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.
Listen to episodes
60 recent
June 15, 202614 min
Reunited with Seth Odell
On this special episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with former co-host and higher ed marketing leader Seth Odell at the inaugural Let's Go Upstate Retreat in Saratoga Springs, New York. Together, they reflect on friendship, leadership, wellness, and what the higher education community needs most right now.
Seth shares updates on life and business, including the growth of Kanahoma, the launch of new AI-powered products, and the joys (and sleep deprivation) of raising a young family. But the heart of the conversation centers on the retreat experience itself—why creating space for wellness, vulnerability, and meaningful connection may be exactly what higher ed professionals need in an increasingly demanding environment.
The discussion explores the power of practices like breathwork and mindfulness, the importance of investing in people beyond their professional roles, and how community can help leaders navigate uncertainty.
As the conversation wraps, Seth offers his latest higher ed prediction: in an era of shrinking demographics, changing search behavior, and growing disruption, institutions that invest in brand-building—not just performance marketing—will be best positioned for long-term success.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 11, 202615 min
Pulse Check: Your Guide to Engage Summit 2026
Engage Summit 2026 is almost here, and the excitement is building. In this special episode of Pulse Check, Engage emcees Brendan Henkel, AVP of Solutions Engineering at Element451, and Cecily Street, VP of People at Element451, sit down to preview what's in store for this year's conference in Charlotte.
From reflecting on the remarkable growth of Engage—from a small gathering in a Raleigh hotel conference room to a major industry event at the Charlotte Convention Center—to sharing what they're most excited about this year, Brendan and Cecily offer a behind-the-scenes look at the community, innovation, and energy that make Engage such a unique experience.
The conversation highlights major announcements attendees can expect to hear more about, including Element451's expanding Bolt AI capabilities, the newly announced Encoura partnership, and a few surprises still waiting to be revealed on stage. They also discuss the importance of community, networking, and the connections that continue long after the conference ends.
Whether you're attending in person, joining through Engage Digital Summit, or simply curious about what's ahead for higher education and AI, this episode offers a preview of the conversations, innovations, and experiences shaping Engage 2026.
Register for Free Engage Digital Summit
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 8, 202628 min
The SUNY AI Mandate
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most institutions can govern it. For the 64 campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, that challenge became very real when a new system-wide AI policy required every campus to adopt or update AI guidelines by the end of 2026. While many institutions are just beginning the work, SUNY Westchester Community College was already a year ahead.
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Ed Tatton, co-chair of SUNY Westchester’s Strategic AI Committee, to discuss what it takes to build meaningful AI governance before a mandate arrives. Drawing from faculty surveys, student feedback, and months of cross-campus collaboration, Ed shares how his institution developed an AI framework rooted in transparency, shared governance, risk management, and practical implementation rather than fear or hype.
Together, they explore why governance should come before policy, how institutions can balance innovation with accountability, and what higher ed leaders should prioritize as AI adoption accelerates. Whether you're developing your first AI guidelines or refining an existing strategy, this conversation offers a roadmap for building guardrails that support both innovation and trust.
SUNY’s Systemwide AI Policy and EOY Deadline
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 1, 202626 min
Google Search is AI Search: What May's I/O Announcement Means for Higher Ed
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Katy Campbell, newly named CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, for an urgent conversation about the future of search in higher education. Following Google’s announcement that AI-powered search is now the default experience for more than a billion users, Katy breaks down what this shift means for enrollment marketers, institutional websites, and the way prospective students discover colleges. Together, Mallory and Katy unpack why traditional SEO strategies are no longer enough, how AI agents are changing the student search journey, and why higher ed institutions need to rethink visibility in a world where students may never even visit a college homepage.
Related Links:A New Era for AI Search (Google)Katy’s LinkedIn Post
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 28, 202632 min
Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 3
Welcome to the next chapter of this Pulse Check Series, Part 3: The Impact of AI on Regional Businesses.
On this episode, host Adam HedeBrink-Bruno explores what AI adoption really looks like for small businesses, regional organizations, and community partners navigating rapid technological change. Joined by Marisa Enzinna, Director of Member Relations and Communications at the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, and Camille Zess, Vice President of Growth at Travel Alliance Partnership, the conversation dives into how organizations are using AI to augment workflows, improve efficiency, and better support their teams and clients.
Find out more about what Finger Lakes Community College is doing with AI at the FLX AI Hub.
Guest Names:
Marisa Enzinna, Director of Member Relations & Communications at the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce
Camille Zess, Vice President of Growth at Travel Alliance Partnership
Guest Socials:
Marisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-enzinna/
Camille: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillezess/
Guest Bios:
Marisa Enzinna is the Director of Member Relations and Communications at the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, where she helps connect and promote local businesses and tell their stories. She has 20+ years of experience in communications, having worked in journalism and non-profit development before joining the Chamber. A proud Ontario County resident, Marisa enjoys exploring the Finger Lakes with her family and pack of rescue pups.
Camille Zess is a strategic marketing leader who works with destination organizations to develop high-level marketing strategies and align stakeholders around a shared vision. She is actively engaged in the marketing AI space, having attended MAICON 2024 and serving on the TAP AI Committee, where she helps shape AI policy and education for the TAP community of travel industry professionals. She is passionate about helping people make sense of AI and apply it in practical, meaningful ways.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 25, 202634 min
Before You Hire an AI Consultant, Do This
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Ed Cabellon, Interim Vice President for Student Experience at Frederick Community College, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to build an enterprise AI strategy in higher education. Rather than rushing into flashy AI pilots or chasing trends, Ed shares how FCC spent months laying the groundwork for a sustainable, institution-wide AI roadmap rooted in governance, collaboration, and operational readiness. Together, Mallory and Ed unpack the realities of leading AI transformation on campus, including how to align cabinet leadership, faculty innovation, IT infrastructure, and institutional priorities before bringing in outside consultants.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 21, 202632 min
Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 2
If your campus has plenty of AI activity but remains a little light on the strategy, you’re not alone. Many higher education institutions are running lots of experiments without a clear path to scale the right ideas responsibly. This leaves faculty and staff reinventing the wheel rather than moving forward together. In this episode, we go behind the scenes to explore the supports that shift individual experiments to structured pilots with potential for broader implementation. We’ll talk about microgrants, stipends, professional learning, and lightweight governance that doesn’t kill momentum.
Find out more about what Finger Lakes Community College is doing with AI at the FLX AI Hub.
Sources:
Consumer Protection Group Unveils Student AI Bill of Rights - https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/04/06/consumer-protection-group-unveils-student-ai-bill-rights
Student AI Bill of Rights -
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/68a733df04d0801eecae5b19/t/69cedec77dde6c68e2cfa5e7/1775165133320/Student+AI+Bill+of+Rights.pdf
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 18, 202625 min
The 13 Milliseconds That Decide Your Enrollment Funnel
Related Links:Mastering the Art of Visual Storytelling in Higher Education MarketingThink before you ink: The Three Principles Behind Every Digital Transformation that Actually Work“Beyond the Facelift: Navigating the Website Redesign Journey”“Engaging with ‘First Generation’ Prospects: The Power of Visual Storytelling”“The Enormity of Inclusion: The Importance of Authenticity over Aspiration”
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 14, 202643 min
Pulse Check: Tales from a Community College AI Think Tank — Part 1
Mastering AI tools and techniques takes time. In this episode, we share how community colleges can become the region’s trusted AI onramp by offering accessible, mission-aligned AI literacy programming for students, employees, and community members. We’ll break down how to approach AI as a critical mindset rather than a technical skill set.
Learn about the values behind our AI model and the practical decisions that make it work. We’ll address the tensions and uncomfortable realities driving this work, including AI overreliance, academic integrity, and workforce disruption. Finally, we'll examine how AI literacy can support college goals and leave you with a guide to building an onramp for your community.
Find out more about what Finger Lakes Community College is doing with AI at the FLX AI Hub.
Sources:
HBR - AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity: https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity
MIT - The GenAI Divide STATE OF AI IN BUSINESS 2025: https://mlq.ai/media/quarterly_decks/v0.1_State_of_AI_in_Business_2025_Report.pdf
Guest Names:
Debora Ortloff, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assessment, FLCC
Dave Ghidiu, Associate Professor of Computing Sciences, FLCC
Guest Socials:
Debora: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deboraortloff
Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveghidiu/
Guest Bios:
Debora Hinderliter Ortloff, Ph.D., is VP of Strategic Initiatives and Assessment at FLCC and co-leads our AI work. She prides herself on being a leader who can facilitate change by serving as a thought partner and problem-solver, helping faculty and staff with great ideas and passion move forward towards innovation. In our AI work, she also helps design training around AI for data, authentic assessment, and policy creation. In addition to this work, Debora leads strategy at the College and consults extensively with the U.S. Department of Education. She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington and lives with her husband and two sons in Canandaigua, NY.
Dave Ghidiu is an Assistant Professor of Computing Sciences at Finger Lakes Community College; he has spent more than two decades helping students and educators build confidence with technology. His work at FLCC's Center for Teaching and Learning has deepened his commitment to accessible, practical professional development - equipping faculty and staff with tools and strategies they can use immediately in their classrooms and workflows.
In recent years, Dave has immersed himself in the world of artificial intelligence. He leads the AI Microcredential Program, serves as AI Strategist for the FLX AI Hub, and regularly delivers workshops, webinars, and keynote presentations to educators, healthcare professionals, and business leaders across Upstate New York. Guided by the philosophy that "you can't AI wrong," Dave is passionate about lowering the barrier to AI adoption and helping people at every skill level find their on-ramp to this transformative technology.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
May 11, 202629 min
AI Faculty Avatars and a $10K MBA
Mallory Willsea sits down with Dr. Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University, to unpack one of the boldest experiments in AI in higher education and student success strategies happening today. Together, they explore how SFBU is designing a human-centered, AI-integrated learning model that prioritizes capability development, workforce readiness, affordability, and access over outdated systems built around seat time and content delivery.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout 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!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Is this your show?
Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.
