About the Episode
In this bonus episode recorded live at the eduWeb Summit in Orlando, Dustin chats with Toni Marie Perilli from Fordham University about why retention marketing deserves a seat alongside enrollment and advancement as a core strategy for student success. They explore how institutions can better connect students with the resources, people, and opportunities already available to them by creating more intentional, coordinated communications throughout the student journey. The conversation also examines the balance between automation and authentic human connection, making the case that the future of higher education marketing isn't just about attracting students—it's about helping them thrive, persist, and graduate.
Check out additional resources from her conference session here!
Guest Name: Toni Marie Perilli - Communications & Marketing Specialist at Fordham University
Guest Social: LinkedIn
Guest Bio: Toni Marie Perilli is a New York-based storyteller and strategist dedicated to making brands more human, more accessible, and more meaningfully connected to the people they serve. With six years of integrated communications experience spanning higher education, lifestyle, and brand partnerships, she blends brand storytelling and creative strategy to craft narratives that resonate long after the first impression.
Toni Marie currently leads strategic communications and marketing at Fordham University’s Career Center for Cura Personalis. She was recently recognized as a 2025 American Marketing Association Emerging Marketer in Higher Ed Finalist, invited to Ad Age's inaugural NextGen cohort, and featured by the American Theatre Wing as a copywriter in "The Art of the Show Master Class." Toni Marie is a proud Gator pursuing a Master's in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.
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