme, Gaia Herbs, Lansinoh, and KIOTI tractors, to start-up brands like Circ, Pivotal, Shibumi Shade, and Ithaca Hummus. Ashley has dedicated her career to helping companies extricate and articulate their inherent goodness, so they can live into their most real-est selves. ‘Cause she believes that being yourself (brand-self or human-self) is the best sales tool you can ever uncover. When she’s not geeking out here at B&, she’s either shredding mountains, at home in Durham putting up with her goofy-but-adorable sheepadoodle, or loving/negotiating every moment with her husband and two boys.

Emily Watson - Emily Watson is Group Creative Director at Baldwin&, where she has led creative for Gaia Herbs, KIOTI Tractor, Long John Silver’s, NCSBA, and Zulily. Since joining in 2019, she has played an integral role in growing the agency. She helped launch Take Your Seat, helping to increase Black representation in corporate boardrooms, and The Lieutenant Governor’s Fund for the Fabulous, which won Gold at the Shorty Impact Awards and the Grand Award the ANA Awards. She previously did more creative stuff at MullenLowe and GSD&M, working on brands like BMW, Trésemme, Food Lion, and NC Lottery. She has many interests outside of work but is trying to keep this bio to an appropriate length and so will not bore you with stories about hiking and little kids and hound dogs.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

What happens when a team of former tourism and events pros are in charge of rolling out a rebrand? You’ll want to hold on your beignets for this one. In this episode, we’ll hear from Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications for South Louisiana Community College on why they took a festive approach to their brand launch.

Guest Name: Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications, South Louisiana Community College

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

Guest Bio: Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications at South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc), is a Louisiana native with 20+ years of community advocacy experience. From 2002-2022, she worked with entrepreneurs and marketed communities to potential talent and relocating companies at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and as the first executive director of the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance. She remains civically involved through positions including United Way of Acadiana board member and Resource Development Chair, and as a Love Our Schools CAFE' Champion. Anne is also an active member of the Confrerie d' Abbeville, a fraternal Francophone organization that hosts one of seven Giant Omelette Celebrations worldwide.

Anne has been recognized with multiple awards including 20 Under 40 Acadiana Leadership Award, Women Who Mean Business Award, and the 2019 Forward Vermilion Award. In 2023, she received the SoLAcc Chancellor's Award for transforming the college's brand in her first year. Since joining higher education, her team has secured multiple district and national marketing awards, and she serves on NCMPR's District 2 Executive Council and as PR Council Chair for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System. She and her partner run a boutique music studio in Kaplan, Louisiana, and she is the mother of four children ranging from seven to twenty-seven. Anne loves all things Louisiana including cooking modern Cajun food, live music, and beautiful sunsets that inspired SoLAcc's new color palette.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

You thought we were done with the show? Think again. The pursuit of top-tier tactics continues! Talking Tactics isn't going anywhere, but we ARE getting a new voice behind the mic. After 56 episodes of Day Kibilds serving up the tactical gold you've come to love, she's officially passing the torch to Safaniya "Safy" Stevenson, a brand strategist and cultural analyst equally obsessed with tactics. Get to know your new host and what she's got in store for the show. Also, find out what Day will be doing with her newfound free time. SPOILER: It's also based in tactics. She just can't give it up, can she?!

Welcome our new host: Safaniya Stevenson, Brand Strategist & Cultural Analyst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/

Safy's Bio: Strategist. Storyteller. Status quo disruptor. Safaniya "Safy" Stevenson is a senior brand strategist and cultural analyst who transforms brands by understanding what makes audiences tick. With over a decade of experience spanning TV news to digital leadership, she has orchestrated viral campaigns and led multimillion-dollar rebrands for institutions like NC State, Boise State and Cal Poly Humboldt. Named a 2024 AAMA "Marketer to Watch" and SXSW EDU presenter, Safy cross-pollinates insights from industries like Food & Beverage, Tech, and Tourism to inspire fresh approaches to higher education marketing. This Raleigh-based Lego enthusiast (20+ builds and counting) applies her omnichannel expertise to create authentic narratives that elevate brands and categories.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.

After two years and 55 episodes packed with practical, joyful, and wildly clever ideas, Talking Tactics comes to a close. In this final episode, host Dayana Kibilds reflects on the “why” behind the show, shares her personal favorite tactics from past guests, and celebrates the everyday enrollment pros doing exceptional work in higher ed.

From transforming request forms and hacking Reddit to AI-powered emails and fundraising squirrels, this send-off is full of bite-sized brilliance you can still use — whether you're new to the podcast or have been tuning in since episode one.

Because while we may not keep talking the tactics together, I know you'll keep walking the walk.

Stay connected with Day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanakibilds/

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics 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.