In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with two-time Red Stapler winner Melanie Lindahl, Senior UX and Web Designer at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Together, they unpack why so many college websites fail usability tests — and what higher ed marketers can do about it. Melanie reveals her four-part user testing framework and explains why even beautifully designed sites often miss the mark for real users. From spicy clicks to system flaws, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build student-first digital experiences.

In Part 2 of First Movers, a Pulse Check series, hosts Rhea Vitalis and Andrea Gilbert, of Everspring, sit down with Dr. Suzanne Zivnuska, Dean of the College of Business at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSU-MB). The conversation explores how CSU-MB is navigating the dual disruption of AI-driven student discovery and rapid workforce transformation. From rethinking SEO for AI to aligning curriculum with employer needs, this episode offers powerful insights for enrollment marketers, academic leaders, and anyone invested in the future of higher education.

Live from the AMA Higher Ed Symposium, Carrie Phillips sits down with Jen Brock, newly minted Vice President at Mount Holyoke, to talk about what it’s like stepping into leadership, finding your people in the industry, and the importance of peer learning. Jen shares how AMA has shaped her journey, why she’s leaning into AI despite a learning curve, and how in-person conferences can double as team bonding retreats—especially when your team works hybrid across states.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with Harrison “Soup” Campbell, newly minted VP of Campus Partnerships at Ardeo, for a candid conversation recorded live at the American Marketing Association's Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education. The two unpack the realities of career transitions, the evolving landscape of enrollment leadership, and the pressures facing today’s higher ed professionals. This honest, empowering episode offers both practical advice and a call to unity for those navigating change within the industry.

In this special live episode from AMA, Mallory sits down with Jason Smith, Managing Director at OHO Interactive, to unpack a crucial — and often overlooked — aspect of AI and higher ed marketing: how generative AI tools describe your institution online. Jason introduces OHO’s new AI Visibility Scorecard and reveals some surprising findings from their early research. You’ll learn what content AI is pulling, where it’s coming from, and why now is the time to clean up your digital house.

Recorded live at the AMA Higher Ed Symposium at National Harbor, Carrie Phillips connects with Jasmine Hunter, a first-time attendee and session leader. Jasmine shares her excitement for the event, strategies for maximizing the experience, and her passion for internal communications. Whether you're a conference veteran or first-time attendee, this conversation offers a vibrant, behind-the-scenes look at how higher ed marketers are showing up, learning, and growing.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Tracey Halvorsen of Adeo and Yianni Mathioudakis of Deeo to explore how top creative agencies are baking artificial intelligence (AI) into their workflows—not as shortcuts, but as accelerators of curiosity, strategy, and creative clarity. From mood boards to brand worlds, these leaders share how AI is being woven into agency culture, not just tech stacks, to amplify good taste and push bold ideas forward.

In the premiere episode of First Movers, a new Pulse Check series by Enrollify in partnership with Everspring, co-hosts Rhea Vitalis and Andrea Gilbert sit down with Dave Hunt, Director of Enrollment Marketing at the University of Kansas. The episode explores how the KU enrollment team is responding to the massive shifts in student behavior brought on by AI-driven search, stealth applicants, and the collapsing marketing funnel. Hunt shares practical strategies on content differentiation, leveraging AI for operational efficiency, and how to rethink SEO to stay discoverable and drive enrollment in a rapidly evolving landscape.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with David Ludlam, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), and Maria Kuntz from the University of Colorado Boulder to unpack one of the boldest higher ed campaigns of the year — Featherstone University. Part satire, part strategy, this fictional “Ivy” school took aim at higher education’s elitism, and in doing so, CMU held a mirror up to the entire industry. We explore the campaign’s origin story, its creative risks, and how it’s redefining what higher education marketing can look like.

Kevin and Emma take a road trip to Emma’s first Open House. The two hosts talk about their observations, especially those of Emma.

Kemi Jona joins Ty Fujimura live at the ASU Agentic AI and the Student Experience event to explore the intersection of AI in higher education and workforce development. As the Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation at the University of Virginia, Jona shares real-world examples of how his team is deploying AI to boost access, streamline course production, and build stronger bridges between higher ed and employers. This candid conversation unpacks both the promise and pitfalls of generative AI and provides a blueprint for institutions eager to innovate responsibly.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Joel Goodman, former founder of Bravery Media and now the new VP of Growth Strategy at Squiz. The conversation dives into Joel’s bold career transition from agency life to a global EdTech company, his evolving views on AI in higher education, and the future of digital strategy in a consolidating industry. With nearly two decades of experience in higher ed web strategy, Joel offers a critical — and refreshing — perspective on what's next for institutions looking to actually move the needle.

Bridges, Squirrels, and Tank Tops: A Review of Virtual Info Sessions Kevin and Emma Cavanagh dive deep into their experience attending virtual information sessions hosted by several highly-ranked colleges. This father-daughter duo shares what worked, what flopped, and how enrollment marketers can better connect with prospective students in a virtual setting. If you're in higher ed marketing or admissions, this is the behind-the-scenes feedback you need to hear.

Mallory Willsea sits down with Tyrone “T.Y.” Stone, a senior at Augustana College, to discuss how students are really using AI in and outside of the classroom. T.Y. isn’t just using AI to write essays — he’s leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Poe to structure his thinking, spark creativity, and streamline side projects, all while dreaming up a nonprofit called CoBlack to teach coding and design to at-risk youth. Tune in to learn how this student is challenging assumptions about generative AI in education and pushing for equity in tech literacy from the ground up.

Welcome back to the third installment of High School to Higher Ed. Today's episode is Part 1 — The School of the New York Times and the Value of Pre-College Programs.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Adam Heidebrink-Bruno, Digital Content Specialist at Finger Lakes Community College and winner of Best in Conference at the 2025 Digital Collegium Annual Conference. Adam’s session — “Preparing for AI Search and the Generative College Discovery Process” — dove deep into how AI-powered search is transforming how prospective students discover and evaluate colleges. In this conversation, Mallory and Adam unpack what it really means to optimize for generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, the rise of zero-click search behavior, and why your institution’s content strategy may need an urgent overhaul.

In Part 4 of this Pulse Check series, Scott Cline sits down with Geoff Baird, higher ed thought leader and author of The Signal Solution, to discuss how AI in higher education admissions is driving a seismic shift in how institutions engage with prospective students. Drawing parallels to the urgency of innovation during COVID-19, Baird argues that AI represents a "silent pandemic" in admissions — one that requires institutions to rethink processes, strategy, and student engagement at lightning speed. This episode is a must-listen for enrollment leaders navigating the new realities of enrollment marketing and technology adoption.

Mallory Willsea is joined by Heather Mueller, Chief Customer Officer and Co-Founder of Capture Higher Ed, to unpack OpenAI’s groundbreaking analysis of 1.5 million ChatGPT conversations. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping behavior—not just as a task assistant, but as an advisor—and what that means for higher ed marketing, enrollment strategy, and the future of student support. This is a must-listen for enrollment leaders navigating AI’s fast-evolving role in our industry.

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check series, Scott Cline sits down with Dr. John Haller, former VP of Enrollment Management at the University of Miami and current higher education consultant, to unpack how AI agents are being used across college admissions offices. From streamlining essay reviews to decoding enrollment trends and anticipating student persistence, this episode tackles the promise and pitfalls of using AI in higher ed. If you're a higher ed leader wrestling with how (or whether) to integrate AI into admissions and marketing, this episode offers a refreshingly honest, behind-the-scenes perspective.

Mallory Willsea sits down with Benjamin Rickert, a higher ed communications leader, to explore what it truly means to serve students during a crisis. They reflect on the emotional and logistical challenges institutions face during natural disasters — and how a single, well-timed message can change the course of a student's life. This episode offers a powerful reminder of the human impact behind emergency communication in higher education.