Filling Seats: The State of Enrollment Marketing in Higher Ed

On this episode of Filling Seats, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Dr. Curt Merlau to unpack how colleges can transform raw data into meaningful student success. From shifting away from “data overload” to building actionable insights, Dr. Merlau highlights strategies that empower institutions to make smarter decisions, improve student outcomes, and drive measurable enrollment growth.

✅ Guest: Dr. Curt Merlau

✅ How to m...

In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of technology and student success with Mark Barden of CourseKey. Mark shares how real-time data and automation are reshaping the student journey—from classroom engagement to retention strategies. Together, we dig into how Gen Z’s digital expectations are influencing everything from campus communication to academic behavior, and why modern institutions need to rethink their appro...

How do prospective students actually search for colleges online? In this episode of Filling Seats, we explore how students navigate university websites, why many never click on the official .edu page, and how institutions can optimize their digital presence.

Key Topics Covered:

• The role of Google search and brand queries in the college selection process
• Why 8 out of 10 students don’t click on a university’s website first
• The impor...

In this episode of Filling Seats, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues sits down with Paula French, Director at Search Influence, to explore the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing in higher education.

Paula shares expert insights on how AI-driven search, social media, and evolving student behaviors are reshaping digital marketing strategies for colleges and universities. Key topics include:

• T...

In this special 50th episode, Jonathan Cluse, CEO and founder of StudentBridge, is joined by Mark Forehand, a seasoned higher ed professional and longtime StudentBridge partner, for a lively discussion about the evolving role of video in student recruitment.

📹 Why video matters more than ever:

• How short-form videos are influencing Gen Z’s college decisions.
• Strategies to stand out in a content-saturated world.
• The impact of storyt...

In this episode of Filling Seats, we sit down with John Azoni, a seasoned video production expert with over 15 years of experience. John shares key insights from his journey in creating compelling video content for higher education institutions. Together, we explore the analytics behind video engagement, the importance of aligning content with audience intent, and practical tips for producing short-form and long-form videos. Whethe...

In this episode of Filling Seats, we tackle the growing "staff morale crisis" in college admissions offices. What’s driving burnout and dissatisfaction among admissions professionals?

Joining us is Teege Mettille, author of The Admissions Counselor Malaise and Director of Enrollment Success at EnrollML. Drawing on years of campus leadership experience, Teege shares his unique perspective on the root causes of this crisis a...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Carey Dukes, who brings a wealth of experience from 25 years in supply chain management and a passion for teaching the next generation. After earning his doctorate degree, he joined academia to help students become day-one-ready employees.

Dr. Dukes dives into the critical issues of:

• Student retention within smaller universities
• Challenges presented when freshman don't return to campus
• Cos...

Host Jonathan Clues discusses the impact of international recruitment and study abroad programs on U.S. higher education with guest Dr. John Neiser, Vice President for International Operations at Fairleigh Dickinson University. They delve into how international recruitment has shifted from being a symbolic effort to a critical revenue source, with Dr. Neiser highlighting that international operations contribute to a significant por...

Our latest episode of “Filling Seats” features StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues alongside Vanessa Didyk from ZeeMee and Dave Becker from CampusESP to discuss innovative strategies and technologies to boost enrollment, enhance student experiences, and maintain continuity despite staff changes.

Jonathan, Vanessa, and Dave also tackle key questions:

• How can institutions leverage technology to retain knowledge when staff members leav...

In the third installment of our series on the 2023 RNL Trend Report, once again, we peel back layers of data to offer actionable insights on what motivates students to opt in to receive emails, text messages, and telephone calls. From their unique vantage points, Dr. Raquel Bermejo, Associate Vice President of Market Research and Planning for RNL and StudentBridge CEO and founder Jonathan Clues dive into the privilege of receiving ...

In this episode, we explore the busy summer travel season and the opportunity it presents for visitor services teams. Preparing for these crowds can be key, especially if your institution is located in a high-interest city, like Boston.  In 2023, 22% of students visited campuses in a stealth, unannounced visit (Source: Niche). Amber Fitzgerald, director of enrollment visitor services at Suffolk University, shares best practices for...

Residence life, mental health, and wellness play a significant role in enrollment marketing and student college search today. In this episode of Filling Seats, StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues interviews ed tech innovators Luke Warren and Richard Nichols of Kinetic Software, a leader in student housing and accommodations. The trio compare notes on priorities and pain points facing students, parents, and admissions teams, while expl...

Feeding students’ appetite for omni-channel doesn’t have to be ‘oh my’. RNL’s Raquel Bermejo and StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues give a crash course on the multiple sources students use in their college search. Plus, implementing an omni-channel strategy is like composing a symphony, so higher ed marketing maestro Jose Mallabo also stops by to share practical tips based on the 2023 E-Expectations Trend Report.

The hosts answer:

• ...

RNL’s Raquel Bermejo discusses the growth of video as an essential part of an admissions strategy with StudentBridge CEO Jonathan Clues. You’ll hear:

• Demand for virtual experiences and personalization
• Key Findings from the 2023 E-Expectations Trend Report
• How video and personalization drive enrollment and conversion
• Best practices for creating authentic videos about students' interests 

More intelligence on the power of vi...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Corrie Wilder who is the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Washington State University Everett, a small regional campus in the WSU system

You'll hear:

• How they navigate recruitment and marketing as a branch campus of a larger university system
• Advantages of marketing a small regional school and what marketing tactics work best
• Recommendations for how to grow enrollment amon...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Sarah McMaster who is the Executive Director of Marketing and Enrollment Management at Champlain College Online.

You'll hear:

• Similarities and differences in enrollment marketing strategy for online vs. on-campus programs
• How they’re capturing prospect email addresses by providing value
• Areas of improvement and recommendations for enrollment teams
• Sarah’s take on AI, ChatGPT, marketing ethics, ...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Alyson Leas who is the Director of Admissions at University of Jamestown, a private Christian liberal arts university in Jamestown, North Dakota.

You'll hear:

• The importance of being present and showcasing value
• Their unique approach to communicating outcomes that specifically appeals to parents
• How UJ markets to stealth students and enables them to easily find what they’re looking for
• Why vide...