The AI Workforce for Higher Ed is Here |

Talk to a Bolt Agent
EP
128
August 3, 2026
Episode 128: What Your Chief of Staff Knows That You Don't

What Your Chief of Staff Knows That You Don't

Or listen on:

About the Episode

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff at Occidental College, and Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff at Hamilton College, join Mallory to discuss the inaugural Chief of Staff Summit, where 50 higher-ed chiefs of staff met at Colorado College in Colorado Springs for closed-door, case-based peer problem solving. They explain the chief of staff role varies widely by president and institution, often centering on supporting decision-making, execution, and human impacts. Summit topics included cabinet politics, crisis leadership, managing up without formal authority, board relations, burnout, career trajectories, strategic planning, and AI. 

Register for Next Year’s Chief of Staff Summit:  www.chiefofstaffsummit.org

People in this episode

Host

Mallory Willsea is a strategist and consultant working at the intersection of higher education.

Interviewee

Lindsay Nyquist

Chief of Staff, Occidental College

Miriam Merrill

Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Hamilton College

Other episodes

Ep. 97: How You Can Leverage Data To Improve Student Recruitment And Marketing StrategiesPlay Button
Ep. 97: How You Can Leverage Data To Improve Student Recruitment And Marketing Strategies

Jeremy is joined by Stevie Blyler, a Digital Marketing Strategist at Bucknell University. Stevie shares insights on how colleges can connect the dots and leverage their data to increase personalization during the student recruitment process, and improve collaboration between marketing, admissions, and operations.

Episode 106: Why Bethel University Uses a Job Guarantee in Higher Education to Drive EnrollmentPlay Button
Episode 106: Why Bethel University Uses a Job Guarantee in Higher Education to Drive Enrollment

Allison speaks with Paul McGinnis, VP of Marketing & Enrollment at Bethel University, to discuss the university's bold “Bethel Career Commitment.”

Episode 137: Higher Ed Needs Leaders Who Are Used to DisruptionPlay Button
Episode 137: Higher Ed Needs Leaders Who Are Used to Disruption

Mallory speaks with Zach Hosseini, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for University Relations at Pace University, about navigating public mistrust in higher education.

Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 2Play Button
Pulse Check: What Do We Really Need? — Pt 2

In the second episode of What Do We Really Need, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Jen Johnson, Ologie's Chief Client Officer, about how colleges and universities can determine whether they have a lead-generation problem or a broader enrollment funnel problem.

Ep. 76: Stop Treating Podcasting Like Another Social PlatformPlay Button
Ep. 76: Stop Treating Podcasting Like Another Social Platform

Jenny is joined by Robb Conlon, Founder of Westport Studios, to explore practical advice for higher ed professionals tasked with producing podcasts on limited budgets.

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