The Application with Allison Turcio

Hosted by Allison Turcio

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133

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Application is your playbook for the ever-evolving world of higher education enrollment marketing. This podcast zeroes in on the niche, often-unexplored areas of the field, delivering a potent mix of actionable insights, practical strategies, and cutting-edge perspectives. Host Allison Turcio, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College, tackles the topics others aren't – from empowering student influencers to harnessing AI. The Application is where uncharted territories in marketing get mapped out, designed to arm higher education enrollment marketers with tools to stay ahead of the curve. This podcast isn’t just about keeping pace with the market – it's about leading the charge. We're here to provoke thought, encourage innovation, and foster a community of forward-thinkers. Whether you're crafting your next campaign or redefining your institution’s marketing strategy, The Application is your essential resource for fresh, innovative approaches in higher education marketing. Get ready to be inspired, educated, and transformed with each episode. The Application is hosted by Allison Turcio and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

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August 11, 202631 min

Ep. 102: Building a Transfer-Affirming Institution

Transfer students represent one of the biggest enrollment opportunities in higher education, yet many institutions still treat them as an afterthought. In this episode, Allison sits down with Jaime Smith , author of The Complete Guide to College Transfer , to discuss what transfer students actually need from colleges and universities. Jaime explains why institutions should move beyond being merely "transfer-friendly" and instead strive to become transfer-affirming , creating experiences that support students from application through graduation. Join us as we discuss: [2:15] What criteria truly makes a college transfer-friendly [8:20] How transfer students evaluate colleges differently than first-year applicants [13:42] Messaging that resonates with prospective transfer students [19:02] The importance of transfer-specific communication Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: NACAC To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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.

July 28, 202629 min

Ep. 101: Why Strategy Should Come Before Tools

Artificial intelligence is changing how higher education teams work, but successful AI adoption is about much more than choosing the right tools. In this episode, Allison sits down with Tina Miller , Executive Director of Creative and Communications at Arizona State University's Enterprise Technology Division and founder of the AI Beacon Network . Tina shares how her team achieved 100% AI adoption, why most organizations approach AI implementation backwards, and what leaders can do to help their teams move from experimentation to meaningful adoption. Join us as we discuss: [3:06] How ASU benchmarks their AI usage and how they achieved 100% adoption [9:11] Laying the foundation for ASU’s AI adoption framework [16:55] Higher ed leaders modeling their teams’ AI usage and behavior [21:57] Why schools must have an AI-forward mindset to remain competitive Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: AI Beacon Network EduWeb The AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. Guest Name: Tina Miller, Executive Director of Creative and Communications, Arizona State University’s Enterprise Technology (IT) division Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinamiller3/ Guest Bio: Tina Miller is the Executive Director of Creative and Communications at Arizona State University’s Enterprise Technology (IT) division, where she leads a future-focused team shaping the role of AI in marketing, communications, and digital strategy. A passionate advocate for innovation and storytelling, Tina is also the founder of the AI Beacon Network, a global consortium of 175+ higher education institutions working together to build AI literacy, leadership, and community. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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.

July 14, 202627 min

Ep. 100: What 99 Conversations Taught Me About Enrollment Marketing

For the 100th episode of The Application, Allison Turcio isn't looking back. She's looking at the assumptions shaping enrollment marketing and asking whether they're still true. After 100 conversations with enrollment leaders, marketers, researchers, financial aid experts, student affairs professionals, and higher education innovators, four themes kept resurfacing. They challenge some of the most common beliefs in our industry: Is enrollment marketing really about communication? Do institutions build trust, or do people? Should students have to figure out how higher ed works? And does more information actually lead to better decisions? Drawing on lessons from 100 episodes of The Application, Allison offers a practical framework for creating experiences that build trust, reduce friction, and help students move forward with clarity and confidence. Join us as we discuss: [3:24] Assumption #1: Enrollment Marketing Is About Communication [9:46] Assumption #2: Institutions Build Trust [14:46] Assumption #3: Students Will Figure It Out [19:39[ Assumption #4: More Information Leads to Better Decisions Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Student Fans: Using Taylor Swift’s Playbook for Higher Ed Success Student-Shaped Storytelling: Why Real Voices Outperform Polish Marketing People Remember: Inside Fordham’s Experiential Pizza Pop-Up How ODU Boosted Admitted Students Day Attendance by 30% in One Year Rethinking Search Marketing and How to Help Students Find Right-Fit Colleges Empowering First-Gen College Students: Enhancing Website User Experience Why Clear Communication is a Top Enrollment Tactic How to Unlock the Power of Your .Edu Strategies for Reaching Hispanic Students and Families Inclusive Strategies for Marketing to International Students If Financial Aid Is an Afterthought, Your Marketing Strategy Is Broken The Roosevelt Pledge: How a Free Tuition Promise Drives Enrollment and Revenue Turn FAQs into Strategy: The Power of a Blog for Admissions Cost, Clarity, and Connection: The Case for a Parent-First Strategy To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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 30, 202630 min

Ep. 99: Stay Dangerous: How to Build an Enrollment Team That’s Ready for Tomorrow

Enrollment teams are being asked to do more than ever before, but many institutions are still operating with structures designed for a very different era of higher education. In this episode, Allison talks with Jack Corby , VP at Stevens Strategy , to explore what happens when enrollment teams outgrow their organizational structure. From data fluency and systems thinking to project management and team design, Jack shares what modern enrollment operations need to succeed and where many institutions are getting stuck. They discuss the growing tension between relationship-driven recruitment and increasingly technical enrollment work, how leaders can tell the difference between being understaffed and misstructured, and why curiosity, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration matter more than ever in higher ed today. Join us as we discuss: [2:13] What “stay dangerous” means and how to learn your team’s strengths [14:30] Early warning signs that your internal departments aren’t aligned [20:31] Understaffed or misstructured? How leaders can tell the difference To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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 16, 202628 min

Ep. 98: Building Healthy Creative Cultures that Deliver Authentic Student Stories

In this episode, Allison sits down with Webb Lewis , Assistant Director, Marketing & Brand Strategy at the University of Mississippi , for a thoughtful conversation about burnout, creativity, purpose, and remembering your why in higher education marketing. They explore what happens when marketing becomes more transactional than transformational, why authentic storytelling matters more than ever, and how staying connected to students can bring fresh energy and meaning back to the work. Join us as we discuss: [2:20] Why pressure on enrollment teams drives transactional marketing [10:48] How Ole Miss scaled its ambassador model across campus [22:01] Why student-centered content is the key to breaking through the noise Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: EduWeb Smart Brevity To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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 2, 202625 min

Ep. 97: How ODU Boosted Admitted Students Day Attendance by 30% in One Year

In this episode, Allison talks with Ashley Miller , Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Old Dominion University , about the strategy, resilience, and teamwork behind one of ODU’s most successful admitted student events to date. Ashley shares how her team increased their Admitted Student Day attendance to more than 3,300 students and guests while navigating an incredibly difficult season on campus. From building a stronger enrollment marketing operation to creating more personalized student experiences, this conversation explores what it means to lead with resilience, empathy, and accountability during difficult moments. Join us as we discuss: [2:46] Why building an in-house enrollment marketing team was key to ODU’s success [14:07] Reconnecting with the “why” behind enrollment work [19:27] Leaning into leadership during your institution’s most challenging moments To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. Guest Name: Ashley Miller Giuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-miller-iukelleygrad/ Guest Bio: Ashley Miller currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Old Dominion University (ODU). As ODU’s chief enrollment officer for campus. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Master of Science in Data Science, both at Indiana University. She received her Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Purdue University Global. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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 19, 202625 min

Ep. 96: If Financial Aid Is an Afterthought, Your Marketing Strategy Is Broken

Financial aid is often treated like a backend function post-enrollment after the student has already decided. But in reality, it shapes everything. In this episode, host Allison talks with Rachel Gordon , VP of Student Financial Aid Services at American University of Antigua College of Medicine , about what happens when financial aid and marketing stop operating in silos and start working together. They explore why cost is one of the most emotional parts of the student journey, and how the way we talk about it can either create clarity or create risk. Rachel shares how financial aid teams support students through complex, real life moments, and why that work often continues long after graduation. Join us as we discuss: [1:48] Why admissions is the window and financial aid is the door for students [8:51] Avoiding higher ed jargon and speaking human-to-human [19:04] The role financial aid plays in lifelong relationships with alumni To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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 5, 202624 min

Ep. 95: The Roosevelt Pledge: How a Free Tuition Promise Drives Enrollment and Revenue

What if affordability isn’t just a financial aid strategy, but a positioning strategy? In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Barron , Senior VP of Enrollment Management at Roosevelt University , to unpack the Roosevelt Pledge, a program guaranteeing free tuition for qualifying students. What started as a tuition reset became a clear, compelling promise that now drives nearly 40% of their application pool. Nicole shares how Roosevelt turned complexity into clarity, using financial aid modeling, competitive data, and thoughtful marketing to increase enrollment, improve retention, and grow net tuition revenue all at once. Join us as we discuss: [2:08] How Roosevelt moved from a tuition reset to affordability positioning [11:14] Internal buy-in and making the case for an affordability pledge [16:29] The full-cycle impact and future outlook of the Roosevelt Pledge Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: The Roosevelt Pledge EAB Market View To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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.

April 21, 202623 min

Ep. 94: Beyond SEO: The New Content Strategy for AI-Driven Enrollment

AI isn’t just changing how students search for colleges, but changing how they decide. In this episode, we talk with Jason Smith , Founder of OHO Agency , about how generative AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming a new layer of the enrollment funnel. With more than 75% of students now using AI in their college search, institutions risk being evaluated, compared, and even eliminated before a student ever visits their website. Jason also introduces the AI Visibility Scorecard, a tool OHO designed to help institutions understand how they’re represented in AI and where critical content gaps exist. Join us as we discuss: [2:03] The shift from traditional search to personalized AI-filtered questions [10:08] How the AI Visibility Scorecard gauges your school’s AI search “rankings” [18:18] Why AI-powered visibility is really a content strategy shift Check out these resource s we mentioned during the podcast: AI Visibility Scorecard To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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.

April 7, 202623 min

Ep. 93: Student-Shaped Storytelling: Why Real Voices Outperform Polish

What if the students already on your campus could shape your most powerful stories? Greg Carter , Director of Strategic Enrollment Marketing and Communications at Virginia Tech , joins Allison to share how they built a student-powered storytelling engine that actually moves the needle. In 2022, his team shifted student content from peer chatter to future-student focus, without handing students a script. The 100-plus Hokie Ambassadors aren’t just tour guides. They’re storytellers, creating thousands of real belonging moments. Authentic voices beat polished campaigns here. The strategy is simple: put students in the room, give them the mic, and let their perspectives steer the story forward. Join us as we discuss: [3:15] The dining hall reel that hit 210K views [13:23] VT’s scholarship storytelling shift and why outcomes matter more [16:20] Why marketing meetings need students in the room Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Eduweb To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or our website , or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player. - - - - Connect With Our Host: Allison Turcio https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/ https://twitter.com/allisonturcio About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio 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.