Podcast

Higher Ed Pulse

Higher Ed Pulse is your weekly no-fluff guide to AI in higher ed. Higher ed leaders are expected to master AI overnight. But let’s be real — no one has time to sift through every headline, hot take, or research report. That’s why every Monday, we break down what actually matters — fast, clear, and to the point. Want to sound like the smartest person in the room? You’re in the right place.

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Latest episode

Pulse Check: The Alignment Gap (Beyond the Org Chart) — Pt 1

Latest episode

October 29, 2026

Pulse Check: The Alignment Gap (Beyond the Org Chart) — Pt 1

Welcome to the debut episode of this new Pulse Check series, The Alignment Gap: Beyond The Org Chart. Host Jenny Petty is joined by Dr. Marcus Collins, Michigan Ross professor and author of For the Culture and the upcoming Good Soil.

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September 17, 2026

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Part 4

Host Michele Ehrhart welcomes Jason Cook, Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at Baylor University, to discuss how a college degree represents far more than a certificate—it encompasses personal, spiritual, and character growth, alongside critical thinking and leadership.

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September 14, 2026

Episode 134: Should Colleges Be on Snapchat?

Mallory sits down with Erik Toedt, Education Lead at Snapchat, to discuss how higher education institutions can effectively reach 13- to 18-year-olds amidst tightening platform ad restrictions.

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September 10, 2026

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Part 3

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check Series, host Michele Ehrhart is joined by Tom Addonoizio, Vice President for University Communications & Chief Marketing Officer, to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence in academia and the workforce. They discuss how AI acts as a productivity tool rather than a job replacement, highlighting the growing importance of human success skills like adaptability, collaboration, and critical interpretation.

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September 3, 2026

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Part 2

In Part 2 of this Pulse Check series, Michele Ehrhart talks with Merianne Roth, Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Communication at Texas Christian University, to explore why a college education offers value far beyond financial ROI, highlighting the development of essential "success skills" like leadership, critical thinking, and identity formation.

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August 31, 2026

Episode 133: How to Make the Case for Your Best Idea

Mallory is joined by Natalie Gleason, VP of Marketing at Portico, to discuss the critical skill of building internal advocacy for new ideas.

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August 31, 2026

Episode 132: What Comes After CMO?

Mallory is joined by Rob Zinkan, founder of Navigate Gray, to discuss the career trajectories of higher education chief marketing officers.

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August 27, 2026

Pulse Check: The Value of Higher Ed: Spoiler Alert, It's More than ROI — Part 1

In the debut episode of this new Pulse Check Series hosted by Michele Ehrhart, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the University of Memphis, we are joined by Dave Martel from the University of Virginia to discuss the true impact of college.

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August 24, 2026

Episode 131: How AI Decides Which University Has the Best Alumni Network

Kim Infanti, Executive Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Syracuse University, joins Mallory to discuss launching Ask Orange Alumni, an AI-powered platform that connects students with alumni mentors while keeping human relationships central, and explore how AI tools frequently pull alumni network information from public sites like Reddit instead of institutional websites.

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August 17, 2026

Episode 130: Video Without a Plan Is Wasted Money

Mallory welcomes Phil DiMartino and Marisa Uluski from 5 Tool Productions to explore how higher education institutions can transform video from a simple production line item into an effective marketing strategy

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August 13, 2026

Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Part 4

In this final episode of our pulse check series, Understanding the Modern Student Journey, Faton Sopa talks with Mark Hatton, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Webster Geneva Campus, to discuss the evolving landscape of international student recruitment and how digital platforms and AI are shifting how students research colleges.

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August 10, 2026

Episode 129: Is Higher Ed Deploying AI Backwards?

Mallory, Amy Still (ZeeMee), and Paul Garner (Western Carolina) unpack survey data from 12,000+ students showing they embrace AI for research and reminders but overwhelmingly want human guidance for high-stakes decisions, especially the final college choice.

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August 6, 2026

Pulse Check: Understanding The Modern Student Journey — Part 3

In Part 3 of this Pulse Check series, host Faton Sopa sits down with Stephanie Geyer, associate vice president for marketing and brand strategy at the University of Montana, to explore the evolving student journey.

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