Innovating Enrollment Success

Hosted by Cathy Donovan

Business Marketing

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Latest episode

Mar 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The higher education landscape is at a pivotal point of transformation. In each episode, the Innovating Enrollment Success Podcast provides insights into what is driving results right now at colleges and universities nationwide. Learn what collaborative partnerships and data-driven strategies are accelerating enrollment growth and understand how creative can compel student action and bring enrollment funnels to life.

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29 recent

March 2, 2026Episode 2918 min

Expanding the Touchpoints: In-School Engagement and the 13th Year Plan

Digital recruitment dominates today’s enrollment landscape. But Weston Noyes of 13th Year believes institutions should not replace digital strategy. They should expand it.Through interactive kiosks placed inside high schools, 13th Year helps colleges create measurable, real-time engagement in the environments where students are already thinking about their future.In this conversation, Weston shares how 65-inch interactive kiosks create simple pathways to connection. Students can scan QR-enabled video content, explore institutional profile pages, or opt in for outreach through a $1,000 scholarship program.With nearly 70% of scholarship applicants requesting direct contact from partner institutions, one insight stands out. Students do not just want information. They want connection.What you will learnPresence builds trust. Consistent visibility inside a student’s school day creates familiarity that digital impressions alone cannot.Connection drives action. High opt-in rates signal a desire for genuine connction, not just brochures.Digital and physical work together. In school engagement can move students from awareness to action.

January 15, 2026Episode 2831 min

Campus Spirit: How Photography Can Capture Moments of Connection

Prospective students can decide quickly whether a campus feels right for them.Frank Delaney and Lien Do of Paskill join Douglas Benedict of Academic Image to explore how authentic, emotionally grounded photography shapes that first impression, builds trust, and helps institutions stand out in a crowded enrollment landscape.Together, they discuss what authenticity really means in enrollment marketing and how campuses can move beyond staged visuals to tell honest stories about place, people, and culture. From planning smarter photo shoots to understanding student visual literacy, this conversation breaks down what works now and what truly resonates with prospective students.What you’ll learnAuthenticity matters more than ever. Students can spot staged or misleading imagery instantly.Sense of place drives connection. Campus photography should feel unmistakably unique to your institution.Emotion builds belonging. Images that capture real moments help students see themselves on campus.Plan with intention. Start with enrollment and program priorities before the camera ever comes out.Quality over quantity. A focused set of meaningful images outperforms large libraries of generic shots.Respect and consent are essential. Trust and comfort lead to more genuine student engagement.Leave room for the unexpected. Some of the strongest images come from unplanned moments.Minimal editing wins. Overuse of Photoshop or AI can erode credibility with today’s visually savvy students.Collaboration fuels success. Enrollment teams, creatives, photographers, and students all shape the story.

November 20, 2025Episode 2728 min

Balancing Budgets and Growing Enrollment

When financial pressures and shifting demand collide, what actually moves the needle? Blending financial clarity with student-centered marketing helps institutions stabilize today and grow tomorrow. Chester Moyer of RubinBrown and Dave Black of Paskill explore how smaller, enrollment-dependent institutions can face budget stress with clear-eyed strategies that connect finance and enrollment. From pausing capital projects and managing hiring to improving marketing yield and campus culture, they share what works now and what takes time. What you’ll learn The financial reality. Tuition revenue alone isn’t covering costs for many smaller colleges.Tough talks lead to change. Leaders need honest plans that reduce expenses or increase revenue.Smart cost control. Pause big projects, review hiring, and consolidate where possible.Quality over quantity. Focus marketing and admissions on fit and yield, not inflated applicant pools.Holistic marketing. Align paid media, content, and CRM to generate strong leads and conversions.Culture builds confidence. Every visit, message, and staff interaction shapes yield.Collaboration wins. Finance, enrollment, and academics must share data and direction

October 15, 2025Episode 2626 min

From Campus to Community: Civic Engagement and the Future of Higher Ed

What happens when higher education reclaims its civic purpose at a time when the public questions its value? By engaging deeply with their communities, institutions can rebuild trust, demonstrate relevance, and strengthen student belonging in ways that go beyond enrollment numbers. In this episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, a nonpartisan research and engagement organization focused on strengthening democracy and expanding opportunities for civic participation, shares how institutions can align civic purpose with student success. From building community partnerships to modeling institutional values, Seligsohn shares what it takes to make engagement central to both learning and leadership. What you’ll learn · Civic engagement builds learning and belonging. When students connect coursework to real communities, they form deeper ties to their institution. · Partnerships make institutions trusted and relevant. Collaborating locally shows your brand’s value beyond campus walls. · Leaders must live their values. Authentic action from leadership reinforces mission and builds audience trust. · Listening creates connection and understanding. Dialogue across differences strengthens both campus culture and brand perception. · Every voice strengthens the institution. Inclusion fuels belonging, engagement, and advocacy among students and staff. · Meaning drives student success and loyalty. When students see purpose in their education, they stay, succeed, and champion your story.

August 14, 2025Episode 2534 min

Bot or Not: Using the Right Data to Drive Enrollment Success

What’s really behind your web traffic? How can you tell if the clicks you’re counting are from future students or from bots inflating your metrics? And what does it take to turn raw numbers into insights you can actually act on? In this episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, Digital Analytics Manager Sam Hofman and Ad Ops Engineer Nathan Huff talk about how to separate real insights from digital noise, and why trustworthy data is essential for student recruitment and retention. What you’ll learn: Good data is trusted and actionable, not just clean spreadsheets.Set metrics early with a measurement brief that defines success and allows for pivots.Compare platform and CRM data to avoid inflated conversion counts.Identify bot traffic—40–60% of hits could be non-human.Block invalid traffic with honeypots, IP filters, and ad verification.Assign a data steward to own your data strategy and guide smarter decisions.When your data is done right, it doesn’t just track activity, it tells the real story of your audience. And in today’s enrollment climate, those insights can make all the difference.

June 30, 202516 min

Turning Intent into Action: Rethinking the Admitted Student Portal

What makes an admitted student portal more than a checklist? How can it guide students from intent to enrollment? And what does it take to build a portal that actually works, for students and institutions? In this episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we explore how admitted student portals can either support or sabotage enrollment goals. As institutions face rising melt rates, especially among first-gen and low-income students, these digital spaces must do more than display deadlines. They must foster connection, clarity, and confidence. Paskill Senior Account Manager Angela Wenner and Interactive Developer Suri Sahay break down what makes a portal effective and where most fall short. From personalized content and accessibility to backend strategy and tech limitations, this episode covers the collaboration and innovation required to keep students on the path to enrollment. Together, they examine how smart strategy and responsive tech turn static portals into dynamic recruitment tools that resonate with today’s students. What you’ll learn: Why portals are a make-or-break moment for enrollment, especially during melt seasonThe tech essentials behind a modern, mobile-friendly, accessible portalHow to personalize the portal experience with dynamic data and relevant contentWhere institutions often miss the mark, and how to fix itHow collaboration between strategy and development leads to stronger outcomesThe power of community features, gamification, and AI chatbots in future-ready portalsWhy portal planning should start early, and what to prioritize right nowWhen a portal is done right, it doesn’t just inform students, it engages them.And in today’s competitive landscape, that connection can make all the difference.

June 5, 2025Episode 2330 min

Campus Spirit: Making College Logos That Last

What makes a college logo not only inspire but last? How do you engage your campus community around it? And how do you know it’s time for a change?In this episode of the Campus Spirit series, we explore how logos evolve from simple sketches into lasting symbols of pride and identity. A great college logo doesn’t just look good across multiple platforms, it sparks emotion, reflects culture, and stands up to decades of student experiences and institutional change.Agency Marketing Director Cathy Donovan is joined by Paskill Founder and President Jim Paskill, Associate Creative Director Frank Delaney, and written reflections from Senior Graphic Designer and lllustrator Nick DiNucci, whose logos have shaped dozens of institutions across the country.Together, they unpack what makes a logo resonate, and how the strongest ones are shaped by design, collaboration, strategy, and story.What you’ll learn:What makes a college logo inspiring, and how that inspiration is designedHow identity design adapts to campus culture and student expectationsWhy community engagement matters in logo creation and evolutionHow to balance legacy and freshness in a redesignWhere logo redesigns can go off track, and how to recoverThe role of logos across recruitment and brand touchpointsStories behind logos that stuck, and what made them workWhen a logo is done right, it doesn’t just represent a school, it reflects a shared experience. The most powerful marks are built with purpose, shaped by community, and designed to last.Check out the full Q&A with Nick DeNucci.

April 16, 2025Episode 2224 min

Campus Spirit: The Magic of Brand Experience in Higher Ed

How can colleges create emotional connections that last well beyond graduation?In this latest episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we kick off our special Campus Spirit series by exploring how brand experience shapes student engagement, loyalty, and long-term institutional success.Paskill’s Associate Creative Director Frank Delaney joins Agency Marketing Director Cathy Donovan to discuss what higher ed can learn from one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands—Disney. From hospitality to apparel to campus life, this conversation reveals how consistency, storytelling, and intentional design can deepen student connection and enhance recruitment outcomes.What you'll learn:The key elements that successful brands—across industries—have in commonHow to create anticipation and brand loyalty from the first admissions interactionWhy identity and self-expression matter in student and alumni engagementWhat colleges can learn from hospitality in delivering personalized experiencesHow to ensure consistency across all brand touchpoints, from website to walk-onThe role of storytelling in building emotional ties with prospective studentsA simple, high-impact way to elevate brand experience todayLearn more about Paskill’s approach to brand, creative, and messaging.

April 1, 2025Episode 2131 min

Navigating Yield Season: Turning Admits into Enrollees

How can institutions successfully turn admits into enrollees during yield season? In this latest episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we explore the most effective recruiting strategies and marketing tactics institutions are using to make meaningful connections with students and families.Hillsdale College’s Assistant Director of Admissions Brennan Nokelby shares insights on personalizing outreach, addressing student concerns, and the strategies helping his team convert admits into enrolled students. Paskill’s VP of Consulting and Research Dave Black provides a broader perspective on the trends and data institutions should be tracking to optimize yield strategies. What you'll learn:The biggest surprises in yield season each yearThe top challenges private institutions face in converting admitsHow personalized outreach improves engagementThe role of marketing in supporting admissions efforts Addressing student and family concerns before they derail decisionsCreating a sense of belonging before students arrive on campusReal-time data tracking and last-minute strategies to increase enrollment Learn more about Paskill's Admissions Workshops.

February 17, 2025Episode 2018 min

Measuring Belonging: A New Benchmark for Higher Ed Retention

How does a student’s sense of belonging impact retention? And what can institutions do to foster it?In the latest episode of the Innovating Enrollment Success Podcast, we dive into these questions with Katrina Noelle, president of KNow Research, who led a groundbreaking study with San Francisco State University. The research explores how Latinx students’ sense of belonging, engagement, and self-confidence influence retention efforts—offering valuable insights for institutions looking to improve student success.What You’ll Learn:Why KNow Research partnered with SFSU on this projectHow the study captured the authentic experiences of Latinx studentsThe methodologies used to explore belonging and engagementKey insights on self-confidence, student success, and retentionWhat institutions can learn and apply from this researchConnect with Katrina on LinkedIn and ask for her ‘10 Ways to Build Belonging’ one-sheeter.At Paskill, we know that first-gen students often face unique barriers to belonging—starting with the digital experience. Our First-Gen Student Web Audit helps institutions assess whether their website truly serves and supports first-gen students, ensuring they can find the information and resources they need.Want to strengthen belonging at your institution? Let’s talk. Paskill is here to help higher ed institutions create meaningful connections and better outcomes.Learn more about the First-Gen Student Web Audit.