About the Episode
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About The Episode:
Link to JobsGPT (version 2):
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-wg93fVwAj-jobsgpt-by-smarterx-ai/
Episode prompt:
You are an expert career planner and futurist.
I’ll be asking you to help me plan my career path based on my current role and my ideal future role.
Based on my current job title, [enter your job title and, ideally, paste in your job description] and my ideal future job, [paste in ideal future job title and description, either from JobsGPT or based on your own career plans], provide a list of skills and experiences that would help me become most qualified for this role.
Take your time.
Brian sits down with Michelle Tarby, Senior Director of Digital Engagement at Le Moyne College, to talk about how AI is transforming student engagement and content strategy. From using AI-driven personas to tailoring student communications, Michelle discusses the practical applications of AI that are making an impact in higher ed. She also explores the common challenges institutions face when implementing AI and how to ensure these tools provide real value and help solve real problems.
Join us as we discuss:
- [1:36] Using AI tools to summarize content and boost student engagement
- [12:14] Shifting mindset from a place of comparison to one of admiration
- [16:59] Verifying outputs and filtering out tools that overpromise
Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:
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Key Takeaways
- AI in higher education is transforming content creation—especially when repurposing video or webinar content for blogs and marketing assets.
- Building AI-informed student personas based on real data helps tailor messaging and drive engagement.
- AI tools can enhance content ideation, journey mapping, and even create executive summaries of analytics dashboards.
- Persona-based content marketing has increased blog and social engagement at LeMoyne.
- Institutions must avoid using AI just for the sake of it—identify the problem first, then select the right tool.
- Information security and data integrity remain critical when evaluating new ed tech tools powered by AI.
Episode Summary
How is LeMoyne College repurposing content with AI to boost engagement?
Michelle Tarby explains how her team uses AI to turn long-form webinar transcripts into digestible, engaging blog posts for prospective and current students. Rather than expecting audiences to sift through hours of content, her team uses AI to surface the most relevant themes, such as “10 Things Faculty Wish You Knew Before Classes Begin.” These posts have helped reduce student anxiety and foster early connection with the campus community.
What role do AI-generated personas play in content strategy?
LeMoyne utilized existing journey maps, institutional data, and AI tools to create three distinct student personas—each complete with headshots and behavioral profiles. These personas not only helped guide messaging but sparked creative brainstorming among student interns and staff. The results? Increased relevance, authenticity, and engagement. Michelle emphasized that these personas have shaped everything from blog content to yield-phase messaging strategies.
How does Michelle manage AI adoption in a small team environment?
Michelle candidly shares that while she once thought of herself as an early adopter, attending the 2023 Digital Collegium conference opened her eyes to how much more AI could offer. Instead of chasing shiny objects, she focused on tools and processes that made her small team more efficient—like AI-powered prompt templates for content calendars and automated summaries of campaign performance.
Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.
Enrollify is produced by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
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