What an Enrollment Leader Learned From Her Teen’s College Search

Got a story to tell? An innovative idea to share? Fill out our guest nomination form and let's chat!

‍

About the Episode:

In this episode, Allison sits down with Melody Ferguson, Dean of Admission at Pacific Lutheran University, who brings a dual perspective to the table: as an experienced enrollment leader and as a mom navigating the college search process with a high school senior and a sophomore. Melody shares eye-opening insights from her unique vantage point, revealing how being both a professional and a parent has reshaped her views on communication strategies, family engagement, and what it really takes to connect with today’s prospective students.

From the challenges of getting noticed among thousands of college emails to leveraging insights about Gen Z and Gen Alpha, this conversation dives into the future of enrollment marketing and the lessons Melody is taking back to her team at PLU.

‍

Key "How-Tos" You’ll Hear in This Episode:

1. Understand the Parent’s Role in the Search Process:
   
   • Learn why engaging parents early and effectively is essential to guiding a student’s college decision.
   • Discover why traditional assumptions about student-driven decision-making may be incomplete.
2. Influence the Influencers:
   
   • Discover the importance of targeting teachers, counselors, and coaches to amplify your messaging.
   • Explore strategies for micro-campaigns directed at niche influencers, like theater directors or local educators.
3. Adapt to the Next Generation of Students:
   
   • Identify differences between Gen Z and Gen Alpha and how those impact communication preferences.
   • Explore practical tactics like gamified quizzes to engage students and gather meaningful insights.
4. Personalize Communications at Scale:
   
   • Unpack the challenges of delivering authentic personalization and how to move beyond basic tactics like inserting a student’s name.
   • Hear how faculty-written notes and creative outreach campaigns can stand out in crowded inboxes.
5. Rethink Your Enrollment Funnel:
   
   • Understand why it’s critical to communicate the “why” behind your outreach—helping students and families see their fit with your institution.
   • Consider the impact of financial aid transparency and academic program alignment on a student’s final decision.

‍

‍

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!  

Some of our favorites include Mission Admissions and Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook.

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.

‍

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!

The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education.

Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

👉🏻 Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025!