The AI Workforce for Higher Ed is Here |

Talk to a Bolt Agent
EP
105
September 22, 2026
Episode 105: How Brandeis is Revolutionizing Cost Transparency

How Brandeis is Revolutionizing Cost Transparency

Or listen on:

About the Episode

What if prospective students could know the real sticker price of their school’s tuition before they even applied? In this episode, Allison talks with Jennifer Walker, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Brandeis University, and Alan Mlynek, Chief Product Officer at Noodle, about Faye, an AI-powered tuition agent designed to give prospective students a personalized estimate of their cost of attendance before they even apply or file a FAFSA. Jennifer and Alan share what it took to turn an idea that initially seemed impossible into a new approach to college cost transparency. They explore how Faye differs from traditional net price calculators, how AI can create a more personalized and conversational experience for families, and why the project required more than just innovative technology. 

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

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.

People in this episode

Host

Allison Turcio, Ed.D., is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College and host of The Application.

Interviewee

Alan Mlynek

Chief Product Officer at Noodle Partners, PBC

Jennifer Walker

VP of Enrollment Management at Brandeis University

Other episodes

Episode #348: How to Navigate Higher Ed’s Polycrises with Proactive Risk ManagementPlay Button
Episode #348: How to Navigate Higher Ed’s Polycrises with Proactive Risk Management

Tracey Swift, editor-in-chief of Higher Ed Risk Magazine, explores all of this and makes the case for rethinking risk management as a strategic tool for institutional resilience.

Bonus: Fixing Higher Ed’s Broken Business ModelPlay Button
Bonus: Fixing Higher Ed’s Broken Business Model

Teege Mettille, author of College Is Broken and host of the companion podcast, discusses the forces driving skepticism about higher education, from misleading college pricing and unrealistic enrollment expectations to institutions losing touch with their mission.

Ep. 96: A President’s Perspective On Recruitment, Retention, and LeadershipPlay Button
Ep. 96: A President’s Perspective On Recruitment, Retention, and Leadership

Jeremy is joined by Dr. Emily Messer, a university president who shares insights and challenges on the day-to-day realities of her position - including building a campus wide culture of recruitment and retention, effective communication strategies, and the value of a higher education degree.

Episode 135: What Rising CMOs Are Rarely TaughtPlay Button
Episode 135: What Rising CMOs Are Rarely Taught

Mallory welcomes back Jenny Petty, Vice President Industry Relations and Advisory Services SimpsonScarborough, and Marina Cooper, Head of Brand and Marketing at The Johns Hopkins University, to introduce the Next Leader Experience (NLE) program at the upcoming AMA conference in Denver.

Ep. 75: Social Media Isn’t a Funnel, It’s an AmoebaPlay Button
Ep. 75: Social Media Isn’t a Funnel, It’s an Amoeba

Jenny welcomes back Maree Jones, the Director of social media strategy at University of Alabama Birmingham, to dive into the intersection of parenting and social media management.

Weekly ideas that make you smarter

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Subscribe
cancel

Search podcasts, blog posts, people