Explore every episode of the podcast Signals in Higher Ed

Experiential learning is surging in relevance. Employers are finding it harder than ever to evaluate early-career talent, while students are graduating into a labor market where more than half—about 52%—end up in roles that don’t require their degree. That disconnect is prompting colleges to reimagine how they equip students for meaningful career entry. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of project-based gig platforms is redefining what it means to gain, showcase, and assess real-world skills. Together, these shifts surface a critical question: how do we build a more seamless and equitable bridge from the classroom to the workplace?

So here’s the big question at the heart of this conversation: Can low-stakes, project-based “job dating” help students build skills, help employers reduce hiring risk, and help colleges strengthen student success—all at once?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Jeffrey Moss, founder and CEO of Parker Dewey, the pioneer of micro internships. Together, they trace the origins of the “job dating” model, explore how micro internships serve students, employers, and colleges simultaneously, and unpack why this low-lift approach to experiential learning is gaining momentum across the country.

Top insights…

• Micro internships reduce hiring risk for employers by offering short, skill-based projects that reveal durable skills—communication, problem-solving, attention to detail—often more accurately than resumes or GPAs.

• Students tap into real-world experience earlier and more equitably, using micro internships as catalysts for career exploration, confidence-building, and meaningful engagement with institutional resources.

• Institutions gain real-time, actionable data that strengthens student support, employer engagement, alumni relations, and even recruitment and retention strategies.

Jeffrey Moss is the founder and CEO of Parker Dewey, where he leads innovation in experiential recruiting and skills-based hiring through the creation of the micro-internship model. He brings extensive experience from senior roles in education-focused organizations like ETS and SESI, along with a successful career in venture capital investing in technology-enabled education, software, and business services companies. Moss also serves on multiple advisory boards in higher education and has a long history of supporting organizations that improve educational access and outcomes.

The debate around the return on investment (ROI) of a four-year degree has reached a fever pitch. As tuition costs rise and employers question the value of traditional credentials, higher education leaders are rethinking how to make college more career-relevant. Experiential learning—work-based and project-based education embedded within curricula—is emerging as one of the most promising answers. Yet scaling it to serve millions of students has remained a challenge.

So, how can universities offer every student meaningful, career-tethered learning experiences that drive both employment outcomes and persistence toward graduation?

Signals in Higher Ed host Darin Francis welcomes Christopher Parrish, Co-Founder and President of Podium Education, for a deep dive into how Podium is transforming experiential learning into a scalable model for universities. Together, they discuss the evolution of Podium’s model, the growing institutional momentum behind high-impact practices, and how partnerships with global employers are shaping a new generation of student experiences.

Key takeaways from the conversation…

• Bridging the College-to-Career Competency Gap: Parrish explains that Podium was founded in 2019 to close the gap between academic learning and workplace readiness—by productizing career-connected experiences that fit inside undergraduate programs for credit.

• High-Impact Practices at Scale: Podium’s immersive, video-driven projects and live labs connect students to global brands like L’Oréal, Intel, and Charity Water, offering authentic exposure to the workplace regardless of geography or background.

• Retention, Equity, and Early Impact: Institutions are finding that embedding experiential learning as early as the first year improves student engagement and persistence—helping close equity gaps for first-generation and underserved learners.

Christopher Parrish is the Co-Founder and President of Podium Education, where he leads the development of scalable experiential learning programs that enhance undergraduate education and workforce readiness. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at 2U, overseeing university partnerships, program strategy, and growth initiatives in online higher education. With a background in management consulting and strategic operations, Parrish brings deep expertise in academic innovation, partnership development, and building high-performing teams in the education technology sector.

High schoolers are overwhelmed — and not just by homework. The path to college can feel like a maze of forms, essays, and deadlines, with little guidance on where to begin. A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters of students describe the college application process as “difficult.” For many, that difficulty isn’t academic; it’s emotional. It’s about confidence, motivation, and finding a sense of belonging before they even set foot on campus.

So, can making college exploration fun actually improve readiness and enrollment outcomes?

That’s the question explored in the latest episode of Signals in Higher Ed, where host Darin Francis talks with Eric Menna, Co-Founder of Loper — a gamified college readiness app now engaging more than 300,000 high school students nationwide. Francis and Menna discuss how Loper is reshaping the recruitment experience by blending discovery, data, and design into an engaging, student-first journey.

What you’ll learn…

• Reimagining Student Engagement: How Loper’s “Duolingo for college readiness” approach turns exploration into a gamified journey that builds confidence and curiosity early in high school.

• Data That Drives Enrollment: Institutions gain valuable insights from student behavior and sentiment, helping them target the right students — not just more students.

• AI and the Future of Enrollment: How Loper leverages artificial intelligence to personalize experiences while keeping human connection at the heart of student discovery.

Eric Menna is the Co-Founder of Loper, a gamified college readiness platform helping high school students explore and prepare for higher education. Before launching Loper, he worked in management consulting at Bain & Company and in product strategy at IBM, specializing in market growth and digital engagement. A graduate of Georgetown University, Menna also serves on the Associate Board of The People’s Music School, supporting equitable access to arts education in Chicago.

Non-traditional students—adult learners, student parents, veterans, and first-generation college-goers—are carrying heavier burdens than ever. Upswing’s 2024 Ana Insights Report found that nearly nine in ten students intended to complete a FAFSA application, while many also sought help with essentials like food, housing, and bill payments. Perhaps most concerning, students expressed declining confidence in higher education’s promise of upward mobility, reflecting mounting doubts about whether the investment is truly worth it.

How can colleges and universities adapt their support models to meet these urgent student needs—while sustaining retention and completion rates in uncertain times?

On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis, CEO & Managing Partner at Harbinger Lane Consulting, sits down with Laurie Koehler, Principal and Founder of Koehler Consulting, and Melvin Hines, CEO & Co-Founder of Upswing Retention. Together, they explore the findings of Upswing’s latest Ana Insights Report and examine how institutions can deliver holistic, student-centered support that goes beyond the classroom.

The main topics of conversation…

• Financial Stability as a Fulcrum: Nearly 50% of students flagged financial aid as their top concern, underscoring the need for institutions to think creatively about scholarships, work-study, and community-based resources.

• Early Intervention & Mental Health: Data show students thrive when institutions act proactively. Examples like North Carolina A&T highlight how early alerts and 24/7 teletherapy can prevent attrition and support mental well-being.

• Breaking Down Silos: From career services integration to campus resource referrals, holistic student support requires dismantling institutional barriers and rethinking how colleges connect students to both internal and external resources.

Laurie Koehler is a seasoned higher education leader and consultant specializing in enrollment management, student success, and institutional strategy. She has held senior executive roles at Ithaca College, George Washington University, Bryn Mawr College, and others, where she oversaw admissions, financial aid, retention initiatives, and marketing, and led the creation of award-winning brand and student success strategies. Through Koehler Consulting, she now advises institutions nationwide on enrollment strategy, leadership development, and organizational change, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Melvin Hines is the CEO and Co-Founder of Upswing, a student engagement and retention platform that supports hundreds of thousands of nontraditional students nationwide. With over a decade of experience leading Upswing, he has become a recognized advocate for student success, leveraging technology to address challenges in access, persistence, and holistic support in higher education. His earlier career spans roles in research, strategy consulting, and legal education, equipping him with a diverse background that informs his innovative approach to educational equity and retention.

Artificial intelligence has become the buzzword of the moment in higher education, but for many enrollment teams, it often feels like just another layer of complexity on top of an already demanding job. Budgets are tight, teams are stretched thin, and the pressure to recruit and retain students has never been greater. What leaders are really asking now is whether AI can move past the hype and actually help them do what matters most—build real, human connections with students. After all, research shows that a student’s sense of belonging is one of the strongest predictors of retention, yet most tools on the market still prioritize mining data over nurturing relationships.

Can AI actually help enrollment teams create meaningful human connections, rather than simply adding to technology fatigue?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Tim Brandt and Lungile Tshuma, co-founders of Kai, to explore how their solution is reframing the role of AI in higher education. Together, they unpack how Kai Nurture is designed to give enrollment leaders more time back, amplify human voices rather than replace them, and build belonging as the foundation for lifelong learning.

The main topics of discussion…

Kai as a relationship-nurturing system: Rather than functioning as another CRM, Kai Nurture integrates with existing systems to surface only the most actionable insights, allowing recruiters and counselors to focus on authentic engagement.

Efficiency with humanity: Enrollment leaders and frontline recruiters benefit from a tool that clears away data “noise” and prioritizes proactive student engagement, ultimately strengthening yield and retention.

AI that amplifies, not replaces: The founders believe that higher ed should adopt AI to support human connection, not substitute for it—using technology that “disappears” into the background while enabling better relationships.

Tim Brandt is the Co-Founder of Kai, where he focuses on transforming the higher education enrollment experience through technology that fosters student belonging. He previously served in corporate strategy and innovation roles at Cognizant, bringing expertise in strategic growth, consulting, and cross-industry problem solving. With a background in biomedical engineering and experience in medical device research and entrepreneurship, he combines technical depth with business acumen to build impactful solutions in education.

Lungile Tshuma is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kai, where he is leading efforts to transform higher education by reimagining the enrollment experience and fostering student belonging from day one. He brings experience as a Senior Consultant at World Wide Technology and as a business development advisor in Africa-focused investment strategy, combining expertise in growth, consulting, and technology. A former international rugby player for Zimbabwe, he has also worked in leadership training and culture development, giving him a unique background in both team-building and organizational transformation.

With enrollment numbers slipping and student expectations shifting, colleges are under more pressure than ever to create real, lasting connections that make students feel part of a community. Research shows that institutions lose up to 10–40% of admitted students to “summer melt” each year, a challenge that directly impacts revenue and retention. At the same time, today’s students increasingly view platforms like Instagram and TikTok as search engines—turning to them for day-in-the-life videos, roommate searches, and social cues about campus culture. As MeetYourClass heads to the NACAC Conference 2025, its leaders highlight how its social-first model offers institutions new ways to bridge these gaps and strengthen student belonging.

How can enrollment leaders engage students on the platforms they turn to every day, while also improving outcomes for their institutions?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Jonah Liss and Blake Mischley, Co-Founders of MeetYourClass, the social-first enrollment platform that helps institutions reduce melt, increase yield, and strengthen student belonging before day one. Together, they explore the company’s origin story, early partnerships, and how social media data can be leveraged as a powerful new enrollment tool.

Highlights from the conversation…

• From Instagram groups to enterprise solution: How MeetYourClass grew from grassroots student-led efforts into a platform now used by 23 universities in just 14 months.

• Data-driven enrollment insights: Why student engagement on social platforms provides some of the most accurate early indicators of intent, melt risk, and long-term community connection.

• The future of student success: How MeetYourClass is testing not just enrollment and yield outcomes, but also long-term retention—proving that early social connection boosts persistence.

Jonah Liss is the COO and Co-Founder of MeetYourClass, a social-first enrollment platform that partners with universities to boost yield and reduce summer melt by connecting prospective students through peer communities on popular apps. Under his leadership, the company has grown to serve over 600,000 students across 1,000+ universities, with official partnerships at institutions including St. John’s, Dayton, and Missouri S&T. Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30, Liss brings experience in entrepreneurship, data-driven enrollment strategies, and prior roles in investment banking and business development.

Blake Mischley is the CEO and Co-Founder of MeetYourClass, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree recognized for transforming how universities engage Gen Z through social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. Under his leadership, MeetYourClass has partnered with major institutions and earned backing from Techstars and J.P. Morgan. He is also an active leader in the Future of Higher Ed community, advancing innovation across admissions, enrollment, and student success.

As higher education faces declining public trust and heightened financial pressure, colleges are being pushed to rethink how they manage enrollment and financial aid. Data analytics and predictive modeling are emerging as critical tools, with institutions seeking ways to allocate limited aid dollars while still aligning with their missions. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition dependence varies widely across sectors: for-profit institutions rely on student tuition and fees for nearly all of their revenue (93 percent), while the share is closer to one-fifth for private nonprofit colleges (19 percent) and even lower for public institutions (16 percent). This reliance underscores just how vital financial aid strategies are to institutional sustainability, especially for schools with smaller resource bases.

So how can colleges transform financial aid from a “black box” into a transparent, mission-driven process that builds trust with students and families?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In this episode, host Darin Francis, CEO & Managing Partner at Harbinger Lane Consulting, speaks with Scott Cline, Ed.D., consultant at SightLine and veteran enrollment leader. Their conversation spans the challenges of demystifying financial aid, the promise (and pitfalls) of AI, and what smaller colleges can do to thrive in an era of constrained resources.

The duo discuss…

Why financial aid optimization is often misunderstood as opaque, and how institutions can reclaim ownership of their data to build transparency and trust.

The role of AI and predictive analytics in shaping enrollment and aid strategies—and why colleges must understand the technology before they adopt it.

How small institutions, often unable to build in-house data teams, can leverage boutique partnerships like SightLine to integrate analytics without losing sight of mission and values.

Scott Cline, Ed.D., is a senior higher education leader with over 20 years of experience in enrollment management, financial aid, and organizational strategy. He is the Founder & Principal Consultant of SCC Consulting, a consultant with SightLine, and former Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management & Auxiliary Services at California College of the Arts. Known for his expertise in higher ed leadership, policy, and data-informed decision-making, he also works as an advisor, executive coach, and speaker to help institutions navigate challenges and drive measurable impact.

Colleges and universities face mounting challenges in reaching prospective students who never formally identify themselves in the recruitment process—often called “stealth shoppers.” Research shows that at least one in three applicants to private four-year colleges in the U.S. apply as stealth students. For enrollment leaders, this hidden audience—students who research institutions anonymously online before ever filling out a form or inquiry card—presents both a major challenge and a tremendous opportunity.

So, how can institutions uncover and engage stealth students in a way that is both ethical and effective?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In this episode, host Darin Francis, CEO & Managing Partner at Harbinger Lane Consulting, speaks with Joe Petrucci, owner of GHOST Targeted Marketing. Together, they explore how new technologies—ranging from patented tracking to AI-driven modeling—are enabling colleges to identify and communicate with audiences they’ve never reached before.

The conversation delves into…

Precision over volume: Rather than broad regional targeting, GHOST focuses on identifying and marketing to highly specific households, enabling even small-budget institutions to reach stealth prospects.

Measurable ROI: Case studies show dramatic results, including one graduate program that generated $2.5 million in tuition revenue from just $75,000 in marketing spend, a return on ad spend in the 30–40x range.

Privacy safeguards: While leveraging advanced tracking, GHOST maintains strict compliance with data protection laws by never unmasking individual identities, instead reporting activity at the aggregate or zip code level.

Joe Petrucci is the owner of GHOST Targeted Marketing, where he leverages patented tracking technology, advanced modeling, and machine learning to help institutions and organizations identify and engage previously untapped audiences. He brings over two decades of experience in marketing and business development, including co-founding Way Better Marketing, which served dozens of universities nationwide, and Fescue & Dunes, focused on optimizing e-commerce for destination golf courses. With a background spanning higher education, digital marketing, and entrepreneurial ventures, Petrucci has built a career around driving measurable growth and innovation across industries.