In this conversation, Tony Sheridan shares his unique journey from a woodwork teacher to a marketing and communications manager at KAUST in Saudi Arabia. He discusses the transformative power of higher education, his innovative approaches to social media at the University of Limerick, and the importance of storytelling in effectively communicating …

In this conversation, Warren Cook, co-owner of Make Something Beautiful LLC, shares his journey from a creative director in advertising to a filmmaker focused on authentic storytelling. He discusses his passion for capturing unique stories in Fort Worth, the importance of personal connections in filmmaking, and his transition to working with Texas …

In this episode, John Azoni chats with Maya Demiskevich, a higher ed CMO, marketing strategist, and social media consultant. Maya shares how she overcame imposter syndrome and fear of judgment to start posting on LinkedIn—an intentional decision that changed the trajectory of her career. Since then, she’s presented at over 10 higher ed conferences,…

In this episode, John Azoni chats with Randolph Infinger, Senior Video Producer at Vanderbilt University, about his journey from digital marketing to video production, how Vanderbilt’s creative team is structured, and what it takes to produce videos that truly connect with audiences. Randolph shares his love for conceptual storytelling, explains ho…

In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of technology and student success with Mark Barden of CourseKey. Mark shares how real-time data and automation are reshaping the student journey—from classroom engagement to retention strategies. Together, we dig into how Gen Z’s digital expectations are influencing everything from campus commun…

In this episode of Higher Ed Storytelling University, host John Azoni sits down with Heather MacBain, Head of Marketing at the University of Edinburgh. Heather manages a vast network of over 300 MarCom staff across the university, spanning marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement roles. She shares insights on how their unique structure…

In this special episode, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with four esteemed marketing professors—Dr. Jen Riley, Dr. Amy Watson, Dr. Kate Scott, and Dr. Mona Bryant—to explore the growing challenges facing higher education today. 🎓 Learn more about StudentBridge 💻 Schedule a meeting with our team 🔗 Be a guest + connect with a guest…

In this episode, John Azoni sits down with Kathleen Barth, Digital Product Manager at 3 Enrollment Marketing, to discuss the ever-changing landscape of paid digital advertising for higher ed institutions. Kathleen brings a wealth of experience from the entertainment industry, having worked with Netflix, Warner Brothers, and Disney, before transitio…

In this solo episode, John Azoni breaks down the pros and cons of hiring an in-house videographer versus outsourcing video production. As the founder of UNVEILD, a video production company, you might expect him to push for outsourcing—but his perspective is refreshingly balanced. John emphasizes that the key factor in making this decision is having…

How do prospective students actually search for colleges online? In this episode of Filling Seats, we explore how students navigate university websites, why many never click on the official .edu page, and how institutions can optimize their digital presence. Key Topics Covered: The role of Google search and brand queries in the college selection pr…

My guest today is Matt Hames, a digital strategist at 3 Enrollment Marketing, where he specializes in helping higher ed institutions optimize their digital presence. Matt is passionate about how prospective students engage with organic digital content, and he leads digital labs at 3E, guiding schools on how to use platforms like YouTube more effect…

In this episode of Filling Seats, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Paula French, Director at Search Influence, to explore the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing in higher education. Paula shares expert insights on how AI-driven search, social media, and evolving student behaviors are reshapin…

In this lighthearted solo episode, John Azoni takes a humorous dive into common clichés in higher ed video marketing. From the overuse of drone shots to awkward diversity montages, John shares "wrong answers only" tips to spark conversation and reflection on how to elevate video storytelling. Drawing from personal experiences and industry anecdotes…

In this special 50th episode, Jonathan Cluse, CEO and founder of StudentBridge, is joined by Mark Forehand, a seasoned higher ed professional and longtime StudentBridge partner, for a lively discussion about the evolving role of video in student recruitment. 📹 Why video matters more than ever: How short-form videos are influencing Gen Z’s college d…

My guest today is Laura Azoni, LMSW, a trauma and resiliency specialist with over 15 years of experience in trauma-informed care. Laura has worked extensively with survivors of mass violence, specializing in creating recovery strategies and empowering individuals to share their stories in a way that respects their dignity and well-being. In this ep…

In this episode, we chat with Michelle McMahon, Digital Marketing Officer at the University of Limerick. Michelle brings a wealth of experience, including her time as a journalist, radio presenter, and head of social innovation at Fleischmann Hillard. At UL, Michelle oversees innovative projects like the student-led social media officer program and…

In this episode of Filling Seats, we sit down with John Azoni, a seasoned video production expert with over 15 years of experience. John shares key insights from his journey in creating compelling video content for higher education institutions. Together, we explore the analytics behind video engagement, the importance of aligning content with audi…

My guest today is Amy West, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Brand Strategy at Bowling Green State University. With over 25 years at BGSU, Amy has led her team to national recognition through innovative, data-driven marketing and a collaborative, “social-first” approach. In this episode, Amy shares insights into how she built a high-perfo…

In this episode of Filling Seats, we tackle the growing "staff morale crisis" in college admissions offices. What’s driving burnout and dissatisfaction among admissions professionals? Joining us is Teege Mettille, author of The Admissions Counselor Malaise and Director of Enrollment Success at EnrollML. Drawing on years of campus leadership experie…

My guest today is Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at University of Rochester and author of "Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education." In this episode, Brian shares insights on content distribution, SEO strategies, and effective content marketing approaches for higher education institutions. Key Takeaways: Video distribu…

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…

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Carey Dukes, who brings a wealth of experience from 25 years in supply chain management and a passion for teaching the next generation. After earning his doctorate degree, he joined academia to help students become day-one-ready employees. Dr. Dukes dives into the critical issues of: Student retention within sm…

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…

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…

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 …

Host Jonathan Clues discusses the impact of international recruitment and study abroad programs on U.S. higher education with guest Dr. John Neiser, Vice President for International Operations at Fairleigh Dickinson University. They delve into how international recruitment has shifted from being a symbolic effort to a critical revenue source, with …

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 …

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…

Our latest episode of “Filling Seats” features StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues alongside Vanessa Didyk from ZeeMee and Dave Becker from CampusESP to discuss innovative strategies and technologies to boost enrollment, enhance student experiences, and maintain continuity despite staff changes. Jonathan, Vanessa, and Dave also tackle key questions: H…

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…

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…

In the third installment of our series on the 2023 RNL Trend Report, once again, we peel back layers of data to offer actionable insights on what motivates students to opt in to receive emails, text messages, and telephone calls. From their unique vantage points, Dr. Raquel Bermejo, Associate Vice President of Market Research and Planning for RNL a…

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…

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…

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…

In this episode, we explore the busy summer travel season and the opportunity it presents for visitor services teams. Preparing for these crowds can be key, especially if your institution is located in a high-interest city, like Boston. In 2023, 22% of students visited campuses in a stealth, unannounced visit (Source: Niche). Amber Fitzgerald, dire…

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…

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…

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: …

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…

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…

Residence life, mental health, and wellness play a significant role in enrollment marketing and student college search today. In this episode of Filling Seats, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues interviews ed tech innovators Luke Warren and Richard Nichols of Kinetic Software, a leader in student housing and accommodations. The trio compare notes on …

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…

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…

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…

Feeding students’ appetite for omni-channel doesn’t have to be ‘oh my’. RNL’s Raquel Bermejo and StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues give a crash course on the multiple sources students use in their college search. Plus, implementing an omni-channel strategy is like composing a symphony, so higher ed marketing maestro Jose Mallabo also stops by to sha…

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…

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…

RNL’s Raquel Bermejo discusses the growth of video as an essential part of an admissions strategy with StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues. You’ll hear: Demand for virtual experiences and personalization Key Findings from the 2023 E-Expectations Trend Report How video and personalization drive enrollment and conversion Best practices for creating auth…

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…