Podcast
Higher Ed Pulse
Hosted by Mallory Willsea · EN
Higher Ed Pulse is your weekly no-fluff guide to AI in higher ed. Higher ed leaders are expected to master AI overnight. But let’s be real — no one has time to sift through every headline, hot take, or research report.
That’s why every Monday, we break down what actually matters — fast, clear, and to the point.
Want to sound like the smartest person in the room? You’re in the right place.
Higher Ed Pulse is hosted by Mallory Willsea and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
55episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Dashboard is the Last Place Your Enrollment Problem Shows Up
5d ago00:30:06Tap to summarizeMallory is joined by Megan Cabrera, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Okanagan College, about an enrollment trap she calls “residual momentum,” where funnels look stable after marketing spend is cut, then collapse years later. Megan recounts pulling investment from a long-time feeder market during a budget crunch; applications initially held steady, but after partner institutions became degree-granting competitors, yield dropped from 25–50 students to 3–5. They discuss why dashboards lag reality and what earlier signals to watch, including engagement velocity, market penetration, conversion quality, competitor visibility, and relationship health with high schools. Megan argues for integrated, cross-department KPIs to fix handoffs, shares a digital check-in system built with IT to improve service and capture friction-point data, and cautions that AI and CRMs worsen problems without connected systems, data governance, shared definitions, and clear ownership. Related Links: Structuring Transfer Enrollment for Student SuccessHigher Education Marketing Alignment: Why Breaking Down Silos Is No Longer OptionalHigher Ed Marketing’s Next Role: Student Experience - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 3
1w ago00:48:43Tap to summarizeIn Part 3 of Funnel Vision, host Rishab Malhotra welcomes Anna Esaki Smith, author and co-founder of Education Rethink, to examine the critical state of higher education. Moving past the usual focus on demographic cliffs, they discuss the systemic health of colleges, framing the industry's condition as a need for urgent care rather than a simple checkup. Anna and Rishab explore the root causes of current challenges, including self-inflicted issues like rising tuition costs, administrative bloat, and the complex data game of merit aid discounting. Anna introduces her book, Make College Your Superpower: It's Not Where You Go, It's What You Know, advocating for a shift in student focus from brand prestige to skill acquisition. This transition is essential as the global economy shifts toward knowledge-based employment and AI integration. The conversation expands to the global demographic crisis, comparing the U.S. to Japan’s struggles with an aging population, and analyzes how institutions must adapt to survive. They forecast a future defined by consolidation, mergers, and a stronger alignment with workforce needs. Despite the bearish climate, both remain optimistic, arguing that these challenges provide a unique opportunity for institutions to become more resilient, innovative, and deeply responsive to the evolving needs of students. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Higher Ed's Fundraising Model Is Broken
2w ago00:40:21Tap to summarizeHoward Heevner, co-founder of the National Alumni Survey, argues the core problem with institutional giving isn’t debt, apathy, or generations rejecting philanthropy—82% of alumni gave or volunteered last year—but a “30-point cliff” between 87% who love their education and only 17% satisfied with the post-graduation relationship. Alumni who feel their priorities are extremely well known give about $500,000 lifetime versus under $4,000 when they don’t, highlighting the cost of not listening. Heevner critiques transactional, forced-choice fundraising and warns technology and AI can make outreach more efficient but not more trustworthy. 2026 National Alumni Survey Results - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →The LinkedIn Double Standard Costing Higher Ed Its Best Marketers
3w ago00:37:50Tap to summarizeThe higher education sector is facing a quiet talent crisis: a staggering 74% of higher ed marketers are actively considering an exit from the industry. Mallory sits down with Shane Baglini, Executive Director of Marketing and Branding at William & Mary, to uncover the systemic issues fueling this exhaustion and explore how institutions can reverse the trend. Drawing from his own journey climbing from a small four-person team at Muhlenberg College to overseeing 22 creatives at a historic flagship university, Shane breaks down the unique hurdles of stepping into a high-visibility executive marketing role. They dive headfirst into a problematic culture where leadership often misinterprets professional development and personal LinkedIn branding as a “flight risk” rather than a powerful, organic extension of the university's reach. Related Articles: What the 2026 salary report reveals about retention risk in higher ed marketingCMO Tenure Statistics (2026) - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 2
3w ago00:46:31Tap to summarizeIn Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, host Rishab Malhotra sits down with Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management (AIRC), and Clare Overmann, CEO of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), to discuss the vital intersection of domestic and international enrollment strategy. The conversation highlights how higher education institutions have historically managed these areas as separate, siloed entities, often leading to fragmented institutional strategy. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Live from Engage Summit 2026: Conference First Impressions from Carrie Phillips and Brian Piper
4w ago00:12:25Tap to summarizeCarrie Phillips chats with Brian Piper, host of AI for U, live at Engage Summit 2026 in Charlotte, NC. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →The Real Reason Higher Ed Mergers Fail
4w ago00:31:14Tap to summarizeThe financial pressures squeezing higher education are real, but when it comes to the complex world of mergers and acquisitions, focusing solely on the spreadsheet is a critical mistake. In this episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory sits down with Dr. Morgan Johnson, VP of Academic Experience at The University of Arizona Global Campus, to discuss the human layer of higher ed M&A. Having recently defended her dissertation on the leadership competencies essential to navigating mergers, Morgan shares firsthand insights from more than 20 senior leaders across three completed institutional mergers. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 1
Jun 1800:55:24Tap to summarizeWelcome to this brand new Pulse Check Series, hosted by Rishab Malhotra, Founder and CEO of AIDO. Higher ed has been running two separate plays for too long. Domestic over here, international over there, and strategy getting lost in the middle. We're going to laugh. We're going to cry. We're going to question why they gave me a microphone — but we've got university and enrollment leaders, association heads, and tech innovators who have something to say about it. Guest Names: Dr. Matt Boyce, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, UMass Amherst Dr. Kalpen Trivedi, Senior Vice Provost for Global Affairs, UMass Amherst - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Reunited with Seth Odell
Jun 1500:14:08Tap to summarizeOn this special episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with former co-host and higher ed marketing leader Seth Odell at the inaugural Let's Go Upstate Retreat in Saratoga Springs, New York. Together, they reflect on friendship, leadership, wellness, and what the higher education community needs most right now. Seth shares updates on life and business, including the growth of Kanahoma, the launch of new AI-powered products, and the joys (and sleep deprivation) of raising a young family. But the heart of the conversation centers on the retreat experience itself—why creating space for wellness, vulnerability, and meaningful connection may be exactly what higher ed professionals need in an increasingly demanding environment. The discussion explores the power of practices like breathwork and mindfulness, the importance of investing in people beyond their professional roles, and how community can help leaders navigate uncertainty. As the conversation wraps, Seth offers his latest higher ed prediction: in an era of shrinking demographics, changing search behavior, and growing disruption, institutions that invest in brand-building—not just performance marketing—will be best positioned for long-term success. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →Pulse Check: Your Guide to Engage Summit 2026
Jun 1100:15:54Tap to summarizeEngage Summit 2026 is almost here, and the excitement is building. In this special episode of Pulse Check, Engage emcees Brendan Henkel, AVP of Solutions Engineering at Element451, and Cecily Street, VP of People at Element451, sit down to preview what's in store for this year's conference in Charlotte. From reflecting on the remarkable growth of Engage—from a small gathering in a Raleigh hotel conference room to a major industry event at the Charlotte Convention Center—to sharing what they're most excited about this year, Brendan and Cecily offer a behind-the-scenes look at the community, innovation, and energy that make Engage such a unique experience. The conversation highlights major announcements attendees can expect to hear more about, including Element451's expanding Bolt AI capabilities, the newly announced Encoura partnership, and a few surprises still waiting to be revealed on stage. They also discuss the importance of community, networking, and the connections that continue long after the conference ends. Whether you're attending in person, joining through Engage Digital Summit, or simply curious about what's ahead for higher education and AI, this episode offers a preview of the conversations, innovations, and experiences shaping Engage 2026. Register for Free Engage Digital Summit - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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 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.
Transcribe →