As the year comes to a close, this short Christmas reflection offers a moment to slow down and take stock. Drawing from a familiar scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas, Zach Coffin reflects on fear, gratitude, and the tendency to hold tightly to control during demanding seasons of work and life. On behalf of Bart, Troy and the entire team at Caylor Solutions and The Higher Ed Marketer, we wish you a very merry Christmas. 

The Higher Ed Marketer will be back in January with another fantastic season.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A nimble, strategy-driven marketing team is no longer a luxury in higher ed, it is a necessity. Dave Gladson shares how Point Loma Nazarene University transformed from a fragmented, decentralized model into a unified marketing structure that has dramatically increased enrollment impact, strengthened team culture, and empowered staff to work with greater autonomy. From shifting budget structures to adopting hybrid work and embracing generative AI, Dave reveals how institutions can build systems that scale and teams that thrive.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• How Point Loma moved from decentralized chaos to a centralized, strategic marketing model

• Why restructuring budgets unlocked a 3.5x increase in enrollment conversion

• The realities and rewards of hybrid work in higher ed

• Practical ways teams can experiment with AI to accelerate creativity and efficiency

• How to build a culture that embraces autonomy, trust, and continuous improvement

🎙️ Inside the Episode

01:31 - What pushed Point Loma to centralize marketing

04:18 - How structural and budget changes reshaped the team

10:18 - Navigating misconceptions about centralized marketing

10:48 - Building a hybrid culture that actually works

19:21 - Why AI excites Dave and how it boosts creativity and efficiency

25:42 - Top advice for leaders restructuring marketing teams

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Higher education is heading into one of the most pivotal seasons in decades, and the signals for 2026 are already here. In this special conversation, Bart Caylor steps into the guest seat as Troy Singer and Zach Coffin (VP, The Higher Ed Marketer) guide a candid, energetic deep dive into the headwinds reshaping higher ed. From cultural shifts and AI acceleration to leadership courage and marketing agility, this episode opens the door to the real conversations happening behind the scenes in campus strategy rooms.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• The cultural and enrollment shifts accelerating change on campuses

• The Trades Cliff

• How AI can serve as a strategic tool rather than a novelty

• The rise of curiosity content, peer to peer influence, and authenticity

• Why generalists will define the next generation of marketing teams

🎙️ Inside the Episode

03:02 - What the strongest and weakest campuses are revealing about 2026

05:02 - Why friction, tradition, and fear create slow change in higher ed

11:23 - Three cultural and marketing trends shaping the 2026 landscape

15:32 - Why peer to peer storytelling and authenticity now outperform polished marketing

17:33 - The rise of the marketing generalist and what teams must look like moving forward

21:27 - Data informed vs. data driven, and why over analysis is costing schools momentum

23:41 - How trust, consistency, and lived brand experience fuel long term enrollment health

26:19 - The biggest underutilized opportunity in AI for 2026

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What does it look like to lead marketing and strategy at an institution that spans education, media, and publishing? Sam Choy of Moody Bible Institute shares how he’s navigating brand evolution, cross-departmental leadership, and institutional clarity in the context of a nearly century-old Christian brand.

With experience in corporate marketing and international business, Sam brings a strategic lens to higher ed communications that resonates far beyond faith-based institutions. Whether you're guiding a team of five or 50, this conversation explores what it takes to align internal culture with external brand trust.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• Leading cross-functional teams across media, publishing, and education

• What makes an institution "brand mature"

• Tips for structuring clear strategic priorities

• How to evolve a legacy brand without losing trust

• Applying corporate marketing strategy to faith-based higher ed

• Aligning internal teams while building external reputation

🎙️ Inside the Episode

06:12 – Aligning legacy with strategy in a 100-year-old brand

10:09 – Why internal clarity precedes external trust

15:48 – How to shift from a reactive to proactive communications culture

20:05 – Cross-functional leadership tips from the corporate world

26:37 – What “brand maturity” really means in a higher ed context

38:15 – Advice for leaders navigating change inside legacy institutions

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do you lead with clarity when your work stretches across departments and expectations? Erick Klein, VP for Enrollment and Marketing at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, shares the systems and habits that help him coach intentional teams, protect margin, and keep mission at the center. He explains how he builds alignment, develops young leaders, and strengthens trust across campus. If you lead in a fast-paced setting, this episode offers practical help and encouragement.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• How leaders can coach intentionality within their teams

• Measuring ROI on time and forming data-informed habits

• Building trust across departments through clear expectations

• Helping young professionals grow into emerging leaders

🎙️ Inside the Episode

06:56 – Finding systems that fit your wiring

16:10 – The role of mission in unifying high-performing teams

23:54 – Developing emerging leaders inside enrollment teams

27:24 – Cross-campus collaboration and its effect on enrollment

30:19 – Showing faculty how they contribute to recruitment

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• Do More Better by Tim Challies 

• Who’s Got the Monkey? by William Oncken Jr. 

• Atomic Habits by James Clear 

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

• Getting Things Done by David Allen 

• Books by Michael Hyatt 

• The AI Driven Leader by Geoff Woods

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A short update from Zach Coffin sharing four important things happening inside The Higher Ed Marketer.

4 Big Things

• Special Episode Dec 9th - Bart sits down with Troy and Zach to look into 2026 and what trends he sees coming in marketing in 2026. It’s not all AI.

• Caylor Solutions GenAI Masterclass for Teams: Bart and Zach have taken almost 2000 higher ed professions through this 6hr AI Masterclass. Find out more at ai.caylor-sololutions.com

• Welcome to The Biblical Higher Ed Podcast to The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Check out this fantastic podcast wherever you listen.

• Bart’s New Book Drop Feb 2026.

Know What You Don’t Know: What Every Higher Ed Leader Needs to Understand About Marketing by Bart E. Caylor

Today’s higher education landscape is louder, faster, and more complex than ever before. But you don’t need to become a marketing expert to lead your team with confidence. You just need to know enough to ask the right questions. This guide helps presidents, cabinet members, and advancement leaders build the literacy needed to evaluate marketing strategies, challenge assumptions, and make decisions that move today’s students from interest to enrollment. Based on real-world insight, decades of experience, and tactical clarity, this book is your field guide to leading through change and connecting with today’s students.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Every event tells a story, but only the most intentional ones help people feel your brand. At Biola University, Tracey Harrison, Vice President for Communications and Brand Marketing, is redefining what campus events can be through a framework called Eventful Branding. This philosophy turns events from logistical tasks into meaningful, mission-driven experiences that embody the heart of an institution.

Through storytelling, hospitality, and collaboration, universities can design moments that make guests feel seen, valued, and connected to something greater. Drawing from Biola’s innovative approach, this conversation explores how to transform everything from campus tours to groundbreaking ceremonies into living expressions of your brand identity. You’ll learn how to unite marketing and events under one story, foster emotional connection with Gen Z, and build brand belief through authentic, human-centered design.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

What Eventful Branding means and how to apply it across campus

Creating immersive events that communicate mission through emotion

Why hospitality is a marketing strategy, not just an act of service

Building cross-departmental alignment through shared storytelling

How to surprise and delight students with purpose and creativity

Practical ideas for smaller institutions to elevate their event experience

🎙️ Inside the Episode

04:37 – Defining eventful branding and how it came to life at Biola

07:44 – How a film school groundbreaking became a storytelling moment

11:16 – Bringing “unreasonable hospitality” to higher ed

33:59 – How smaller schools can create big emotional impact

37:58 – Transforming campus visits into emotional brand experiences

46:48 – Building brand belief through meaningful human connection

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do you grow international enrollment in a world defined by volatility, technology and shifting global dynamics? Randy Byers, Vice President for International Affairs at Dallas Baptist University, brings over 20 years of global education leadership to unpack what it takes to build sustainable, ethical, and agile international recruitment strategies.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Randy shares how institutions can move beyond short-term recruitment goals to create long-term cultural alignment and student success. From the misconceptions that derail global partnerships to the transformative potential of generative AI in communication and translation, he outlines a new vision for internationalization that balances innovation with integrity.

🎧Join Us As We Discuss

• Why "easy money" thinking has hurt international recruitment, and what to do instead.

• How to build authentic cross-cultural relationships that lead to trust and retention

• Where generative AI can enhance translation, evaluation and engagement (without losing humanity)

• The ethical implications of automation and the need for AI literacy in higher ed leadership

• Preparing globally minded graduates who value peace, humility and critical thinking

🎙️Inside the Episode

02:29 - The biggest misconceptions about international recruitment

06:09 - Practical ways to build cross-cultural understanding on campus

08:42 - Global market shifts and why diversity of countries matter

12:51 - The role of AI in translation and personalized communication

17:40 - Ethics, transparency and "human in the loop" leadership

26:00 - Why technology must serve community, not replace it

34:11 - The next five years of global higher education

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

With rising competition and shrinking budgets, small colleges can feel squeezed out of the higher ed conversation. But Tom Kook, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Emmaus University, shares how thinking small can actually be a strategic advantage. From mission-first messaging to building nimble teams that punch above their weight, Tom unpacks how smaller institutions can thrive without trying to be everything to everyone.

Through creativity, collaboration, and clear focus, Tom reveals the high-impact strategies that help Emmaus stand out in a crowded market while staying true to its roots.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• How small colleges can leverage constraints to fuel innovation

• Why authenticity is the most powerful marketing tool

• Building cross-functional teams that are lean but high performing

• The role of brand clarity and internal buy-in

• Strategies to compete with large universities on a modest budget

🎙️ Inside the Episode

02:15 – Tom’s path from large institutions to a small college mission

06:52 – Why constraints create creative momentum

09:37 – Building a high-trust, cross-functional marketing team

13:21 – Translating mission into a distinct brand story

16:48 – Getting buy-in across campus for a unified brand strategy

19:42 – Practical tips for marketing with limited resources

27:45 – Advice for marketers trying to do more with less

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Does your institution have a unique niche like Ringling College of Art and Design? For Dr. John Chopka, standing out in a niche starts with listening, builds on trust, and is fueled by storytelling. With more than 35 years of enrollment experience, Dr. Chopka shares practical strategies for recruiting in niche markets, managing institutional change, and creating momentum without losing mission.

From redefining outcomes through portfolio-based admissions to embracing servant leadership and transparency, this episode offers timely wisdom for leaders guiding campuses through growth, disruption, and transformation. Whether you serve at a faith-based college, an art school, or a liberal arts institution, these insights apply across the board.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• Recruiting and marketing in niche higher ed settings

• Why outcomes storytelling is more effective than stats alone

• The role of servant leadership in driving lasting change

• How to balance innovation with institutional identity

• Communicating transparently without losing optimism

• The importance of peer networks for professional resilience

🎙️ Inside the Episode 

07:15 – How recruiting for niche institutions shapes marketing strategy

11:30 – Shattering the starving artist myth with storytelling

14:00 – Using experiences, not just facts, to engage Gen Z

20:10 – Prioritizing change with patience and servant leadership

25:30 – Staying grounded as a leader during uncertainty

27:40 – Communicating truthfully while building trust

32:40 – Why leaders should never go it alone

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.