What happens when a university website becomes a cluttered “junk drawer” instead of a clear, welcoming first impression? Paul Garner, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Western Carolina University, shares how his team transformed a confusing, overloaded website into a true digital front door that reflects the student experience and institutional story. This conversation unpacks how thoughtful leadership, trust, and alignment can turn a fragmented digital presence into something purposeful, intuitive, and mission-driven.

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode

• Why "attention is king" in modern higher ed marketing

• Lessons from transitioning into higher ed from the private sector

• Building trust across campus before launching major iniatives

• Navigating website redesigns as change management, not just tech projects

• How to align stakeholders around a student-first digital experience.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

02:03 – Transitioning into higher ed and culture shock

07:20 – Building trust through presence and authenticity

10:06 – Why the website redesign was necessary

12:00 – The real challenge, people not technology

13:30 – Creating buy-in across campus stakeholders

15:35 – Moving to a student-first website strategy

22:00 – Leadership growth during major transitions

24:30 – Post-launch challenges and holding the line

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Drawing from their shared roots in journalism, Julia Ferrante and Rachel Colquitt reveal how storytelling, authenticity, and human connection are reshaping how institutions communicate, build trust, and inspire action in a rapidly changing landscape. Their conversation highlights how marketers can move beyond surface-level messaging to uncover deeper stories, create meaningful connections, and lead with clarity in an increasingly complex and AI-influenced world.

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode

• The transition from journalism to higher ed marketing and why it matters

• How storytelling and qualitative research shape authentic brand voices

• Why asking better questions leads to stronger marketing outcomes

• Balancing AI adoption with human-centered communication

• Strategies for gaining buy-in and leading brand change across campus

🎙️ Episode Highlights

03:10 – Why journalism naturally leads to purpose-driven higher ed work

07:40 – The most valuable journalism skills marketers should adopt

12:10 – How brand voice is shaped by audience perception and truth

19:50 – Building authentic brands through storytelling and culture shifts

33:20 – Advice for new marketers entering higher education

38:20 – Staying human in an AI-driven world

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Vince Slomsky, Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Brand at the University of South Florida, brings a journalist’s mindset to university marketing, blending storytelling, data, and video strategy to create content that resonates with modern audiences. From leveraging YouTube as a discovery engine to empowering students as creators, his approach challenges the traditional marketing playbooks and encourages teams to think like media organizations.

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode

• How a background in broadcast journalism shapes Vince's marketign approach

• Why video-first storytelling is a nonnegotiable for higher ed marketing teams

• The surprising rise of YouTube viewing on TV screens

• Practical ways to uncover authentic stories across campus

• How student creators can power a university’s content strategy

🎙️ Episode Highlights

00:45 – A surprising YouTube insight

02:45 – Vince’s journey from TV news reporter to higher ed marketing leader

09:24 – How universities can uncover powerful stories across campus

15:48 – Why higher ed teams must embrace a video-first mindset

22:30 – Letting students lead the way with YouTube Shorts and vertical video

41:00 – Why every institution can build a strong video strategy with the tools they already have

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.