Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime Hunt – Details, episodes & analysis

Jaime’s nearly a decade as a higher ed CMO and vice president likely wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t earned a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University in 2011. For more the last 15 years, Jaime has used the program as an example of best practices in action for marketing an online graduate program 

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Chad Mezera, Assistant Dean of Online Programs for the College of Creative Arts and Media at West Virginia University, to talk about the program, how it is marketed, and the future of online learning.

Takeaways for this episode include:

• Insight into how WVU uses an integrated marketing communications approach to marketing an online graduate program.
• Advice on leveraging content marketing to grow interest in the program
• Insight into the ways a master’s degree can help grow your career
• Guidance on leveraging alumni to tell your program’s story

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-mezera-152bab2/

Guest Bio: Chad Mezera is the Assistant Dean of Online Programs for the College of Creative Arts and Media at West Virginia University (WVU). In this role, he oversees all online courses offered by the college and leads the online programs support team.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are some marketers you just don’t want to have to compete with. Grant Heston at Virginia Commonwealth University is one of them. In this wide-ranging episode, Jaime sits down with Grant to talk about AI, collaboration, creativity, brand building, and more. Takeaways from this episode include:

• How to build consensus around the use of AI in marketing and communications
• Ideas around ways to enhance collaboration on your team
• Tips for building team culture with a distributed workforce
• Advice on building a brand that is truly distinctive in the marketing place – and how to leverage AI to help
• How to build an internal brand that leads to greater support and resources for your team

Guest Name: Grant Heston

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantjheston/  

Guest Bio: Grant Heston is vice president for Enterprise Marketing and Communications for Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health. After arriving in 2021, he built the first integrated branding, communications and marketing division that serves both the university and health system. 
Grant previously spent more than 12 years in several roles — including vice president for Communications and Marketing and Chief of Staff to the President — at the University of Central Florida, one of the largest and most diverse research universities in the country.  
Grant has an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. He has written professional and personal stories that have been published by The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, The Chronicle of Higher Education and more.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Bonus announcement, join Mallory, Chief Strategist of Enrollify, as she introduces the newly relaunched Enrollify.org. This episode highlights the fresh features and content now available on the site, emphasizing Enrollify’s commitment to revolutionizing higher education. Learn about the variety of resources—from podcasts to ourses to webinars—that can help professionals make impactful changes in their careers and institutions.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Environmental graphics can play a critical role in not only improving campus aesthetics, but also in building a sense of community and brand on campus. In this episode, Adrienne King, associate vice president for marketing at Indiana University, discusses how IU has leveraged environmental graphics to transform the IU campuses and build pride in their community. 

Takeaways for this episode include:

• Guidance on the process of bringing a graphic concept from concept to completion.
• Insight into solving the challenges of integrating visuals within a university's unique architectural and cultural landscape.
• Ideas for measuring the effectiveness of environmental graphics in terms of student engagement and recruitment.
• Tips for ensuring the sustainability of environmental graphics.
• A glimpse into emerging trends and innovations in environmental graphics that are set to shape the industry.

Whether you're a higher education marketer or just fascinated by the intersection of design and marketing, this episode is packed with valuable advice.

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Adrienne King

Guest LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dradking/

Guest Bio: Dr. Adrienne King joined Indiana University in June 2023 as the new Associate Vice President of Marketing. She leads the university’s marketing strategy in support of the institution’s strategic goals, focusing on delivering a unified, brand experience fueled by research, data, and integrated marketing communications. She has nearly 20 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications, advancement, and alumni and community engagement, having previously served in similar leadership roles at the University of Toledo, Murray State University, Idaho State University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology. She received her doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University, after earning bachelor’s degrees in graphic design and public relations from Marietta College. She also is a graduate of the 2018 Leadership America executive program and a 2021-22 American Council of Education Fellow.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Joey Schmit, Associate VP of Global Marketing & Communications at New York University, pointed out in our insightful conversation, higher ed institutions often prioritize departmental needs over their students.

That realization motivated Joey and his peers at NYU to elevate the student experience through human-centered design, a framework that creates solutions using  an empathic lens.

Joey shares how NYU is mapping the student journey by putting students first and addressing the internal cultural dynamics that impact strategic outcomes. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [4:38] Mapping the student journey through human-centered design
• [18:51] The initial research phase and getting buy-in from stakeholders
• [37:49] Internal dynamics and cultivating empathic storytelling

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• IDEO
• NYU’s 5th Annual Storytelling Summit Recap

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO in your favorite podcast player.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Homecoming. Orientation. Welcome Week. Fall Fest. Family Weekend. Ring Dance. Our students experience so many traditions during their four (or more) years on our campuses, but what makes these events create lasting memories? That’s the question that Jaime poses to Alison Paz, associate director of marketing and communications for Louisiana State’s Division of Student Life. In her position, Alison plays a key role in both creating and marketing these events. 

Takeaways from this episode include:

• Insight into why campus traditions are an important part of the student experience – and tips for how to recapture the enthusiasm that was lost during the pandemic
• Ideas for engaging students in ways that create memories and build nostalgia for their student experience long after graduation
• Tips for engaging students in the process of both creating and marketing campus events
• Guidance on collaborating with other campus partners to build experiences that cut across silos

Guest Name: Alison Paz, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, Louisiana State University Student Life

Guest LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonpaz/

Guest Bio:  Alison Paz is a marketer and communicator with extensive experience handling complex marketing strategies, public relations, large-scale events, new media ventures, publishing, advocacy, non-profits, and community outreach. Her career spans diverse sectors including higher education, entertainment, publishing, business-to-business, retail, and health.
Throughout her career, Alison has demonstrated a keen aptitude for embracing emerging technology to enhance customer experiences and drive organizational success. She started her career in the photo industry, where she launched the industry’s first online magalog and interactive forums. Her ability to merge marketing technology with operations led to the development of Turner Entertainment Group’s first entertainment and commerce portals. As the founding partner of Paz New Media, she served a diverse international client base, including CNN en Español, CNN International, Cartoon Network Latin American, Turner Network Television, National Scientific, Equifax, and numerous Atlanta regional companies. 
Upon relocating to Louisiana, Alison worked with the University of Louisiana System, promoting its economic impact and the value of online degree programs. She has worked extensively with non-profits on community development and volunteer efforts including Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, Alliance for a Livable Lavista, and Girl Scouts Louisiana East. Currently serving as the Associate Director for LSU Campus Life, Alison oversees marketing and communications for some of the university's most prominent traditions.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a 20-year career working in higher education marketing, Jaime is making a big pivot and launching a full-time higher education consulting firm: Solve Higher Ed. 

In this episode, the tables are turned and Jaime is the interviewee. Listen as she shares:

• What prompted her to quit her dream job to launch a consulting firm
• Why she thinks that higher education marketing can save higher education
• What challenges she has faced making this transition
• How her years of experience have prepared her for this big change
• What challenges she sees facing higher education leaders today
• Her advice for higher education marketers given today’s higher ed landscape

Guest Name: Jaime Hunt, President of Solve Higher Ed

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Living with a disability presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it intersects with professional life. In this special and insightful episode, Jaime has an engaging conversation with RJ Thompson, who is the Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health Sciences. RJ shares his personal experiences of working and thriving in a professional setting while living with cystic fibrosis, offering a valuable perspective on this often-overlooked aspect of the workplace.

In this episode, listeners can expect to gain several key takeaways:

• Insights into Navigating a Career with a Disability: RJ opens up about the strategies he uses to manage his work while dealing with cystic fibrosis, providing listeners with real-life examples and practical advice. This segment is particularly enlightening as it delves into how individuals with disabilities can navigate their career paths effectively.
• Ideas for Supporting Colleagues with Disabilities: Jaime and RJ discuss the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and coworkers in creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. This part of the conversation aims to foster greater understanding and empathy, offering tangible ways in which people without disabilities can be allies and supporters in the workplace.
• Leadership Tips for Unseen Disabilities: This episode also sheds light on the challenges faced by leaders in recognizing and accommodating staff members with non-visible disabilities. Listeners will learn how to create an inclusive culture that respects privacy while offering the necessary support.
• Remote Work as an Equity Issue: The conversation also explores how remote work arrangements can play a crucial role in promoting equity in the workplace. We delve into the benefits and challenges of remote work, especially for people with disabilities, highlighting how flexible working arrangements can be a game-changer in terms of accessibility and inclusivity.

Guest Name: RJ Thompson, Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health Sciences

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/studentofdesign/

Guest Bio: RJ Thompson, MFA, is an award-winning marketing and graphic design professional. Currently, RJ is the Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health Sciences. He was most recently the Director of Digital Marketing in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh.
Before joining Pitt, he was a tenured Assistant Professor of Graphic + Interactive Design in the Department of Art at Youngstown State University. Previous to Youngstown State, RJ taught at Carnegie Mellon University, La Roche University, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Continuing his career in education, RJ has been an Adjunct Professor of Graphic & Interactive Design at Point Park University since 2019 where he was responsible for writing and teaching the interactive design curriculum. In 2020, he began teaching at the Community College of Allegheny County.
Outside of marketing, design, and teaching, RJ is also the Co-Principal and Creative Strategist for +Public, a Pennsylvania-based social enterprise that focuses on cultivating community and economic development impact through the creation of branded communication platforms, creative place-making, and storytelling initiatives for communities-in-revival.
Throughout his career, RJ has received many accolades for his creative works: In 2015, he was one of several recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant, valued at $100,000, for the INPLACE (“Innovative Plan for Leveraging Arts & Community Engagement”) project. In 2017, RJ received a “Best of Marketing Award” from the Ohio Economic Development Association for his efforts in rebranding the City of Youngstown, Ohio. In 2018, RJ was accepted into the prestigious Cohort 2 of the National Arts Marketing Project, a program supported by Americans for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In 2019, RJ also received a scholarship to join the National Arts Strategies Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy through the School of Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, RJ was honored with the Ohio Governors Award in the Arts in Community Development, the state of Ohio’s highest recognition in the arts sector.
Recently, RJ was the recipient of a certification scholarship from the National Institute for Social Media and received accolades from GDUSA and the University & College Designers Association for "Pitt Business Backstory" and "Business.Pitt.Edu" websites. RJ is presently the President of the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Marketing Association.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This special cross-over episode features clips from Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, Talking Tactics, and The Application with Allison Turcio. These discussions highlight the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education marketing. Through these carefully selected clips from several podcasts within The Enrollify Network, this episode illuminates the multifaceted approach needed to authentically represent and engage a diverse student body.

Key takeaways include:

• The Importance of Diverse Leadership and Marketing: An engaging story from Jaime Hunt and Kevin Tyler reveals the impact of having openly gay and black leaders in higher education. This segment underscores the pivotal role diverse leadership plays in shaping inclusive marketing strategies and fostering an environment where all students feel represented.
• Amplifying Voices through Authentic Stories: Dayana Kibilds and Mikki Collins delve into how the University of Chichester's podcast initiative succeeded in significantly boosting social media engagement by sharing real, unfiltered stories from minority and underrepresented groups. This discussion highlights the power of authentic narratives in enhancing a university's reach and its commitment to DEI.
• Accessibility as a DEI Pillar in Digital Marketing: The conversation between Allison Tucio and Raman Bhalla explores the often-overlooked aspect of DEI - web accessibility. It offers practical insights into how a systematic approach to making digital content accessible can serve as a form of advocacy for inclusivity, demonstrating the crucial role marketers play in ensuring all students have equal access to information.

Listen to the Full Episodes Featured:

Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO - Episode 42: Authentic Allyship: Crafting Campaigns That Support LGBTQIA+ Students Year-Round

Talking Tactics - Episode 17: Walk The Walk On DEI And Amplify Reach With Raw Authentic Stories

The Application - Episode 34: Roadmap To Web Accessibility Success For Higher Ed Marketers

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Attracting the “right” kind of student is one way that institutions can position themselves to thrive amid the approaching enrollment cliff. In this episode, Jaime talks with Bart Caylor, president of Caylor Solutions and author of “Chasing Mission Fit” about just that – and how schools can effectively market and brand themselves to reach those students.

Takeaways for this episode include:

• What it means to find a "mission fit student" and how institutions can effectively identify them
• Tips to make your marketing and branding dollars stretch to the max
• Guidance on how schools with limited dollars can prioritize their spending to make the biggest impact
• Insights into balancing brand awareness with lead generation
• Recommendations for AI solutions that can help marketing offices achieve their goals

Concluding the episode, Jaime and Bart gaze into a crystal ball, predicting future trends and changes in higher education marketing, equipping listeners with the foresight and knowledge to stay ahead.

Guest Name: Bart Caylor, president of Caylor Solutions and author of Chasing Mission Fit

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartcaylor

Guest Bio:  Bart Caylor's passion for education began at Anderson University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with much more than an undergrad degree. As a first-generation college student, Bart experienced firsthand how higher education could alter the course of his life, and his career is a testament to those transformative years at AU. 
Bart founded Caylor Solutions, a higher education marketing and design firm, in 2011 to combine the best practices of his corporate, nonprofit, and education experience, specifically for higher education clients. He serves as a senior fellow for the Association for Biblical Higher Education and is an ordained deacon in the Presbyterian Church of America. Bart has also served as president of the Anderson University Alumni Council, is part of the Teaching Faculty for the NACCAP Leadership Development for Enrollment Professionals (LDEP), and is a contributing writer for Forbes and author of Chasing MIssion Fit, A Marketing Guide to Fill Your Institution with Students Who Will Succeed. 
Bart and his wife live in Indianapolis and are blessed with four adult children. Bart continues to evolve as a marketing expert thanks to the relationships he has developed through Caylor Solutions and The Higher Ed Marketer.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.