Higher Ed Pulse
Education & Explainer
About
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.
Episodes
- AI Faculty Avatars and a $10K MBA
Mallory Willsea and Dr. Nick Ladany discuss San Francisco Bay University's use of AI in higher education. They explore a human-centered, AI-integrated learning model focused on capability development, workforce readiness, affordability, an…
- Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 4
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse is titled "Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 4." It is part of the Enrollify Podcast Network and is hosted by Mallory Willsea. Element451 is mentioned as the AI Workforce Platform for H…
- What Higher Ed Is Actually Hiring For
Meredith Rosenberg, co-founder at NU Advisory Partners, shares insights into higher education leadership hiring practices, addressing issues like turnover and hiring mismatches, and the impact of AI.
- Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 3
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse recaps a discussion between David Muir and Jeff Selingo about Selingo's book, "Dream School." The conversation touches on college connections and the pressure students feel regarding elite rankings versus fi…
- From Brand Standards to Brand Systems: Kettering’s GPT Playbook
Kettering University discusses transforming a custom GPT experiment into a core marketing tool. Featuring Jennifer Umberger, Lee Madaus, and Dottie Gouine, the episode highlights how structured processes and brand alignment drive AI succes…
- Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 2
This episode, part two of the 'High School to Higher Ed III (2026)' series, continues the discussion on the transition from high school to higher education. The host is Mallory Willsea.
- Rethinking the Curriculum for an AI-Shaped World
The Higher Ed Pulse episode features Rachel Bowser discussing Agnes Scott College's initiative to embed AI literacy into the core first-year experience. The conversation covers curriculum redesign and preparing students for an AI-shaped fu…
- Pulse Check: High School to Higher Ed III (2026) — Part 1
In Part 1 of the 2026 "High School to Higher Ed" series, Emma recounts her experiences visiting six colleges in Boston. She shares details about campus visits, student interactions, and how these observations impact college selection.
- How AI Change Actually Happens on Campus
Dr. Nathan Pritts discusses the human side of AI adoption in higher education, emphasizing faculty-led experimentation, shared frameworks, and trust-building for sustainable AI strategy. The conversation moves beyond tools and policies to…
- Pulse Check: Helping Adult Learners Find the Right Program with AI [Lightning Session]
This episode features Devin Purgason discussing AI-driven program recommendations and micro-pathways for adult learners, based on a session from the Engage AI Summit. Purgason is the Vice President for Student Experience Marketing and Outr…
- The Higher Ed CMO Is Carrying a Broken System
The Higher Ed Pulse podcast episode focuses on the SimpsonScarborough Higher Ed CMO Study. It highlights the significant burdens and challenges carried by Chief Marketing Officers in higher education.
- Pulse Check: Al For Application Fraud Detection [Lightning Session]
This episode features a lightning session by Brendan Henkel on utilizing AI for application fraud detection in higher education. Henkel, AVP of Solutions Engineering at Element451, explains how AI can identify fraudulent applications, prev…
- What Campus Leaders Should Ask Before Renewal Season
Mallory Willsea and Sam Waterson discuss how higher education leaders can evaluate the companies behind ed tech products, focusing on corporate strategy and business incentives before signing contracts to make smarter vendor decisions.
- Pulse Check: How to Make AI Feel Human, Safe & Transparent [Lightning Session]
This episode features Erin Newton
- Where Should You Spend Your Next Marketing Dollar?
Mallory interviews Josh Dodson about effective marketing spend in higher education. The episode critiques traditional attribution methods and offers a new framework for data analytics to better understand student recruitment drivers.
- Pulse Check: Building AI-Powered Intelligence Briefs [Lightning Session]
This episode features a lightning session with Brian Piper from the 2026 AI Engage Summit, demonstrating how to auto-generate custom reports using AI without coding or IT assistance.
- You’re Not Behind on Agentic AI
Mallory Willsea and Doug Gapinski explore the practical applications and limitations of agentic AI in higher education. They discuss how enterprise environments are using AI agents and provide guidance for institutions on responsible exper…
- Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 5
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse, the final part of the Reputation Rethink series, features host Day Kibilds in conversation with student leaders Kathleen Parks and Mac Mahoney. They discuss the importance of creating campus spaces for resp…
- Career Progression in an AI-Shaped Job Market
Robert Braathe and Mallory discuss the disconnect between professionals feeling unprepared for the job market and recruiters struggling to find talent. They explore how AI is changing career progression, the meaning of networking in 2026,…
- Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 4
In "Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 4," host Day Kibilds and Molly Ranz Calhoun of The Ohio State University Alumni Association discuss the under-addressed needs of alumni. They explore why only 43% of alumni feel meaningfully be…
- Building AI Agents for Internal Teams
Clark University is implementing purpose-built AI agents for internal teams with built-in governance and human oversight. Joe Manok shares a disciplined, ethical, and ROI-focused approach to AI deployment in advancement, moving beyond expe…
- Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 3
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse, featuring Doug Edwards and Dr. Cassie Dutton from Ologie, discusses public skepticism regarding higher education
- Graduating Into the AI Economy: A College Senior’s Perspective
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea talks with University at Albany senior Sydney Yund about how students are using AI tools in the classroom and preparing for an AI-powered job market.
- Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 2
This episode explores how higher education can bridge the gap between the public's belief in research and its perceived impact through clearer storytelling. Host Dayana Kibilds is joined by Marina Cooper and Kamrhan Farwell to discuss stra…
- Designing UGC as a Strategy
Emma Jamieson explains how Centennial College integrated user-generated content (UGC) into a marketing strategy that is outperforming traditional branded ads in engagement, conversion, and trust. The episode focuses on prioritizing credibi…
- Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink — Pt. 1
Higher Ed Pulse, Pt. 1 of The Reputation Rethink, introduces Ologie’s study on public perception of higher education with Doug Edwards and Dr. Cassie Dutton. The episode discusses the definition of reputation, research participants, and ke…
- 2026 Is the Breakout Year for Agentic AI
Mallory Willsea interviews Ardis Kadiu about agentic AI's projected 2026 breakout in higher education. They discuss how autonomous AI will change student communication, operations, and work structures, and explore real-world applications a…
- Pulse Check: The Human Side: Managing Fear, Change, and Skepticism when it comes to AI — Part 5
In the final part of the Pulse Check series, Jeff Ebbing joins Carrie Phillips to discuss the practicalities of AI in community colleges. They cover managing fear and skepticism, identifying worthwhile AI initiatives, and taking smart, low…
- The Rise of the Fractional CMO
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse features Jaime Hunt and Mallory Willsea discussing the growing trend of fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) in higher education. They explore how this model addresses the evolving demands on marketing…
- Pulse Check: The Human Side: Managing Fear, Change, and Skepticism when it comes to AI — Part 4
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Carrie Phillips speaks with Alice Maxwell about the integration of AI in student-centered work. Alice, a marketing and communications leader in student affairs, shares her approach to AI through the lens…
- AI Won’t Save Higher Ed, Leadership Will
Mallory Willsea and Dr. Claire Brady discuss the subtle yet rapid integration of AI into higher education infrastructure through everyday workflows. The episode emphasizes that strategic leadership, not just AI adoption, will determine ins…
- Pulse Check: The Human Side: Managing Fear, Change, and Skepticism when it comes to AI — Part 3
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse features Carrie Phillips and Irene Borys discussing the emotional and cultural aspects of AI adoption in higher education. They focus on addressing the fears, questions, and resistance that arise, and how le…
- Not Every Game Is Winnable
In episode 100, host Mallory Willsea, Seth Odell, and Zach Busekrus discuss higher ed marketing strategies, AI, and student trust, reflecting on what worked and what didn't in previous years.
- Pulse Check: The Human Side: Managing Fear, Change, and Skepticism when it comes to AI — Part 2
In part two of this discussion, host Carrie Phillips talks with Janelle Holmboe about the human aspects of integrating AI in higher education. They cover strategies for leaders to manage team changes and innovation amidst AI adoption witho…
- Sora Is Good Enough to Be Dangerous
Mallory Willsea and Erin Fields discuss the evolving use of AI video in higher education marketing, focusing on tools like Sora. They cover creative potential, strategic risks, and trust issues, advising marketers to use AI for ideation ra…
- Pulse Check: The Human Side: Managing Fear, Change, and Skepticism when it comes to AI — Part 1
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Carrie Phillips interviews Brian Berry, Vice Provost of Research and Dean of the Graduate School at UA Little Rock and chair of the university’s AI Council. They discuss the practicalities of integr…
- Everything AI Won’t Do For You in 2026
In 2026, AI will have limitations in higher education, particularly for enrollment leaders. Host Mallory Willsea and guest Dan Sanchez highlight that while AI is a tool, it cannot replace the human element crucial for building trust, autho…
- The AI Conversations That Defined 2025
Higher Ed Pulse host Mallory Willsea presents a curated selection of 2025's most significant AI conversations, featuring experts discussing AI's impact on the student journey, enrollment, and campus operations. The episode highlights how A…
- Pulse Check: Building the Modern Campus - A Higher-Ed Project Management Playbook — Pt. 4
Ben Burke, founder of Between the Data, joins Jake Tolman to discuss how higher education project managers can become AI-fluent. The episode covers harnessing AI for campus operations to improve productivity and communication, emphasizing…
- Enabling the Longitudinal View: Rethinking Student Success in an AI Era
David Weil discusses how AI's transformative potential in higher education lies in building a longitudinal view of the student experience, rather than in flashy tools. The conversation with Mallory Willsea covers data ethics, institutional…
- Enrollify 2025 Hall of Fame: Harrison "Soup" Campbell
Harrison Campbell, former dean of admissions and current VP at Ardeo Education Solutions, shares his insights on higher education communication. He stresses that technology should foster trust and that student support requires understandin…
- Pulse Check: Building the Modern Campus - A Higher-Ed Project Management Playbook — Pt. 3
This episode, part 3 of the 'Pulse Check' series, focuses on the essential preparatory steps for effective project management in higher education. Host Jake Tolman discusses identifying project managers, spotting early risks, and applying…
- Enrollify 2025 Hall of Fame: John Azoni
John Azoni, founder of UNVEILD, is inducted into the Enrollify Hall of Fame for his work in helping colleges create effective video content. This episode compiles key insights from his appearances on the Enrollify Podcast Network.
- AI According to an 8-Year-Old — Part 2
Mallory Willsea hosts this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, focusing on artificial intelligence from the perspective of an 8-year-old. This is the second part of the discussion.
- Enrollify 2025 Hall of Fame: Marina Cooper
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse features Marina Cooper, Senior Associate Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Brand at Johns Hopkins University. She discusses navigating AI in higher ed marketing, overcoming imposter syndrome, and l…
- Pulse Check: Building the Modern Campus - A Higher-Ed Project Management Playbook — Pt. 2
This episode explores how AI can refine operations and improve student outcomes in higher education, focusing on overcoming project implementation challenges and scaling effectively.
- Enrollify 2025 Hall of Fame: Sarah Russell
This episode features Sarah Russell, VP of Marketing at Education Dynamics and an inductee into Enrollify's 2025 Hall of Fame. Host Mallory Willsea discusses Russell's insights on how AI is transforming SEO, brand marketing, and enrollment…
- AI According to an 8-Year-Old — Part 1
In this episode, host Mallory Willsea talks with eight-year-old Cora Budd, a young AI creator. They explore how Gen Alpha is using AI for imaginative storytelling, building fictional worlds, and designing merch and comics, offering a glimp…
- Enrollify 2025 Hall of Fame: Carrie Pitts-Densmore
This episode of Higher Ed Pulse features Carrie Pitts-Densmore, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnston Community College, in the Enrollify Hall of Fame series. She is recognized for her leadership in higher education market…
- Pulse Check: Building the Modern Campus - A Higher-Ed Project Management Playbook — Pt. 1
Part one of a four-part series, this episode features Jake Tolman and John Connolly discussing the evolving role of the Project Management Office in higher education, particularly with the rise of AI and digital transformation.