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Artwork for Higher Ed Icons

Higher Ed Icons

Higher Ed Icons
Higher Education Marketing
University Of Washington
Tracy Halvorsen
Artificial Intelligence
Web Design
Higher Ed Marketing
Fear the Turtle
WONK
Higher Education
Dartmouth College
Sat/testing
Brand Marketing
Branding
Giving Day
University Of Maryland
American University
Featherstone Campaign
Debt-Free Education
Tufts University
First-Generation

Celebrating the pioneers, thought leaders, trend setters, and change makers in higher education marketing. With your hosts: Voltaire Santos Miran and Mallory Willsea.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes11Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for Higher Ed Icons

Latest Episodes

Lee Coffin made Tufts cool. Then he walked into Dartmouth and did it again.

Over 30 years, Coffin turned two very good universities into two of the most wanted schools in the country. He gave the field its language — "the qualified muddle," the crea... more

Every institution claims students belong there. Dayana Kibilds says that claim falls apart the second you hold it up against the experience students find when they arrive.

She has worked every seat this industry offers. She led domestic recruitment ... more

Teresa Valerio Parrot is the person higher ed presidents call first. Principal of TVP Communications, CASE Laureate, Crystal Apple winner, PR News industry innovator, and to the leaders she counsels, the "president whisperer" — the one who can get a ... more

Jack Martin came to higher education from politics. Before he ran marketing at the University of Washington, before he built one of the most admired storytelling programs in the field, he worked for Governor Kathleen Sebelius. He ran comms for a cong... more

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Recent Guests

Lee Coffin
Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid at Dartmouth
Dartmouth College
Episode: Episode 9 - The J. Crew Dean, the Need for Hip, and the Importance of Vibe
Day Kibilds
AVP of Marketing and Community at Simpson Scarborough; author of Mailed It
Simpson Scarborough
Episode: Bonus Episode - The Hard Things Institutions Don't Do and the Lies That They Tell
Teresa Valerio Parrot
Higher education leadership consultant and president whisperer
Trusted Voices in Higher Education / Higher Ed Icons client
Episode: Episode 8 - I Came in Like a Wrecking Ball
Jack Martin
Vice President for Marketing and Communications, University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: Episode 7 - The Politics of Storytelling in a Polarized Nation
Terry Flannery
AVP MarCom at University of Maryland, first VP of Communications at American University, first EVP and COO at Case
Universities (Maryland, American University, Case)
Episode: Episode 6 - Why Playing It Safe ... Isn't
Ashley Budd
Senior Director of Advancement Marketing at Cornell University
Cornell University
Episode: Episode 4 - Our Business Model Is F'd
Tracy Halvorsen
CEO and President of Digital at Adayo; former co-founder/leader at FastSpot
Adayo; FastSpot
Episode: Episode 2 - Pulling Threads: Bravery, Curiosity, and the Heart of Creativity
Michael Stoner
Co-founder of M. Stoner, pioneer in higher education digital marketing
M. Stoner
Episode: Episode 1 - The Fundamentals Are Still The Fundamentals

Hosts

Voltaire Santos Miran
Host of the show; Higher Ed Icons founder; experienced marketing and communications leader
Mallory Willsea
Co-host; co-leader in higher-ed marketing and branding discussions

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Icons hosted by a couple of icons

    Big fan of both Mallory and Voltaire and this podcast is a great look into the people that have been impacting higher education marketing and communications for the past couple of decades. I appreciate the authentic vulnerability guests often bring. Plus it’s always fun to hear my friends talk about their passions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joel G Goodman
    United States3 months ago
  • Quick Hitting Higher Ed Info

    This podcast is for higher Ed marketers who don’t have a lot of time and could use some inspo between conferences and strategy sessions.

    Access to great minds who have done it already and can produced in a way that you can get the lesson on a drive, over lunch, or on a jog… feels like mentorship in 25 minutes. I think we need this in our industry!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JR Ramsay
    Canada4 months ago
  • Excited for what’s ahead

    Great introduction and excited to hear more perspectives from future guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meaghan Wood
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Short, actionable episodes great for on-the-go learning.
Guests span admissions, branding, and fundraising with real-world stories.
Industry-focused, practical, and mentorship-like guidance for higher-ed marketing teams.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 9 - The J. Crew Dean, the Need for Hip, and the Importance of Vibe
Q: How do you balance data with narrative in a highly selective environment?
Data shows capability, but voice reveals potential; by asking for stories and non-cognitive factors, we can identify students who will contribute uniquely to the campus community, even when traditional metrics are similar.
Episode 1 - The Fundamentals Are Still The Fundamentals
Q: What would you tell a modern CMO about the AI-inflected landscape without overhyping it?
Stay skeptical, focus on fundamentals, ask what problems the technology solves, and ensure any AI adoption aligns with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
Episode 1 - The Fundamentals Are Still The Fundamentals
Q: What conversations sound like when pushing for a real website back in 2001, given there was no CMS as we know it today?
The conversations were about needing a system that combines technology and people, with a plan to maintain content after launch, acknowledging that sustainable success requires ongoing human effort and governance, not just hardware.
Episode 1 - The Fundamentals Are Still The Fundamentals
Q: When was the last time the three of you were together, virtually or otherwise, and what did that moment feel like for launching this project?
It felt like a long time coming; reuniting emphasized the strong foundation and excitement for future episodes, underscoring the collaborative history that fueled the show's launch.
Episode 7 - The Politics of Storytelling in a Polarized Nation
Q: How did the UW storytelling program evolve from immersive, long-form pieces to a broader spectrum including Level 1 stories and modular content?
The team shifted to balance big, in-depth campaigns with lighter, faster, modular stories to stay responsive to events and to extend reach through multiple channels, while preserving a strong brand and fundraising alignment.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Higher Ed Icons

What is Higher Ed Icons about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights higher education marketing, branding, and leadership through candid conversations with senior university communications and marketing professionals. Episodes frequently explore admissions storytelling, data-informed branding, crisis communication, fundraising strategy, and the evolving role of digital and AI in higher ed messaging. Listeners gain practical playbooks, real-world case studies, and behind-the-scenes perspectives from veterans and rising leaders shaping how institutions attract students, engage communities, and navigate tough strategic choices. A standout aspect is the mix of deeply practical tactics with personal storytelling and leadership philosophy, making it especially helpful for today's campus market... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Higher Ed Icons?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Higher Ed Icons:

1. Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime Hunt
2. Higher Ed Pulse
3. Escape Velocity with Tracey Halvorsen: Where Strategy Meets the Unexpected
4. Pod Save America
5. Letters from an American

How many episodes of Higher Ed Icons are there?

Higher Ed Icons launched 4 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Higher Ed Icons?

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What guests have appeared on Higher Ed Icons?

Recent guests on Higher Ed Icons include:

1. Lee Coffin
2. Day Kibilds
3. Teresa Valerio Parrot
4. Jack Martin
5. Terry Flannery
6. Ashley Budd
7. Tracy Halvorsen
8. Michael Stoner

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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