Education Marketing Leader with Chris Rapozo

Hosted by Chris Rapozo

Business Marketing Education

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146

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

🎙️ Welcome to The Education Marketing Leader Podcast Hosted by Chris Rapozo, this podcast delivers actionable insights and proven strategies specifically for higher ed marketers. Each episode explores the challenges and opportunities in education marketing, providing you with tools to refine your campaigns, elevate your institution’s brand, and engage your audiences effectively. Learn how to create impactful content strategies, leverage personalization, optimize social media, and tackle challenges unique to higher education marketing. This podcast is designed to help you stay competitive and drive measurable results. 👉 Subscribe now to gain practical strategies and fresh ideas tailored to higher ed marketing. Apple podcasts Spotify YouTube Have insights to share? 👉 Contact us to be a guest. Get the insights you need to grow your impact as a higher ed marketer!

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60 recent

June 11, 202636 min

How UF Online Became the Nation's #1 Online Bachelor's Program with Melissa Allen

What does it take to build and sustain the nation's top online bachelor's program?In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader Podcast, I sat down with Melissa Allen, Director of UF Online, to explore the strategies, systems, and student-centered philosophy that have helped make UF Online one of the most respected online education brands in the country.Drawing from more than a decade of leadership experience, Melissa shares how UF Online evolved from a growing initiative into a nationally recognized program by focusing relentlessly on student success, reducing friction, building confidence, and creating experiences designed around the student journey.Together, Chris and Melissa discuss:• What university leaders still misunderstand about online learners • Why student experience should drive organizational design • How UF Online creates "blue dot" experiences that adapt to student needs • The role of advisors, faculty, and support systems in student success • Why consistency and accountability matter more than individual heroics • How online students research institutions differently today • The importance of alumni engagement and authentic student storytelling • Leadership lessons learned while scaling one of higher education's most successful online programsWhether you're a higher education marketer, enrollment leader, student success professional, or institutional leader, this conversation offers practical insights into building a modern online learning experience that delivers results.Connect with Melissa Allen on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

May 28, 202639 min

The Reality of Marketing at a Community College with Eve Markman

Community college marketing is one of the hardest jobs in higher ed.You’re not marketing to one audience. You’re marketing to everyone.On the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Eve Markman to talk about leadership, enrollment, retention, and building a long-term career in community college marketing.A few quick takeaways:• Community colleges market to everyone from dual enrollment students to adult learners changing careers.• Retention is just as important as recruitment. Many students are balancing work, family, and financial pressure while attending school.• Leadership doesn’t require direct reports. Eve now leads major cross-functional initiatives by building project teams across departments.• Networking and industry relationships played a major role in her career growth over the last 30+ years.• NCMPR continues to be one of the best communities in higher ed marketing for mentorship, learning, and collaboration.One line from Eve that stuck with me:“It’s not just about producing work, but also about creating those relationships and those connections.”Follow and subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader podcast for more conversations with higher ed marketing leaders and enrollment professionals.

May 16, 202652 min

The Future of Work, AI & Personal Branding with Joe Pulizzi

What happens when higher education marketers, communicators, and leaders sit down with Joe Pulizzi to discuss Burn the Playbook?In this special live edition of the Education Marketing Leader Book Club, we explored career pivots, personal branding, AI disruption, entrepreneurship, burnout, fulfillment, financial freedom, and what it means to build a life and career on your own terms.Joe shared candid insights on:Why most people underestimate how much control they actually have over their futureBuilding assets that travel with you beyond a job titleCreating multiple income streams for long-term stabilityHow to discover your “tilt” and unique differentiatorWhy personal branding matters more than ever in the AI eraThe importance of health, curiosity, and community during career transitionsHow rejection and failure can actually point you toward opportunityThis conversation also featured higher education professionals openly discussing career reinvention, leadership transitions, side businesses, and the changing future of work.If you’re navigating uncertainty, exploring what’s next, or trying to future-proof your career, this conversation is worth your time.Hosted by Chris Rapozo.📚 Featured Book: Burn the Playbook 🎙️ Education Marketing Leader Book Club 📍 Recorded live with higher education marketing and communications professionals

May 14, 202635 min

Lessons on Leadership, Culture, and Decision-Making with Craig Chanoff, CEO of Modern Campus

“The pace of an organization isn’t about how much work there is. It’s about how quickly decisions get made.”A new episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast is live with Craig Chanoff, CEO of Modern Campus.This conversation was one of the strongest leadership discussions we’ve had on the show so far. Practical, honest, and directly relevant to higher ed leaders navigating change, enrollment pressure, and organizational complexity.A few standout takeaways from Craig:Organizational speed is driven by how quickly decisions get made, not by how busy people are.Leaders should constantly evaluate whether they are the bottleneck slowing progress down.Strong cultures are built through coaching, accountability, and honest conversations.Higher ed needs both technical expertise and durable skills like adaptability, communication, and collaboration.I appreciated Craig taking the time to share thoughtful leadership insights and a broader perspective on where higher education is headed.Follow and subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader podcast for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher ed.

April 30, 202642 min

How to Take Better Photos for your School

Most higher ed teams don’t have a full-time photographer. But they still need content that performs. In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Matt Stamey, photographer at Santa Fe College, to break down what makes a great photo. A few takeaways from the episode: • A “good” photo isn’t about quality. It’s about reaction. If it makes someone stop scrolling, it’s working. • Moments beat perfection. A real laugh or handshake will outperform a polished group shot every time. • Most people rush. The difference is patience. Observe first, then shoot.• Your iPhone is enough. If you understand light, angles, and timing, you can compete. • The best photos are guided, not staged. Capture what’s real, then adjust the environment to make it stronger. This is one of those conversations that makes you rethink how much content your team is leaving on the table. If you’re in higher ed marketing, you don’t need more gear. You need better instincts. Follow for more conversations with the people actually doing the work in higher ed marketing.

April 16, 202631 min

How to Support 16 Campuses Without Controlling Them

A student gets a flat tire on the way to class.No savings. No backup plan.That could be the end of their education.This episode with Erica Marye, System Director of Digital Marketing, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, is part of the Education Marketing Leader Community College Month Series.She leads digital strategy across 16 colleges at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.A few takeaways:• You can’t market everything. Prioritize what matters • Centralization should support campuses. Not control them • Small teams are marketing 30 to 60 programs at once• The biggest barrier to enrollment isn’t another school. It’s real lifeThat’s the mission.Listen now.

April 2, 202624 min

Why Community Colleges Matter. A Conversation with Rising Star Wallace Caleb Bates

Community colleges don’t always get the spotlight. But they change lives every day.To kick off our Community College Month series, I sat down with Wallace Caleb Bates, Director of Marketing and Communications at Hazard Community and Technical College and 2026 NCMPR National Rising Star.Wallace’s story comes full circle. He started as a student at HCTC and returned just a few years later to lead marketing and communications. He shared that walking into the president’s office on his first day felt surreal, asking himself, “Am I really here?” after being a student not long before.In this episode, we discuss:• Going from community college student to leadership • Returning home to serve the institution that shaped him • Challenging the stigma that community college is a “second choice” • Marketing in a rural community built on relationships and trust • Building visibility through storytelling and community engagement • Why empathy matters as much as analytics in marketing • The growing impact of community colleges across the countryWallace also shared an important reminder: Many students intentionally choose community colleges for affordability, opportunity, and staying connected to their communities.This conversation sets the tone for our Community College Month series.Listen now.

March 27, 202650 min

Everybody Writes w/Ann Handley | March Book Club

In this special edition of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, our book club welcomed a very special guest. Ann Handley joined us live to discuss her bestselling book Everybody Writes and engage directly with higher education marketers from across the country. Ann didn’t just stop by. She stayed, listened, and generously gave her time to react to audience insights, answer questions, and expand on the ideas that have shaped how so many of us think about writing and marketing. The conversation covered: Why writing slowly can actually make you a better marketer How empathy for the reader changes everything Why Charlotte’s Web might be the best marketing story ever told The difference between writing more and writing with intention How stronger writing builds trust, connection, and clarity This wasn’t a traditional interview. It was a real book club conversation. Marketers sharing takeaways. Ann responding in real time. And a reminder that better writing starts with caring about the people you’re trying to reach. If you care about content, storytelling, and creating marketing that actually connects, this is a conversation worth watching.

March 19, 202642 min

Winning Yield Season with Video with John Azoni

John Azoni (Founder, Unveild) breaks down how higher ed teams should be using video during yield season.Not more content. Better placement.What we cover:Where video actually impacts admits → depositsWhy most schools fall off after inquiryThe “random acts of video” problemHow to use 1:1 video from counselorsWhy student voices outperform leadershipSimple ways to reduce friction (FAFSA, apps, next steps)What metrics actually matter (hint: not views)If your yield strategy is still email-heavy and text-driven, this will challenge it.🎙️ Follow and subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader for more conversations like this.

March 5, 202634 min

Strategy Over Tactics. Rethinking Organic Social with Jenny Li Fowler

In our latest episode, Jenny Li Fowler, Dir. of Social Media Strategy at MIT, breaks down the difference between strategy and tactics in organic social media. And why confusing the two is exactly how teams end up busy, stressed, and stuck.Her point is simple. When your strategy is clear, everything gets easier: • You know who you’re trying to reach, not “everyone” • You define what success actually looks like • You stop chasing random posts and start building momentumOrganic social can drive real results. But only when it’s anchored to mission, metrics, and discipline.How are you keeping strategy first in your social plan? Drop your approach in the comments.If this conversation resonated, connect with Jenny Li Fowler on LinkedIn and tell her you heard her on the Education Marketing Leader podcast.And if you’re serious about higher ed marketing, follow the show for more operator-level conversations like this.Resources: Organic Social Media: How to Build Flourishing Online Communities