Higher Voltage

Heart Over Hype: The Empathy Overhaul Higher Ed Marketing Needs

Higher ed veteran and author Jaime Hunt breaks down how real, layered and strategic empathy can transform not just marketing messages, but student outcomes. From jargon traps to missed opportunities for connection, this conversation with host Kevin Tyler unpacks the urgent shift higher ed must make to survive and serve today’s students.

The Student Registry: Crowdfunding the College Journey

Student debt is crushing. Financial aid is outdated. And higher ed still expects students to figure it out solo. Kevin Tyler talks with Lisa Hennessy and Alex Boylan—co-founders of The College Tour and the new platform The Student Registry—about rethinking how students fund their college experience. The Student Registry is part crowdfunding tool, part budgeting resource, and entirely focused on helping students stay in school without drowning in loans

Proud Sponsor: Reclaiming the Narrative for Higher Education

Kevin Tyler speaks with Tam Powell and Gary Mueller of BVK and Serve Marketing about the Proud Sponsor Campaign, a bold national initiative to reframe the public conversation around higher education. They explore why the value of college extends far beyond degrees, how the campaign uses research-backed messaging to spark curiosity and pride, and why collective action, not individual heroism, is the path forward. If you care about the future of higher ed, this one’s for you.

 

Beyond the Sage on the Stage: The Future of Quality Learning

Higher ed must evolve from delivering education to fostering quality learning—a continuous, experiential process that benefits both students and faculty. In this episode of Higher Voltage, Scott Marshall, CEO of Semester at Sea, joins Kevin Tyler to discuss the future of learning, the role of collaboration, and why it’s time to rethink traditional models.

Trust, Credibility and the Power of Checklists

New leaders in higher education face big challenges, but Melissa Farmer Richards has a roadmap. She joins host Kevin Tyler to discuss her book The 30-60-90-Day Handbook: Checklist for Communications and Marketing Leaders in Higher Education and the power of checklists in leadership. They explore the keys to earning trust, demonstrating commitment and adapting to the evolving landscape of higher ed marketing. Plus, Melissa offers listeners an exclusive gift to help kickstart their leadership journeys—an interactive component of the handbook!

Shifting from Reactive to Proactive ADA Compliance

How will recent ADA updates impact digital accessibility in higher education? Kevin Tyler and Jamie Axelrod discuss the shift from reactive to proactive compliance, the legal stakes of non-conformance, and why universal design is the key to a more inclusive digital future.

How Performance TV is Transforming Higher Ed

Can Performance TV revolutionize higher ed marketing? In this episode of Higher Voltage, Kevin Tyler talks with Jennifer Lonchar of AmbioEDU about how data-driven digital advertising is changing the game for student recruitment and retention. They tackle marketing myths, explore the impact of CTV, and share real-world success stories that prove why higher ed must innovate—or risk falling behind.

Beyond the Search Cliff

The search cliff is changing the game for higher ed recruitment, making it harder to reach prospective students through traditional methods. Kevin Tyler, Jenny Petty, and Emily Smith explain what this means for colleges and universities—and how AI recruiters, authentic storytelling, and smarter marketing strategies can help institutions stay competitive. From the rise of adult learners to the impact of privacy laws, this conversation dives into the future of enrollment and what schools need to do now to adapt.