The Higher Ed Marketer

Caylor Solutions

The Higher Ed Marketer is centered around marketing professionals in the field of higher education. If you’re looking for real, practical advice on how to level up your marketing game, this is the show for you.   Each episode features conversations with some of the best and brightest marketing minds in higher education, discussing the future of marketing, new technologies, and so much more.   Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. Boldness, Relationships, and the Heart of Fundraising Leadership

    6H AGO

    Boldness, Relationships, and the Heart of Fundraising Leadership

    Terry Munday, former vice president for advancement at Indiana Wesleyan University, brings a candid and experience-driven perspective to the realities of fundraising and advancement leadership. Drawing from more than 35 years in higher education, Terry shares what he learned by sitting knee to knee with donors, navigating early career uncertainty, and building systems that sustained generosity over time. This conversation focuses on the discipline of relationship-building, the leadership habits that matter most in advancement, and why patience, consistency, and trust are essential to long-term fundraising success. 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode How Terry transitioned into advancement leadership without formal fundraising training What decades of donor relationships reveal about trust & timing Why effective fundraising depends more on consistency than charisma Leadership habits that separate sustainable advancement programs How to navigate early-career pressure, uncertainty, and credibility gaps The strategic role of the annual fund in building future major and planned gifts 🎙️ Episode Highlights 02:02 Learning fundraising by doing it and why early discomfort matters 07:34 The discipline of relationship-building and why assumptions derail trust 10:17 What donor behavior teaches leaders about patience and stewardship 15:27 Why successful fundraising careers are built over decades, not cycles 27:37 Managing ego, rejection, and momentum in early fundraising years 32:15 How the annual fund supports institutional flexibility and growth 36:53 Turning routine donor outreach into long-term institutional impact The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    47 min
  2. Bart Caylor’s New Book For All Higher Ed Leaders: Know What You Don’t Know

    FEB 3

    Bart Caylor’s New Book For All Higher Ed Leaders: Know What You Don’t Know

    Recorded live at the CCCU International Forum 2026 In this special episode, Zach Coffin sits down with Bart Caylor to dive into the heart of Bart’s brand-new book, Know What You Don't Know. They discuss why marketing literacy is no longer optional for the C-suite and how leaders can stop outsourcing judgment and start leading with curiosity. From the cautionary tale of a $1,200 keyword to reframing AI as "institutional electricity," Bart provides a wake-up call for leaders navigating the enrollment cliff and a rapidly shifting landscape. Order Your Copy: Get the insights you need to lead with confidence. Purchase Know What You Don't Know on Amazon here:http://knowwhatyoudont.com/ 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode Closing the literacy gap between leadership and marketing teams. Strategic AI adoption that accelerates human judgment rather than replacing it. Courageous decision-making rooted in data rather than tradition or ego. Optimizing the enrollment funnel to move beyond "static" recruitment tools The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    31 min
  3. The State of Christian Admissions and the Future of Enrollment Leadership

    JAN 27

    The State of Christian Admissions and the Future of Enrollment Leadership

    Big News: Bart’s new book “Know What You Don’t Know: What Every Higher Ed Leaders Needs to Understand About Marketing” releases Jan 30th.  On today’s episode we are joined by Keith Ramsdell, the new president of the North American Coalition for Christian Admission Professionals (NACCAP).  From mounting pressure and constant change to the growing importance of mission clarity and storytelling, Keith shares what he’s hearing from campuses across the country and what he believes will matter most in the years ahead. This episode explores how colleges can navigate uncertainty, support their teams well, and stay rooted in purpose while adapting to a rapidly shifting enrollment landscape. 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode The current state of admissions and why the pressure feels different now Why mission clarity is outperforming mission dilution at Christian institutions What admissions teams are carrying emotionally, spiritually and professionally How graduate and adult enrollment is reshaping admissions structures The evolving role of NACCAP in supporting enrollment leaders. 🎙️ Episode Highlights 02:24 - A new level of pressure in admissions and why this season feels different 05:18 - Why leaning into mission is outperforming trying to be everything to everyone 09:02 - The emotional and spiritual weight admissions teams are carrying right now 11:45 - Why real student stories matter more than buildings, amenities, and facts 16:29 - How graduate and adult enrollment is reshaping admissions leadership 22:51 - Building trust with faculty and turning silos into partnerships 24:39 - What NACCAP is becoming and how it plans to serve leaders better 32:48 - The skills and mindsets admissions leaders need for what’s next The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    42 min
  4. Your Digital Front Door, Aligning Website Redesign With Strategy

    JAN 20

    Your Digital Front Door, Aligning Website Redesign With Strategy

    Your website is not just a marketing asset, it is the front door to your institution. In this Season 8 premiere, Meaghan Milliorn shares how the University of Arkansas at Little Rock approached a massive website redesign with strategy, accessibility, and governance at the center. From reducing thousands of pages to aligning the site with institutional goals, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for higher ed marketers navigating complex digital ecosystems. 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode Why your website is the most important marketing tool in higher education. How to align website redesigns with institutional strategic plans Managing content chaos across thousands of pages Building accessibility and governance into web strategy Measuring post-launch success beyond aesthetics 🎙️ Episode Highlights 02:13 – When the website stops working and the redesign becomes unavoidable 04:01 – The website as the digital front door with prospective students 06:49 – Letting institutional strategy, not trends, shape the redesign 10:04 – Convincing campus that this change actually matters 17:54 – Facing content chaos and deciding what truly belongs 21:12 – Building rules that protect the site after launch 25:29 – Proving the redesign worked through real student behavior 31:45 –Starting small when a full redesign feels out of reach The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    39 min
  5. Rethinking Higher Ed Marketing Teams

    12/16/2025

    Rethinking Higher Ed Marketing Teams

    A nimble, strategy-driven marketing team is no longer a luxury in higher ed, it is a necessity. Dave Gladson shares how Point Loma Nazarene University transformed from a fragmented, decentralized model into a unified marketing structure that has dramatically increased enrollment impact, strengthened team culture, and empowered staff to work with greater autonomy. From shifting budget structures to adopting hybrid work and embracing generative AI, Dave reveals how institutions can build systems that scale and teams that thrive. 🎧 Join us as we discuss: How Point Loma moved from decentralized chaos to a centralized, strategic marketing model Why restructuring budgets unlocked a 3.5x increase in enrollment conversion The realities and rewards of hybrid work in higher ed Practical ways teams can experiment with AI to accelerate creativity and efficiency How to build a culture that embraces autonomy, trust, and continuous improvement 🎙️ Inside the Episode 01:31 - What pushed Point Loma to centralize marketing 04:18 - How structural and budget changes reshaped the team 10:18 - Navigating misconceptions about centralized marketing 10:48 - Building a hybrid culture that actually works 19:21 - Why AI excites Dave and how it boosts creativity and efficiency 25:42 - Top advice for leaders restructuring marketing teams The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    34 min
  6. What’s Coming in 2026: Bart’s Higher Ed Marketing Predictions (It’s not all AI)

    12/09/2025

    What’s Coming in 2026: Bart’s Higher Ed Marketing Predictions (It’s not all AI)

    Higher education is heading into one of the most pivotal seasons in decades, and the signals for 2026 are already here. In this special conversation, Bart Caylor steps into the guest seat as Troy Singer and Zach Coffin (VP, The Higher Ed Marketer) guide a candid, energetic deep dive into the headwinds reshaping higher ed. From cultural shifts and AI acceleration to leadership courage and marketing agility, this episode opens the door to the real conversations happening behind the scenes in campus strategy rooms. 🎧 Join us as we discuss: The cultural and enrollment shifts accelerating change on campuses The Trades Cliff How AI can serve as a strategic tool rather than a novelty The rise of curiosity content, peer to peer influence, and authenticity Why generalists will define the next generation of marketing teams 🎙️ Inside the Episode 03:02 - What the strongest and weakest campuses are revealing about 2026 05:02 - Why friction, tradition, and fear create slow change in higher ed 11:23 - Three cultural and marketing trends shaping the 2026 landscape 15:32 - Why peer to peer storytelling and authenticity now outperform polished marketing 17:33 - The rise of the marketing generalist and what teams must look like moving forward 21:27 - Data informed vs. data driven, and why over analysis is costing schools momentum 23:41 - How trust, consistency, and lived brand experience fuel long term enrollment health 26:19 - The biggest underutilized opportunity in AI for 2026 The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs.  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for The Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player. The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    39 min
5
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

The Higher Ed Marketer is centered around marketing professionals in the field of higher education. If you’re looking for real, practical advice on how to level up your marketing game, this is the show for you.   Each episode features conversations with some of the best and brightest marketing minds in higher education, discussing the future of marketing, new technologies, and so much more.   Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.