In this episode, Emily Smith sits down with Reggie Hill, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. They discuss innovative approaches to recruitment at regional public universities, building community partnerships, and adapting to changing enrollment landscapes in higher education.TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction & UMSL's Institutional Context 3:08 Balancing Local Service with National Reach 7:38 Building Strategic Community Relationships 10:35 Creating Corporate Partnerships & Workforce Development 13:04 Overcoming "No Culture" at Regional Public Universities 16:38 Becoming an Agent of Change in Higher Education 21:17 Shifting from Competition to Collaboration 24:53 Strategic Budget Allocation & Prioritization 29:59 Training the Next Generation of Enrollment Leaders 33:17 Finding Value in the Higher Education Ecosystem 38:55 Book Recommendations for Enrollment Leaders

In the latest episode of The VineDown, Heath Einstein, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Texas Christian University, reflects on the evolving challenges and responsibilities we face in higher education today.

In this episode, Emily sits down with Sean Whitten, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SMU in Dallas, to explore workplace psychology, emotional wellbeing, and managing stress in higher education. They dive into the neuroscience behind our stress responses, tactics for maintaining emotional health during workplace conflicts, and practical strategies for avoiding burnout. Throughout their conversation, Sean and Emily share personal experiences and insights about creating psychological safety, navigating job transitions, and finding balance in professional life.TIMESTAMPS:

0:41 - Introduction to workplace psychology and emotional wellbeing

2:40 - Understanding the connection between physical and emotional responses to stress

5:21 - The science behind our brain's stress response and impact on decision-making

10:09 - Sean's approach to psychological safety and "right-sizing" conflicts

15:44 - Emily's strategy for grounding herself in her body during difficult conversations

19:42 - The vulnerability of asking for processing time during conflicts

24:42 - Self-care strategies during job transitions and searches

36:29 - Scaling up in a new job while maintaining emotional wellbeing

41:19 - Recognizing the early warning signs of burnout

Higher Ed expert Jeff Selingo (former Chronicle of Higher Education editor) joins The Vinedown to discuss the future of colleges in 2025 and beyond. Will two dozen colleges close this year? What separates surviving institutions from truly thriving ones?

For years, colleges have been navigating technological change. Many institutions today KNOW they need to embrace new technology, but they remain tightly gripped to familiar processes.

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form.

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form.

In this week’s episode of VineDown, I am joined by Gene Chao, a leader in digital transformation and the founder of GenReventures. Our discussion spans AI's evolving role, the importance of human-machine collaboration, and how organizations can embrace technology without losing the human touch.

Sometimes, leadership means stepping into your team’s shoes to see how you can improve your team from the bottom-up.

Modern admissions offices are facing a paradox. As processes become more automated, how do they hold onto authentic human connection?