Hosts Mallory and Seth explore the shifts in graduate education amidst the challenges of undergraduate enrollment pressures. As higher ed institutions pivot toward expanding graduate offerings, this conversation dives into the financial motives, the competitive landscape, and innovative strategies for attracting and retaining graduate students. Featuring insights from the NAGAP GEM Summit and perspectives from industry professionals, this episode is a must-listen for those involved in the strategic planning and marketing of higher education programs.

• Strategic Expansion: Many universities are expanding their graduate programs as a financial strategy to counterbalance undergraduate enrollment declines.
• Market Saturation: As more institutions turn to graduate offerings, the marketplace is becoming increasingly crowded, heightening competition.
• Financial Motivations: Behind the strategic shift to expand graduate programs lies a clear financial incentive, prompting institutions to rethink their program designs and marketing strategies.
• Operational Challenges: The rapid expansion of graduate programs is stretching resources thin, impacting faculty workloads and support services.
• Marketing Challenges: Marketing graduate programs is becoming more complex and costly, necessitating more strategic and targeted approaches.
• Flexibility and Innovation: Successful graduate programs are those that offer flexibility in learning formats to accommodate working professionals and leverage technology to enhance accessibility and engagement.

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Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

Seth Odell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/
https://twitter.com/sethodell

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200! Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series on leadership, emerging leaders can learn about creating culture and setting vision at our institutions as Dr. Gann shares practical experiences from his own background, discusses strategies for setting culture and talks about how interconnected systems impact our work. Whether you’re a new leader or a seasoned pro, this episode will help you in your work to set culture, build trust, and define the strategic vision of your institution.

Guest Name: Dr. Matthew Gann

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgann/

Guest Bio: Dr. Matthew Gann is an accomplished leader in education and organizational intelligence, currently serving as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing, Digital Strategy, and Public Relations at the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). With a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Trevecca Nazarene University, his expertise is in enhancing educational outcomes and community engagement through strategic leadership and digital innovation.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Gann advanced through several key positions within TBR, including Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Marketing Officer, where he directed significant improvements in digital communication and marketing strategies. His earlier tenure as Director of Web Services and Digital Strategy established foundational policies and practices that continue to benefit the institution.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Gann has been a prominent figure in community engagement, serving as President of the Tennessee College Public Relations Association, where he led initiatives to strengthen educational communications across the state. His career also includes impactful roles in the private sector, where he spearheaded marketing and web development initiatives, demonstrating a consistent ability to blend technical skills with strategic oversight.

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Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

Seth Odell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/
https://twitter.com/sethodell

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200! Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

Lesley Mackey, a young professional stepping into a new graduate student recruiter role at Fort Hays State University, chats with the Pulse at the NAGAP Summit in Louisville. Fresh from his first trip to Hawaii, Les shares his journey as a new GEM professional, highlighting the unique challenges and breakthroughs of his new role in graduate recruitment.

• Role Exploration: Les discusses the intricacies of stepping into a newly created role in graduate recruitment and the challenges of establishing benchmarks without clear enrollment goals.
• Conference Insights: Insights from NAGAP conference sessions emphasize common challenges faced by small offices in higher education, showcasing varying perceptions of what constitutes a 'small' office.
• Future Aspirations: The conversation dives into future goals and the proactive steps being taken to define and achieve success in graduate recruitment.

Guest Name: Les Mackey, Graduate Student Recruiter, Fort Hays State University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lwmackey/

Guest Bio: As relatively new professional in higher education, Lesley W. Mackey finished his bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science (2022) from Eastern Kentucky University. In Summer 2022, him and his husband later found themselves moving to Hays, KS, to work on their respective master’s degrees at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). Within in his first academic semester of graduate coursework, he transitioned from a graduate assistantship into a newly created, full-time role in graduate enrollment management (GEM). As FHSU continues to explore what GEM means to them, this role has allowed him the opportunity to get involved in coordinating all aspects of graduate recruitment, retention, and marketing. He will finish his MBA later this year, is a member of the NASPA SAPAA Knowledge Community, and sits on the NAGAP Research Committee as a liaison to the Marketing Committee.

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Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

Seth Odell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/
https://twitter.com/sethodell

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200! Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!