Education Marketing Leader with Chris Rapozo

Chris Rapozo
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Marketing
  • Weekly

🎙️ Welcome to The Education Marketing Leader Podcast Hosted by Chris Rapozo, this podcast delivers actionable insights and proven strategies specifically for higher ed marketers. Each episode explores the challenges and opportunities in education marketing, providing you with tools to refine your campaigns, elevate your institution’s brand, and engage your audiences effectively. Learn how to create impactful content strategies, leverage personalization, optimize social media, and tackle challenges unique to higher education marketing. This podcast is designed to help you stay competitive and drive measurable results. 👉 Subscribe now to gain practical strategies and fresh ideas tailored to higher ed marketing. Apple podcasts Spotify YouTube Have insights to share? 👉 Contact us to be a guest. Get the insights you need to grow your impact as a higher ed marketer!

  1. 8h ago

    From 300 to 30,000: How to Win at Higher Ed Social Media | Tony Sheridan

    What does it take to build a university social media presence that actually captures students' attention? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader Podcast, host Chris Rapozo welcomes Tony Sheridan, Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Newgrange Strategy, to explore how higher education institutions can create engaging social media content, spot emerging platforms, and build authentic connections with prospective students. During his 16 years in higher education marketing and communications, Tony helped transform the University of Limerick's social media presence, growing Snapchat from 300 to 30,000 connections in a single semester and TikTok from zero to 19,500 followers in one semester. His team's work earned national recognition in Ireland for Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, competing against brands across industries. But Tony's biggest lesson isn't about going viral. It's about understanding your audience, creating content that belongs on each platform, and building a repeatable process for finding inspiration. In this episode, we discuss: How the University of Limerick grew Snapchat from 300 to 30,000 connectionsThe TikTok strategy that generated videos with 250,000 and 2 million viewsWhy repurposing content across platforms doesn't always workHow to identify emerging social media platforms before competitorsBuilding a student ambassador program that creates authentic contentWhy unsuccessful posts can teach you more than viral successesTony's "Art of Inspiration" framework for creating original contentMoving beyond institutional accounts to build a trusted network of campus voicesWhy creative judgment and taste matter even more in the age of AITony also explains why higher education marketers should stop looking exclusively at competing universities for inspiration and start studying what makes content successful across industries. Whether you're managing university social media, leading a marketing team, or looking for fresh ways to connect with prospective students, this episode offers practical strategies you can apply immediately. Listen to The Education Marketing Leader Podcast for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education marketing.

    From 300 to 30,000: How to Win at Higher Ed Social Media | Tony Sheridan

  2. Oct 29

    Rethinking Enrollment, Retention, and the Student Experience | Dr. William Deitrick

    What if improving enrollment starts with taking better care of the students you already have? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, host Chris Rapozo sits down with Dr. William "Bill" Deitrick, VP for Enrollment Management and Interim VP for Student Development and Organization at Pfeiffer University, to explore how colleges can rethink enrollment, retention, and the student experience in a rapidly changing higher education landscape. After transitioning from the University of Maryland to a small private institution, Bill found himself overseeing both enrollment management and student development. That experience gave him a unique perspective on the entire student journey, from initial inquiry through graduation. Bill shares why institutions must become more agile, demonstrate the return on investment of a college education, and create meaningful connections that keep students engaged long after they enroll. Topics include: Why enrollment and retention must be part of the same strategyCreating a student-first culture by removing friction pointsPreparing institutions for the next three to five yearsHow small private colleges can compete through career outcomes and ROIWhy colleges increasingly need to re-recruit their current studentsBreaking down silos between admissions and student developmentBalancing social media trends with institutional messagingLeadership lessons from navigating change at a small private universityWhether you're an enrollment leader, higher education marketer, or student affairs professional, this conversation offers practical insights into building an institution that attracts students, supports their success, and gives them reasons to stay. Learn more about Pfeiffer University: https://www.pfeiffer.edu/

    Rethinking Enrollment, Retention, and the Student Experience | Dr. William Deitrick

  3. Oct 22

    Why Every College Needs a Podcast | Kelly Peiffer, Manor College

    What if one of your most valuable higher education marketing tools was a microphone and a conversation? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, host Chris Rapozo sits down with Kelly Peiffer, VP of Marketing Communications at Manor College and host of The Nest Podcast, to explore how podcasting can strengthen alumni relationships, support student recruitment, and bring authentic storytelling into higher education marketing. Kelly shares how a simple series of Zoom interviews with alumni evolved into an award-winning podcast that helps prospective students see what's possible after graduation. They discuss why meaningful alumni stories matter more than impressive job titles, how colleges can turn a single podcast episode into multiple marketing assets, and why success shouldn't be measured by downloads alone. Topics include: Why every college should consider launching an alumni podcastHow to get started without expensive equipment or a large production teamUsing authentic alumni stories to build trust with prospective studentsRepurposing podcast episodes into short-form videos and recruitment contentStrengthening alumni engagement and long-term institutional relationshipsWhy podcast downloads aren't the only measure of successPractical advice for building momentum in your first yearWhether you're a higher education marketer, enrollment leader, or alumni relations professional, this conversation offers a practical look at how podcasting can create lasting value for your institution. Connect with Kelly Peiffer on LinkedIn. Explore The Nest Podcast.

    Why Every College Needs a Podcast | Kelly Peiffer, Manor College

  4. Oct 15

    Gamification in Higher Ed: Engaging the Next Generation of Students with Eric Menna

    Today's students expect interactive, personalized digital experiences. Is higher education keeping up? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, Chris Rapozo sits down with Eric Menna, Co-Founder of Loper, to explore how gamification is reshaping college recruitment and student engagement. Eric shares how colleges and universities can use interactive quizzes, rewards, and personalized experiences to better understand prospective students, strengthen enrollment marketing, and improve conversion rates. They also discuss how gamification helps institutions gather valuable student insights, personalize communications, and create more meaningful connections throughout the enrollment journey. Topics include: Why traditional enrollment marketing struggles to engage today's studentsHow gamification goes beyond games and rewardsUsing interactive content to uncover student interests and preferencesMeasuring engagement, conversions, and enrollment outcomesCommon gamification mistakes institutions should avoidPractical ways to get started without a large budgetDiscover how making the college search more interactive can help institutions connect with students and help students find the right fit.

    Gamification in Higher Ed: Engaging the Next Generation of Students with Eric Menna

  5. Oct 8

    The Power of Pressure - Leadership, Resilience & Burnout with Dane Jensen

    How can leaders turn pressure into an advantage instead of letting it lead to burnout? In this special episode of the Education Marketing Leader Podcast, host Chris Rapozo welcomes Dane Jensen, leadership expert and author of The Power of Pressure, for the September Education Marketing Leader Book Club. Joined by higher education marketing professionals, Dane shares practical strategies for navigating high-stakes situations, building resilient teams, and maintaining performance under pressure. Topics include: Managing stress through breathing and self-talkCelebrating small wins to sustain motivationBuilding resilient teams during challenging timesPreparing for difficult conversations and decisionsBalancing individual needs with team performancePrioritizing sleep, recovery, and well-beingWhether you're navigating enrollment pressures, organizational change, or everyday leadership challenges, this conversation offers practical tools to help you lead with greater confidence and resilience. Next Book Club: November 18, featuring Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World by Mark Schaefer. Subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader Podcast for more conversations on leadership, marketing, and professional growth in higher education.

    The Power of Pressure - Leadership, Resilience & Burnout with Dane Jensen

  6. Sep 23

    Beyond the Recruitment Funnel: Are We Delivering the Belonging We Market? | Dr. Andre Richburg

    Higher education marketers talk constantly about belonging, community, and inclusion. But what happens when students arrive on campus and the experience doesn’t match the promise? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, Chris Rapozo sits down with Dr. Andre Richburg, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment at Methodist University, to explore what it means to move beyond recruitment and create an institution where students actually feel supported, connected, and positioned to succeed. Drawing from more than 20 years in higher education and his doctoral research on Black male students transferring from community colleges to predominantly white four-year institutions, Dr. Richburg shares what institutions often overlook in the transfer experience. Chris and Dr. Richburg discuss the difference between marketing belonging and delivering it, why retention should be part of enrollment strategy from the beginning, and how representation among faculty, staff, and institutional leaders can influence a student’s sense of connection. They also explore the experiences of students navigating culture shock, microaggressions, code-switching, and the challenge of finding community after transferring to a new institution. In this episode: • Why transfer students need a different approach to onboarding and financial support • What Dr. Richburg learned from Black male transfer students through his doctoral research • Why representation among faculty, staff, and leadership matters • How colleges can communicate support and community before a student ever enrolls • The role of code-switching and microaggressions in the student experience • Why retention belongs in strategic enrollment management from day one • How students can recognize the difference between authentic belonging and marketing “window dressing” • What four-year institutions can learn from community colleges about making students feel seen and supported For enrollment and marketing leaders, the challenge is bigger than getting students through the recruitment funnel. The experience students encounter after enrolling has to live up to what they were promised before they arrived. Listen today.

    Beyond the Recruitment Funnel: Are We Delivering the Belonging We Market? | Dr. Andre Richburg

  7. Sep 10

    How UF Expands Into New Markets | Jeff Holeman on Brand, Awareness & Enrollment

    What does it take to successfully bring a university brand into a new market? In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, Chris Rapozo sits down with Jeff Holeman, Chief Marketing Officer at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, to explore how UF approached its expansion into Jacksonville and Miami. While the University of Florida already has tremendous brand recognition, Jeff explains why awareness alone isn’t enough. Universities still have to build local relevance, understand the competitive landscape, earn trust, and connect their programs to what students and employers in each market actually need. Chris and Jeff discuss: • How to evaluate a new market before launching • Finding “white space” in competitive higher education markets • Why Jacksonville and Miami required different marketing strategies • The relationship between brand awareness and enrollment performance • Why brand marketing and enrollment marketing shouldn’t operate separately • How to measure the signals that happen before an inquiry or application • The changing student journey and whether the traditional enrollment funnel still exists • LinkedIn’s role in graduate business school marketing • Removing friction from the graduate enrollment experience • The challenges of marketing within a nationally recognized university brand • What institutions should do before expanding into a new city or region One of Jeff’s central arguments: awareness and performance aren’t competing priorities. Brand interactions help create the conditions that eventually lead prospective students to inquire, apply, deposit, and enroll. And for institutions considering expansion, Jeff offers a simple starting point: “Don’t start with the campus. Start with the market.” ABOUT THE EDUCATION MARKETING LEADER The Education Marketing Leader features conversations with marketing and enrollment leaders about the strategies, ideas, and challenges shaping education marketing today. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders across higher education marketing, enrollment, branding, digital strategy, and communications. #HigherEducation #HigherEdMarketing #EnrollmentMarketing #MarketingStrategy #UniversityMarketing #EducationMarketing

    How UF Expands Into New Markets | Jeff Holeman on Brand, Awareness & Enrollment

  8. Aug 27

    Leading With Joy During Higher-Ed's Tough Seasons | Donald Egle, Ph.D.

    What does it mean to lead with joy when the circumstances around you are anything but joyful? In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader, Chris Rapozo sits down with Donald Egle, Ph.D., Founder & Managing Director of The Kyer Group, to explore the research behind joyful leadership and what it means for leaders navigating uncertainty, pressure, and change in higher education. Drawing from his doctoral research, Joyful Leadership Amidst Tragedy and Triumph, Don explains why joy and happiness are fundamentally different. Happiness often depends on circumstances. Joy can become a consistent way of living and leading, even when the work is difficult. Chris and Don discuss what joyful leadership looks like when enrollment pressures are mounting, teams are stretched, and institutions are facing decisions without easy answers. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why leadership can be viewed as a privilege and a joy - The difference between joy and happiness - Why choosing joy before adversity hits matters - How higher ed leaders can respond to the enrollment cliff with - The role faith has played in Don's approach to joyful leadership One of Don's central challenges to higher education leaders is to recognize the privilege of being in a position where you can contribute to the solution. Hard seasons will come. Your choices will be tested. But leaders who consistently show up with purpose, courage, authenticity, and joy can give their teams and institutions a better chance to thrive. About Donald Egle, Ph.D. Donald Egle is the Founder & Managing Director of The Kyer Group. After more than two decades working with leaders and nationally recognized universities, Don now helps leaders and organizations create the conditions to win by addressing gaps between vision, strategy, execution, and culture. Connect with Don and learn more about The Kyer Group through the links in the episode description. https://thekyergroup.com/

    Leading With Joy During Higher-Ed's Tough Seasons | Donald Egle, Ph.D.
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🎙️ Welcome to The Education Marketing Leader Podcast Hosted by Chris Rapozo, this podcast delivers actionable insights and proven strategies specifically for higher ed marketers. Each episode explores the challenges and opportunities in education marketing, providing you with tools to refine your campaigns, elevate your institution’s brand, and engage your audiences effectively. Learn how to create impactful content strategies, leverage personalization, optimize social media, and tackle challenges unique to higher education marketing. This podcast is designed to help you stay competitive and drive measurable results. 👉 Subscribe now to gain practical strategies and fresh ideas tailored to higher ed marketing. Apple podcasts Spotify YouTube Have insights to share? 👉 Contact us to be a guest. Get the insights you need to grow your impact as a higher ed marketer!

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