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Join hosts Dr. Suzan Brinker and Audra DeLaney-Hall as they engage in candid conversations with higher education leaders, exploring strategic priorities and innovative approaches to higher education. Presidents, CMOs, VPs, and more share their experiences in pushing boundaries in education through strategic planning, brand strategy, academic innovation, and organizational culture. "Higher Ed Leaders" is not just a podcast; it's a journey into the heart of transformative leadership. Tune in w ...
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A podcast dedicated to helping higher ed marketers tell better stories and enroll more students. Hosted by video producer and storytelling coach, John Azoni, these episodes provide quick-win practical advice you can put to use in your marketing right away.
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My guest today is Dr. Meghan Grace, a generational expert, researcher, speaker, consultant, and podcast host. Meghan has spent a decade studying what shapes generations and makes them tick. She is the co-author of multiple books on Generation Z, including "Generation Z Goes to College." In this episode, Meghan discusses strategies for creating cont…
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My guest today is Alana Villemez, Founder & CEO of Most Likely to Succeed, an advisory firm for community college enrollment marketing. In this episode, Alana shares her insights on community college branding and marketing, discussing common branding blunders and strategies for effective brand perception. Key Takeaways: The importance of aligning b…
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My guest today is Maria Kuntz, Director of Creative Communications and Services for University Advancement at University of Colorado, Boulder. In this episode, Maria shares her personal and professional journey, discussing her experiences as a student, single parent, and higher education professional. She provides insights on storytelling in higher…
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My guest today is Jarrett Smith, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Echo Delta, an education marketing agency solving higher ed's most pressing marketing problems with strategies designed for success. In this episode, Jarrett discusses Echo Delta's recent report on how politics affect students' college decisions and what that means for higher ed …
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My guest today is Suzan Brinker, CEO and co-founder of Viv Higher Education, a Boston-based woman-owned full-service marketing agency for colleges and universities. Suzan is also the author of "Pass/Fail: The Urgent Need for Strategic Leadership in Higher Education" (coming in 2024) and host of the Higher Ed Leaders podcast. In this episode, Suzan …
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My guests today are Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds, co-authors of "Mailed It: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results." Ashley is a digital strategy expert at Cornell University, while Dayana is a strategist and researcher at Ology, an agency in the higher ed space. In this episode, Ashley and Dayana discuss their new bo…
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My guest today is Brianna Blackburn, Manager of Social Media Strategy at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she leads the social media team cultivating an audience of more than 350,000 across platforms. In this episode, Brianna discusses BGSU's successful short-form video strategy on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. She shares i…
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John Azoni is the founder of the Higher Ed Storytelling Podcast and Unveild, a video branding agency that helps colleges and universities tell compelling institutional stories. In this solo episode, John addresses the challenge of top-of-funnel content drought in higher education marketing. He discusses the importance of top-of-funnel content in hi…
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My guest today is Andy Murphy, Associate Director of Marketing at Siena College. In this episode, Andy shares insights on building and managing a video content creation team that includes full-time staff and student interns. Andy discusses Siena's approach to video marketing, leveraging both professional and student-created content to engage prospe…
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My guest today is Dr. Sheena C. Howard, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and professor of communication. In this episode, Dr. Howard discusses her book "Academic Branding: A Step-by-Step Guide to Increased Visibility, Authority, and Income," and how universities can empower their faculty to build their personal brands, which in turn benefits the…
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John Azoni is the founder of the Higher Ed Storytelling Podcast and Unveild, a video branding agency that helps colleges and universities tell compelling institutional stories. In this solo episode, John discusses effective content creation strategies for higher education institutions. He covers several key points: The Podcast Format Change John an…
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My guest today is Joel Goodman, founder of Bravery Media. Joel helps colleges and universities increase their web conversion rates using hospitable design practices. In this episode, we discuss insights from the Simpson Scarborough CMO study and how it relates to budget constraints, staffing, and curating the best marketing communications team with…
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My guest today is Kristin Nichols, a higher education marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience at top universities in the Northeast. In this episode, Kristin discusses how implementing project management tools like Trello helped unite her marketing teams, facilitated cross-pollination between departments, and enabled an efficient "inte…
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My guest today is R. Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University. In this episode, Ethan shares his vision for building a world-class marketing team and developing a national earned media strategy to amplify Texas A&M's brand. Ethan discusses the five priorities he's established for his team: …
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My guest today is Joshua Charles, a senior marketing and communications leader at Rutgers Business School and board member for HighEdWeb, a professional development network for digital professionals in higher education. In this episode, we discuss Joshua's role at Rutgers, the structure and collaboration within his marketing team, their content str…
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In this episode, Host John Azoni shares many tips for successful relationships with external videographers and as well as building in-house teams. Key Takeaways: Hire good editors who can create a compelling story and vibe that draws viewers in. Editing is where a video can fall apart, so prioritize finding videographers who are skilled editors. Lo…
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In this episode, Dr Brian Bruess, the inaugural joint president, and Dr. Kara Kolomitz, the inaugural joint COO of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, share insights into devising a unified leadership structure for both institutions. They delve into their high-impact journey in Catholic higher education, emphasizing the signi…
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On this episode, John Azoni was a guest on the Higher Ed Demand Gen podcast with Shiro Hatori. We talked about telling compelling student testimonials. Key Takeaways: Higher ed provides ample opportunity for meaningful, transformational stories that don't exist in the same way in other contexts Strong student testimonials have an arc - an "old norm…
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Understanding the student life cycle, increasing diversity and inclusion the importance of curiosity in creating change are some of the topics Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Otterbein University, discusses on the Higher Ed Leaders Podcast. Blackburn-Smith shares his wisdom from 12 years in higher ed…
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My guest today is Jess Cook, Head of Content and Communications at Island and co-host of the That's Marketing, Baby podcast. Jess comes from a background working with major B2C brands like McDonald's, Kellogg's, and others before transitioning to B2B marketing. In this episode, we dive deep into email marketing strategies and tactics that higher ed…
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Dr Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University, discusses his work in academia and his role at West Texas A&M. He covers the importance of meeting students where they are and appreciating their value systems, representing minorities equitably in the university, putting the Texas Panhandle first, technology, mental health and community co…
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My guest today is Shiro Hatori, Director of DemandGen at Concept3D. In this episode, we discuss data from Concept3D's survey of 500 recently admitted college students that can inform your higher ed storytelling and content creation efforts. Shiro shares insights on the communication channels students prefer, the importance of virtual tours, address…
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In this episode, Suzan interviews Danielle O'Neil, the CMO at the University of New Hampshire. O’Neill shares her journey in higher education and the challenges she has faced in her role. She highlights the importance of internal communication in the higher ed industry and the need for a centralized marketing and communications team. O’Neill also d…
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My guest today is Robert Li, co-founder and owner of University FM, and podcast network manager of Professors.FM, a podcast network featuring top scholars. In this conversation, Robert shares insights on the current higher ed podcasting landscape and the potential of scholarly podcasts to elevate research and university brands. We discuss launching…
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Suzan and Audra speak with Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Phillips shares her journey from a career in television to higher education, driven by a desire to do 'work that matters'. As she discusses her role in the institution, she highlights the importance of people, progr…
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My guest today is Sarah Whorton, Senior Strategic Communication Consultant at University of Missouri system. Sarah has a background in screenwriting and leverages storytelling principles in her higher education marketing work. In this episode, Sarah shares her insights on crafting compelling stories for higher education marketing. We discuss a four…
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Suzan and Audra interview Dr. Mary Beth Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs at Millersville University. Dr. Williams narrates her unique journey as a first-generation college student, emphasizing how her struggles and experiences significantly influence her current role in higher education. As VP for Student Affairs, Dr. Williams has a dee…
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My guest today is Nikki Sunstrum, Assistant VP of Strategic Communication at Indiana University and Instructor at University of Michigan School of Information. Nikki has built social media teams at both IU and Michigan. In this episode, Nikki shares her insights on building effective social media teams in higher education. We discuss sourcing talen…
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Kimberly Zimmerman, Assistant Vice President of Admissions from Knox College shares her own journey in higher education, how she ended up working in admissions, and her strategies in recruiting students with Suzan in this episode of the Higher Ed Leaders podcast. Zimmerman shares how her personal experiences as a first-generation college student ha…
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My guest today is Kate Young, host, writer and producer of This Is Purdue, an award-winning podcast that highlights exciting stories of innovative Boilermakers and shares them with a global audience. In this episode, Kate provides an inside look at how This Is Purdue came to be, how it fits into Purdue's overall content strategy, and key lessons le…
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Siena College grew its enrollment during the COVID years where other institutions saw enrollment fall. Assistant vice president for enrollment and marketing Allison Turcio shares how they did this. Turcio shares insights about being student-centric, the importance of personal communication and breaking the silos in higher education institutions. Sh…
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My guest today is Jeremy Tiers, Senior Director of Admissions Services for Tudor Collegiate Strategies. He has helped thousands of college and university admission and marketing professionals become better recruiters, communicators, writers, and leaders through training programs and mentoring over the past nine years. In this episode, Jeremy shares…
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Greg Weiner and Christina Graziano share their experiences and insights as part of the leadership team at Assumption University with hosts Suzan and Audra. They delve into the unique challenges and opportunities in higher education today, with a particular focus on the transformative strength and relevance of Catholic liberal arts education. They d…
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My guest today is copywriting expert Jo Marshall, founder of All Things Words, a specialist copy and content agency focused on higher education clients. Jo has over 20 years of experience helping universities find their voice, shape their messaging, and tell compelling stories. In this episode, Jo and I discuss strategies to optimize university pro…
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The podcast episode features an engaging conversation between host Suzan and Jaime Hunt, Vice President for University Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion University, about the evolving landscape of higher education and the crucial role marketing plays in this sector. Hunt, a seasoned professional in higher education, chronic…
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Today we are sharing with you an episode where host, John Azoni, was a guest on the Enrollify podcast. In this episode hosted by Zach Busekrus we talk about John's journey into storytelling through working with the unhoused population in Detroit, what higher ed gets wrong about storytelling, the Netflix show Love is Blind, and more.…
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The importance of adapting to ongoing challenges, student support and wellness and leveraging institutional strengths are some of the topics covered in this episode with Dr. Laurie Joyner. Joyner discusses her journey in higher education, from her transformative undergraduate experience at Loyola University in New Orleans to becoming a faculty memb…
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0My guest today is Cade Scott, founder of Enroll Boost AI. Cade helps Tech and Trade Schools boost enrollment by building AI-powered chatbots to engage prospective students around the clock. In this episode we discuss how implementing automated yet personalized communication can drastically improve lead response times and enrollment rates. Cade sha…
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Suzan and Audra speak to Kerry Salerno from Babson College, discussing her career journey, the role of marketing and strategy in higher education, leadership styles and content marketing. Salerno shares her transformative personal experiences at Bentley University and her time working at Northeastern University. Salerno shares her perspectives on h…
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My guest today is Jaime Hunt, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion University. Jaime is a seasoned higher ed marketer with expertise in areas like brand strategy, recruitment marketing, and digital innovation. In this episode we discuss the importance of telling authentic stories of college students with disabilities. We explo…
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In this insightful episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with President Emeritus Leo Lambert, who led Elon University through a period of remarkable transformation. Lambert's personal journey into higher education, starting as the first in his family to earn a four-year college degree, is a testament to the power of mentorship and seizing opport…
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My guest today is Ardis Kadiu, CEO and co-founder of Element451, an AI-powered CRM platform for higher education institutions. Ardis is an entrepreneur and technologist passionate about leveraging AI to transform student engagement and admissions processes. In this episode we have an in-depth discussion on personalization in storytelling using AI. …
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Join hosts Dr. Suzan Brinker and Audra DeLaney-Hall as they engage in candid conversations with higher education leaders, exploring strategic priorities and innovative approaches to higher education. Presidents, CMOs, VPs, and more share their experiences in pushing boundaries in education through strategic planning, brand strategy, academic innova…
  continue reading
 
In this solo episode, John talks about the power of using a "side door" approach when creating content that aims to draw audiences into your brand emotionally. Key takeaways: Front door content directly states brand values and goals, while side door content focuses more on storytelling. Side door content takes audiences on a journey that immerses t…
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My guest today is Nate Jorgensen, Senior Director of Academic Marketing and Communications at Miami University in Ohio. In this episode we discuss Miami's storytelling initiatives, including their Major Insight podcast, and strategies for centralizing university marketing. Key takeaways: Miami's Major Insight podcast features raw, authentic convers…
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My guest today is Chris Rapozo, Marketing Specialist at Hannon Hill. As an adult learner himself, Chris shares his personal story and insights on marketing to non-traditional students. He offers a unique perspective on the motivations and challenges of the non-traditional learner demographic that higher ed marketers want to attract. Key Takeaways: …
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In this solo episode, John explores the true meaning of "storytelling" and how it differs from creative messaging in marketing. He discusses how the term has become diluted in higher ed, with many thinking creative messaging equals storytelling. Key takeaways: Marketing teams often claim to be telling stories when they are really just presenting in…
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My guest today is Casey Hill, a growth veteran with over a decade of experience helping software companies scale fast. In this episode, we dive deep into LinkedIn strategy and optimization for higher ed marketers. Casey currently leads organic growth at ActiveCampaign, where he's pioneering creative ways to grab attention and break from the mold. K…
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My guest for this episode is Andrew Cassel, Senior Social Strategist at Middlebury College. In this episode we dive into emerging social platforms like Mastodon, BeReal, and the future of social networking in a Web 3 environment. Key Takeaways: Understanding the decentralized, ad-free experience of Mastodon instances and the Fediverse Growing authe…
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My guest today is Liz Gross, founder and CEO of Campus Sonar. In this episode we discuss using social listening to inform higher ed storytelling and strategy. Key takeaways: The importance of listening to your audience's narratives and addressing misperceptions through strategic storytelling. Using social listening to identify insights for strategi…
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