About the Episode
About the Episode: In this special episode of Breaking Silos, we sit down with the Albright College President and host of the Albright Out Loud podcast, Jacquelyn Fetrow. Dr. Fetrow is joined by her colleagues Michelle Arevalo, Enrollment Marketing Communications Manager, and Matthew Bieber, Assistant Professor of Business, to talk about how the podcast came about, why Dr. Fetrow wanted to start her own podcast, the ins and outs of producing a presidential podcast from a marketing perspective, and a faculty perspective on why this podcast is valuable for academic professionals. Dive into the heart of Albright's mission as we discuss the impactful narratives shared on their podcast, the strategies that amplify these stories, and the collaborative spirit that fuels innovation and community engagement. Join us for an inspiring session on the power of voice in shaping the future of higher education.
Key Takeaways
- Podcasts Build Institutional Brand and Community: Albright Out Loud highlights the college’s collaborative spirit, unique academic opportunities, and inclusive culture while fostering internal and external engagement.
- Storytelling Enhances Marketing Impact: Through authentic conversations with students, faculty, and alumni, the podcast creates relatable and compelling narratives that resonate with prospective students and their families.
- Faculty Personal Branding Elevates Institutions: Faculty participation in podcasts supports personal branding efforts, enhances teaching impact, and amplifies the institution’s academic reputation.
- Timely and Relevant Content is Key: Curating episodes around themes like diversity, excellence in teaching, and innovative student projects ensures broad appeal and real-time relevance.
Episode Summary
Why Albright Started a Podcast
In a rapidly changing higher education landscape, Albright College recognized the need to go beyond traditional communication methods like alumni magazines. Dr. Jacqueline Fetro, President of Albright College, envisioned Albright Out Loud as a platform to share impactful stories that reflect the institution’s mission: fostering student engagement, academic excellence, and meaningful faculty-student collaboration.
The podcast, now in its third season, provides insight into the real-world experiences of Albright students and faculty. Dr. Fetro noted that it’s not just an institutional voice—it’s a conversation that showcases Albright’s diverse community and the transformative power of education at small, independent colleges.
Turning Stories into Marketing Gold
Michelle Arevalo, who manages the podcast’s production, highlighted the role of Albright Out Loud in driving enrollment and branding efforts. Initially aimed at internal audiences, the podcast has expanded its reach to prospective students and families. By leveraging digital advertising and word of mouth, Albright has seen increased website traffic, inquiries, and attendance at campus events.
From episodes spotlighting seniors’ reflections to faculty-student collaborations, the podcast uses timely storytelling to engage audiences. The recent addition of mini-series themes, like “Excellence in Teaching,” has helped further deepen connections and expand listener interest.
Faculty Perspective: Teaching Beyond the Classroom
Assistant Professor Matthew Bieber underscored the podcast’s value for faculty, describing it as a tool to share innovative teaching methods, classroom stories, and student accomplishments. Episodes like the one featuring Albright’s award-winning theater production of Spring Awakening have not only elevated student voices but also inspired Matthew to adopt new teaching techniques.
Bieber emphasized the synergy between personal branding and institutional marketing. As faculty showcase their unique teaching styles and projects, they enhance their own professional profiles while promoting Albright as a hub of creativity and academic rigor.
Reflections and Lessons for Higher Education
Breaking Silos Through Storytelling
Albright Out Loud epitomizes breaking silos within higher education. By bridging gaps between departments, faculty, staff, and students, the podcast fosters collaboration and cultivates a sense of shared purpose. Episodes explore topics as varied as ethical leadership, experiential learning, and diversity, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the Albright experience.
The Power of Authentic Conversations
Dr. Fetro shared how the podcast has addressed pressing societal issues, like gender identity and racial equity, in an approachable and conversational format. Episodes like Spring Awakening invite listeners to engage with these topics thoughtfully, creating opportunities for dialogue and understanding within and beyond the campus community.
Driving Innovation and Inspiration
Beyond storytelling, Albright Out Loud is a catalyst for innovation. Faculty have used the platform to create teaching resources, and students have been inspired to co-create episodes that reflect their passions and experiences. This demonstrates how podcasts can be an effective tool for both teaching and learning.
About the Show: We hear it every day across campuses: “We need to be working more collaboratively.” The higher education industry is notoriously siloed, with colleagues struggling to connect, duplicating services or having disjointed messaging.
Breaking Silos aims to showcase the remarkable work of marketing professionals and their non-marketing colleagues from different departments across campus, who come together to achieve common goals, implement new initiatives, enhance the student experience, and foster better collaboration among teams.
Each episode features a marketer and their non-marketing colleague to talk about their partnership. This unique format will inspire marketers to try new things and connect with colleagues in new ways, while also allowing non-marketing professionals an inside look at some of the most collaborative projects in higher education marketing.
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Breaking Silos 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 Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Maya will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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