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.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 30:35
Register for the AI Engage Summit Mallory sits down with Granit Doshlaku, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Manaferra, to discuss the findings from Manifera's AI Index,…
Sep 24, 2026 · 22:37
“We need this to go viral” sounds like a clear request. In higher education marketing, though, it can point to several very different goals. Does the institution need greater…
Sep 21, 2026 · 39:45
Mallory welcomes back Jenny Petty, Vice President Industry Relations and Advisory Services SimpsonScarborough, and Marina Cooper, Head of Brand and Marketing at The Johns Hopkins…
Sep 17, 2026 · 21:53
In the final part of this Pulse Check series, Host Michele Ehrhart welcomes Jason Cook, Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at Baylor…
Sep 14, 2026 · 30:56
Mallory sits down with Erik Toedt, new business leader at Snapchat, to discuss how higher education institutions can effectively reach 13- to 18-year-olds amidst tightening…
Sep 10, 2026 · 22:32
In Part 3 of this Pulse Check Series, host Michele Ehrhart is joined by Tom Addonoizio, Vice President for University Communications & Chief Marketing Officer, to discuss the…
Sep 8, 2026 · 31:39
In this final episode of our pulse check series, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, Faton Sopa talks with Mark Hatton, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Webster…
Sep 7, 2026 · 36:11
Mallory is joined by Natalie Gleason, VP of Marketing at Portico, to discuss the critical skill of building internal advocacy for new ideas. They explore why change efforts often…
Sep 3, 2026 · 26:02
In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Michele Ehrhart talks with Merianne Roth, Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Communication at Texas Christian University, to explore why a college…
Aug 31, 2026 · 30:50
Mallory is joined by Rob Zinkan, founder of Navigate Gray, to discuss the career trajectories of higher education chief marketing officers. While corporate CMOs often advance to…
Aug 27, 2026 · 26:50
In the debut episode of this new Pulse Check Series hosted by Michele Ehrhart, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the University of Memphis, we are joined by Dave…
Aug 24, 2026 · 29:49
Mallory interviews Kim Infanti, Executive Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Syracuse University. Kim discusses launching Ask Orange Alumni, an AI-powered platform…
Aug 17, 2026 · 41:58
Mallory welcomes Phil DiMartino and Marisa Uluski from 5 Tool Productions to explore how higher education institutions can transform video from a simple production line item into…
Aug 10, 2026 · 31:09
Mallory is joined by Amy Still from ZeeMee and Paul Garner from Western Carolina University to dissect new data regarding student perceptions of AI in the admissions process.…
Aug 6, 2026 · 34:10
In Part 3 of this Pulse Check series, host Faton Sopa sits down with Stephanie Geyer, associate vice president for marketing and brand strategy at the University of Montana, to…
Aug 3, 2026 · 33:52
Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff at Occidental College, and Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff at Hamilton College, join Mallory to discuss the inaugural Chief of Staff Summit,…
Jul 30, 2026 · 39:14
In Part 2 of this Pulse Check, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, host Faton Sopa is joined by guest Robert Kadar to dismantle the outdated reliance on traditional…
Jul 27, 2026 · 31:09
Mallory hosts Higher Ed Pulse with guest Jenn Hayes, Associate Dean for Marketing & Communications at Cardozo School of Law in New York, to discuss higher ed’s recurring “hero”…
Jul 23, 2026 · 34:38
In the debut episode of this new Pulse Check Series, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, host Faton Sopa sits down with higher education marketing strategist Kristin…
Jul 20, 2026 · 32:50
2026 AI Search Trends: Brand (In)Visibility Brief Mallory is joined by Andrea Gilbert and Mike Bell from Everspring to discuss their latest AI search trends report. The report…
Jul 16, 2026 · 54:18
In this 4th and final episode of Funnel Vision, Rishab Malhotra sits down with Valpo’s LeAnn Hughes and Rosa Alvarado to discuss how their team turned around a decade of…
Jul 13, 2026 · 30:06
Mallory is joined by Megan Cabrera, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Okanagan College, about an enrollment trap she calls “residual momentum,” where funnels look…
Jul 9, 2026 · 48:43
In 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…
Jul 6, 2026 · 40:21
Howard 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…
Jun 29, 2026 · 37:50
The 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…
Jun 25, 2026 · 46:31
In 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…
Jun 23, 2026 · 12:25
Carrie Phillips chats with Brian Piper, host of AI for U, live at Engage Summit 2026 in Charlotte, NC. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea…
Jun 22, 2026 · 31:14
The 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…
Jun 18, 2026 · 55:24
Welcome 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,…
Jun 15, 2026 · 14:08
On 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…
Jun 11, 2026 · 15:54
Engage 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…
Jun 8, 2026 · 28:32
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most institutions can govern it. For the 64 campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, that challenge became…
Jun 1, 2026 · 26:23
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Katy Campbell, newly named CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, for an urgent conversation about the future of…
May 28, 2026 · 32:50
Welcome to the next chapter of this Pulse Check Series, Part 3: The Impact of AI on Regional Businesses. On this episode, host Adam HedeBrink-Bruno explores what AI adoption…
May 25, 2026 · 34:29
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Ed Cabellon, Interim Vice President for Student Experience at Frederick Community College, for a…
May 21, 2026 · 32:13
If your campus has plenty of AI activity but remains a little light on the strategy, you’re not alone. Many higher education institutions are running lots of experiments without…
May 18, 2026 · 25:18
Related Links: Mastering the Art of Visual Storytelling in Higher Education Marketing Think before you ink: The Three Principles Behind Every Digital Transformation that Actually…
May 14, 2026 · 43:26
Mastering AI tools and techniques takes time. In this episode, we share how community colleges can become the region’s trusted AI onramp by offering accessible, mission-aligned…
May 11, 2026 · 29:56
Mallory Willsea sits down with Dr. Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University, to unpack one of the boldest experiments in AI in higher education and student success…
May 7, 2026 · 28:05
- - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed…
May 4, 2026 · 30:53
Mallory sits down with Meredith Rosenberg, co-founder and partner at NU Advisory Partners, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes in higher education leadership…
Apr 30, 2026 · 30:34
In this episode, we’re taking a field trip into New York City for a sugar rush and some serious higher-ed talk. We recap our night at the 92nd Street Y, where legendary anchor…
Apr 27, 2026 · 32:26
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse hosted by Mallory Willsea, the team from Kettering University shares how they transformed a custom GPT from a simple experiment into a trusted,…
Apr 23, 2026 · 34:39
- - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed…
Apr 20, 2026 · 31:17
Mallory sits down with Rachel Bowser, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at Agnes Scott College, to unpack one of the most ambitious examples of AI in…
Apr 16, 2026 · 35:54
Welcome back to a new addition of our pulse Check Series "High School to Higher Ed", which has returned for 2026. In today's Part 1, Emma shares her firsthand experience visiting…
Apr 13, 2026 · 34:48
Mallory sits down with Dr. Nathan Pritts, Faculty Fellow for AI Strategy at the University of Arizona Global Campus, to unpack what real AI adoption looks like inside higher…
Apr 9, 2026 · 14:53
For this week's Pulse Check, we revisit Devin Purgason's lightning session at the February Engage AI Summit, focused on adult learners. Devin, Vice President for Student…
Apr 6, 2026 · 37:46
SimpsonScarborough’s Higher Ed CMO Study - - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About The…
Apr 2, 2026 · 16:35
For this week's Pulse Check, we revisit Brendan Henkel's lightning session at the February Engage AI Summit, focused on using AI for application fraud detection. Brendan, AVP of…
Mar 30, 2026 · 32:46
Mallory Willsea sits down with higher education strategist and former RHB president Sam Waterson to unpack a critical—but often overlooked—dimension of enrollment marketing and…
Mar 26, 2026 · 14:14
For this week's Pulse Check, we revisit Head of Content at Element451 Erin Newton's lightning session at the February Engage AI Summit, focused on human-centered design session…
Mar 23, 2026 · 28:30
Mallory sits down with Josh Dodson, VP of Performance Marketing and Analytics at BVK, to unpack one of the biggest questions in enrollment marketing today: what is actually…
Mar 19, 2026 · 15:51
For this week's Pulse Check, we're revisiting Brian Piper's lightning talk from the 2026 AI Engage Summit earlier this month. In just 15 minutes, Brian will teach you how to…
Mar 16, 2026 · 33:13
Mallory Willsea sits down with Doug Gapinski, Account Director at 8th Light, to unpack the real story behind agentic AI. While LinkedIn hype suggests autonomous agents are…
Mar 12, 2026 · 44:12
Welcome to the 5th and final part of this Pulse Check series. In this episode, we turn to one of the most nuanced and hopeful findings in Ologie’s national study: across…
Mar 9, 2026 · 26:02
Mallory sits down with career strategist Robert Braathe to unpack the paradox shaping today’s workforce: nearly 80% of professionals don’t feel ready for the job market, while…
Mar 5, 2026 · 30:03
In Part 4 of Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink, we turn to one of higher education’s most important, and according to our research, most underserved audiences: alumni. Ologie’s…
Mar 2, 2026 · 35:43
Today, listeners get an inside look at how one institution is moving from AI experimentation to structured implementation. Mallory sits down with Joe Manok, Vice President of…
Feb 26, 2026 · 30:47
In this episode of Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink , we turn to two areas where public skepticism about higher education becomes more pronounced: money and local community…
Feb 23, 2026 · 32:27
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, hosted by Mallory Willsea, listeners hear directly from a senior marketing major navigating AI in higher education in real time. Mallory sits…
Feb 19, 2026 · 33:53
People believe research matters. What they don’t always see is how it shows up in their lives. In this episode of Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink , host Dayana Kibilds digs…
Feb 16, 2026 · 21:51
Mallory Willsea sits down with Emma Jamieson, Marketing Manager at Centennial College, to explore how her team has operationalized user-generated content (UGC) into a…
Feb 12, 2026 · 35:05
Higher education’s reputation is being shaped by a familiar set of headlines: rising costs, political pressure, campus conflict, layoffs, and closures. It’s the story we keep…
Feb 9, 2026 · 37:05
Mallory Willsea sits down with Ardis Kadiu, co-founder of AI Idea Lab and former CEO of Element451, to explore why 2026 is poised to be the breakout year for agentic AI in higher…
Feb 5, 2026 · 13:50
In the final part of this Pulse Check series, Carrie Phillips sits down with Jeff Ebbing for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about AI from a community college perspective.…
Feb 2, 2026 · 31:30
Mallory Willsea sits down with Jaime Hunt — founder of Solve Higher Ed and former cabinet-level CMO — to discuss why more institutions are turning to fractional marketing…
Jan 29, 2026 · 14:07
Carrie Phillips chats with Alice Maxwell to discuss how AI intersects with student-centered work. As someone who leads a marketing and communications team within student affairs,…
Jan 26, 2026 · 26:53
Mallory Willsea sits down with Dr. Claire Brady, President of Glass Half-Full Consulting and author of the upcoming book AI with Intention: The Leadership Guide for Higher…
Jan 22, 2026 · 18:38
Carrie Phillips sits down with Irene Borys from Augustana College to explore the emotional and cultural dynamics of AI adoption in higher education. Rather than focusing on the…
Jan 19, 2026 · 36:32
In the 100th episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea reunites with Seth Odell, CEO of Kanahoma, and Zach Busekrus, Founder of Enrollify, for a reunion-style…
Jan 15, 2026 · 16:47
Carrie Phillips is joined by Janelle Holmboe, Chief Enrollment and Marketing Officer at McDaniel College, for a powerful conversation at the intersection of AI, innovation, and…
Jan 12, 2026 · 32:33
Mallory Willsea sits down with Erin Fields, Marketing Director at Ologie (and former Enrollify team member), to explore the shifting role of AI video in higher education…
Jan 8, 2026 · 23:44
Welcome to our first Pulse Check of 2026. In this Part 1, Carrie Phillips sits down with Brian Berry, Vice Provost of Research and Dean of the Graduate School at UA Little Rock.…
Jan 5, 2026 · 29:58
Mallory sits down with Dan Sanchez—creator, storyteller, and founder of the AI-Driven Marketer—to explore the limits of AI in higher education. As we step into 2026, this…
Dec 29, 2025 · 30:31
In the final 2025 episode of Higher Ed Pulse , host Mallory Willsea curates the most impactful AI-focused conversations of the year, featuring expert voices like Soup Campbell,…
Dec 25, 2025 · 34:36
Jake Tolman sits down with senior data scientist and founder of Between the Data, Ben Burke, to explore what it truly means for higher ed project managers to become AI-fluent.…
Dec 22, 2025 · 26:55
Mallory Willsea sits down with David Weil, SVP for Strategic Services and CIO at Ithaca College, to unpack a bold thesis from his recent EDUCAUSE article. The two dive deep into…
Dec 19, 2025 · 10:12
We’re closing out the 2025 Enrollify Hall of Fame series with a powerful and personal voice — Harrison Campbell, better known as Soup . A former dean of admissions, current VP of…
Dec 18, 2025 · 19:14
In Part 3 of this Pulse Check series, host Jake Tolman reveals the real prep work for effective project managment — the parts that never make it into the sales deck. You’ll learn…
Dec 16, 2025 · 15:54
For our next inductee to the Enrollify Hall of Fame, we're celebrating the game-changing contributions of John Azoni, founder and executive producer at UNVEILD — a creative…
Dec 15, 2025 · 17:32
- - - - Connect With Our Host: Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed…
Dec 12, 2025 · 8:45
Today we spotlight Marina Cooper, Senior Associate Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Brand at Johns Hopkins University. Known for her strategic boldness and deep…
Dec 11, 2025 · 31:50
In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Jake Tolman sits down with Kirsten Gallagher, founder of Kaizen Ninja and a process improvement expert, to explore how AI can be a powerful…
Dec 9, 2025 · 12:14
Meet the next inductee into Enrollify’s Hall of Fame: Sarah Russell, Vice President of Marketing at Education Dynamics. In this special edition episode, host Mallory Willsea…
Dec 8, 2025 · 16:30
Mallory sits down with one of the youngest AI creators to grace the show—eight-year-old Cora Budd, a third grader at Division Street Elementary. Together, they explore how Gen…
Dec 5, 2025 · 10:31
Welcome back to the Enrollify Hall of Fame series, where we spotlight some of the most compelling voices and visionary thinkers in higher education marketing and enrollment.…
Dec 4, 2025 · 48:14
Jake Tolman, CEO of MainForm Consulting , kicks off a four-part pulse check series from Enrollify with guest John Connolly of PMO Delivery Partners. Together, they explore how…
Dec 2, 2025 · 19:50
Welcome to Enrollify’s 2026 Hall of Fame series, where we resurface the most transformative conversations ever featured across the Enrollify Podcast Network. We’re kicking things…
Dec 1, 2025 · 35:12
Mallory Willsea brings the Enrollify panel back together for a no-holds-barred reunion following their viral AMA session. Featuring Enrollify creator trio Jaime Hunt, Safaniya…
Nov 24, 2025 · 30:54
In this energizing episode of Higher Ed Pulse , host Mallory dives into the world of Broadway with creative strategist Toni Marie Perilli, exploring how higher ed can learn from…
Nov 20, 2025 · 50:06
In this final episode of First Movers , a pulse check series brought to you by Enrollify and Everspring, we explore how DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business is…
Nov 17, 2025 · 30:54
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…
Nov 13, 2025 · 32:28
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…
Nov 12, 2025 · 7:53
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…
Nov 11, 2025 · 15:43
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…
Nov 10, 2025 · 11:51
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…
Nov 10, 2025 · 6:20
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…
Nov 10, 2025 · 43:25
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…
Nov 6, 2025 · 41:32
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,…
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