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.

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Scott Cline sits down with Emily Thayer Owens, a college access strategist, counselor, and AI ethics advocate. With nearly two decades of experience across admissions, policy, and student support, Emily shares a refreshingly grounded perspective on how AI is already transforming the college admissions landscape—and what higher ed leaders are completely missing in this moment. From digital divides to transparency gaps, this episode unpacks what it takes to build trust and adapt strategically in the age of intelligent agents.

Mallory Wilsey as she sits down with Fabrizio Vallejos for a special episode recorded live at the Prima Conference! Fabrizio shares his biggest takeaways from attending Prima, including the power of collaboration across higher ed institutions and the advantages of not reinventing the wheel. Hear his real-world story of how he quickly leveraged AI-powered tools inside Element451 to solve a critical compliance challenge—streamlining student form collection in record time.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Mary Keister, Principal at Mary Keister Consulting and a seasoned strategic communications pro, to unpack one of higher ed’s most pressing issues: the rapidly declining public trust in the value of college. With Gallup and Lumina Foundation data showing alarming trends in student and family skepticism, this conversation dives into what's fueling the crisis—and what institutions can actually do about it. From missed messaging opportunities to long-overdue operational pivots, Mary and Mallory explore how to reframe the higher ed value proposition for today’s reality.

Welcome to the debut episode of this new pulse check series, AI Arms Race: Navigating Leadership in the Agentic Admissions AI Era, hosted by Scott Cline.

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Mallory and Gil Rogers break down the real reason 95% of AI projects fail—and it’s not the tech. From underground AI usage to rising trust issues and executive scrambling for structure, this episode explores how leadership—not capability—is the biggest hurdle for AI adoption in higher education and beyond. Whether you're an institutional leader or front-line staffer experimenting with AI, this conversation offers timely insights on how to approach AI integration with intention, empathy, and strategy.

Welcome to the final installment of this Pulse Check series — Advancement Amplified: The IA MarCom Shift — Part 5: The 90-Day Blueprint. Dan Giroux teams up with higher ed marketing powerhouse Jaime Hunt—host of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO and author of Heart Over Hype—for a co-led conversation that delivers big, bold ideas and actionable next steps. Together, they offer a compelling, cross-functional perspective on what it means to build future-ready advancement marketing and communications (MarCom) teams—and how to do it in just 90 days. If you're serious about integrated strategies, sustainable structures, and breaking down silos, this is the episode for you.

Mallory Willsea welcomes Fran Zablocki, Head of Strategy at Fastspot, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming workflows—not by replacing human expertise, but by enhancing it. Drawing on two decades of experience in digital strategy, Fran shares how tools like Perplexity, Notion, and Claude are being integrated into agency workflows and what higher ed leaders can learn from past waves of technological disruption. If you're curious about practical AI adoption in higher education, this episode delivers fresh perspective grounded in strategy.

Welcome to Part 4 of this Pulse Check series — "From Lessons to Action". Dan Giroux hits pause to distill key takeaways from the first three episodes and translate them into tangible actions for higher ed MarCom and advancement professionals. Whether you’re just tuning in or have been along for the ride, this episode offers a practical roadmap to help your team move from reactive order-takers to strategic partners in institutional advancement. Focused on real-world applications and actionable frameworks, this pulse-check episode lays the groundwork for sustainable, visible progress.