Josie And The Podcast

If you ask Dr. Jill Creighton where her favorite place in the world is, she’ll tell you it’s the place she hasn’t been to yet. As a world traveler, Jill leads organizations in global engagement, social impact, and crisis management in the higher education sector. Before starting in her current role as the Associate Vice President for Global Operations at the Institute for Study Abroad, Jill spent years working in student affairs – a passion that stretches back to her dissertation on American college students’ study abroad behavior. Jill also hosts SA: Voices from the Field, a podcast with NASPA.  In this episode, Jill discusses her philosophy of navigating the world as a traveler and not a tourist, her observations of study abroad programs across the globe, and how the podcast SA: Voices from the Field is sharing the stories of the people who make student affairs come to life.  Josie and the Podcast is a production of Dr. Josie Ahlquist and is produced by University FM. For all resources mentioned in this epi

Step aside Gen Z, because Generation Alpha is here and making its identity known. Born between 2010 and 2025, Alpha’s are highly digitally-integrated and are set to become the most educated generation.  For insight on Gen Alpha, I brought in a diverse group of guests to speak to what’s ahead. You’ll hear from AJ Lopez, social media & media relations manager at Texas Woman’s University (and parent of two Gen Alphas); Dr. Meghan Grace, researcher, consultant, generational expert; Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville (also a parent of a Gen Alpha); and Ava Christopher, a Gen Alpha herself, and the cousin of my marketing manager, Kati Hartwig.  As we gear up for this new generation of diverse, intelligent, and independent people, it’s clear that higher ed is going to have to evolve to fit their needs. So what’s the first step?  Josie and the Podcast is a production of Dr. Josie Ahlquist and is produced by University FM. The show is also sponsored by E

A common theme I noticed throughout today's conversation with Mike Muñoz was a focus on breathing. Whether it was metaphorically taking a breather from doom scrolling, or literally stopping yourself for a quiet moment to feel your chest move up and down. Mike’s commitment to self-preservation, his warm persona and dedication to his campus are a driving force behind his work.  Dr. Mike Muñoz, Superintendent and President of Long Beach City College (LBCC), is a nationally recognized leader, passionate about closing the equity gap, creating inclusive environments, and driving innovation. He joined me this episode to chat about the innovative strategies he is implementing at LBCC to foster a sense of belonging and support for students, and the role of social media in enhancing accessibility and engagement. Mike discusses on campus initiatives like 'Paletas with the President,' designed to connect with students while honoring his ethnicity, and his approach to addressing challenges faced by specific groups, such a

Diving into the world of Artificial intelligence (AI) can be intimidating. Or maybe you’re unsure about using it at all. No one is an expert in these tools right now (unless, maybe, you happen to be one of the tool creators), meaning there is so much room for playfulness and exploration open to those willing to try.     In this episode, I’ll cover the importance of staying updated with changing AI trends, discuss possible concerns and benefits of integrating AI in higher ed, provide practical and effective steps for experimenting with AI, and recommend several (several) resources for learning more.   I am also in the early stages of exploring, so I wanted to seek some advice from my colleagues and hear all about how they're using different tools. Throughout the episode, you’ll hear from me; Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications Officer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Claire Brady, President of Glass Half Full Consulting (and a former Vice President for Student Affairs); and Joel Villarani, Direc

It is so difficult to be mindful online these days. The apps and algorithms are just not designed to keep us in the present. And with so much curation necessary to creative our idea of a “perfect profile,”  how can we make sure we are showing up in our digital accounts and profiles in a heartful way? Well, my guest today has mastered the art and science of being her whole self online. Whether she is weaving the values her grandmother taught her into presentations, or sharing the intimacies of her adoption journey on social media, Dr. Shea Kidd Brown consistently stays true to her commitment to sharing both her personal and professional journeys openly and genuinely. Shea has enjoyed a long career in college administration at a number of institutions of higher education in the southeastern region and now serves as the Vice President for Campus Life at Wake Forest University.  In this episode, Shea discusses her perspective on storytelling, congruency and the importance of bringing humanity into digital spaces.

Dayana Kibilds sees content as a tool for equity, and strives to help students access the educational institutions they deserve to be a part of. She is also living for unapologetic joy and keeping her work in marketing and communications human-centered. Dayana, or Day, is strategy director at Ologie, an employee-owned marketing and branding strategy built for education. Prior to Ologie, Day led enrollment and digital innovation work at Penn State, Cornell and Western University in Ontario, Canada. Day is also the host of Enrollify's Talking Tactics podcast, and is co-authoring a book about email to be released in spring 2024.  From Mexico to Germany, Day’s career and homes have spanned the globe. And in this episode, we chat about them all. We’ll talk about making deliberate career choices and how she once left her job without a plan, how email is the ugly duckling of any communications or marketing mix, how her podcast Talking Tactics fills the gap she saw in higher ed, and a bit about how she is utilizing

If you know me, you know I talk about community - all the time. Reflecting on the work of Marcus Collins, I spend this episode diving into the roles we all play in community, and how we can all evolve together. We’ll discuss how we can show up and be active advocates for our communities, defining belonging as a facet of community and how this all translates to student success.    But we’ll also dig into what a community really is. Is it though the memes we share on our schools’ social media account, the campus itself, the culture the students share, or the staff we bring on at the higher levels?   We’re also trying something new this episode, and sharing an interview I did recently with Tim Alexander, the Resident Director at Chapman University. If you were at the NASPA Western Regional Conference, you may remember he ended up being a big part of my session.   In this episode, Tim talks about how he implemented ideas from my Digital Community Cohort to create meaningful social media content that humanized C

With this episode kicking off our new year, I’ve been thinking a lot about time and energy. Balancing time between your work life and home life, investing time in students, time with family, and all the time we lost to the pandemic. Our guest has also been thinking about it today, as she reflects on grief and prioritizes time spent in different places. But also the fun and freeness that being a Swiftie brings. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, Rachel Putman close to a decade as a journalist, and joined the world of higher education in 2014, finding her passion at the intersection of story-telling and education.  Today, Rachel is the Director of Communications at the University of Arkansas. She manages a team of incredible student workers on the UAFS campus each year who run BeReal, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook campaigns.  We chat about the power of Taylor Swift, having partners in the music industries, learning grief while building a career, working at regional public colleges. We also get into the go

Our tree is up, the lights are lit, and the annual gingerbread house competition has been scheduled. It is officially the holiday season. As I reflect on the past year and look ahead to what's coming in 2024, this year theme as been all about students.  My work approach and philosophy are centered; on who we are here to serve, and usually in higher ed, that is, our students. My work approach and philosophy are centered on the people we are here to serve, and in higher education, that is, our students. In marketing and communications, students are integrated in all formal and informal ways and titles, from student workers, interns, influencers, ambassadors, and student employees. But the TL;DR version of this is students won't solve all your problems,  and when you bring them on, there can be a lot of challenges. A lot of them. So, is it worth it?  Students having an active part in your campus social media strategy can be significantly impactful - but you’ll need to find and hire the right students, provide t

Life changes, choosing joy, and expanding beyond the cells higher ed marketers are put in – this episode of Josie and the Podcast is full of inspiring and insightful conversation with my dear friend, Myla Edmond. Myla is an innovative collaborator with over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications in higher education. She builds teams of leaders and strategic partners by focusing on disruptive thinking, emotional intelligence, active inclusion, and comprehensive integration. Myla currently leads communications and marketing at California State University, Dominguez Hills. In this episode, we dive into Myla's recent life transition to Los Angeles, discussing the challenges and excitements of relocation. Myla shares insights on prioritizing joy, drawing on her experiences spending two Semesters at Sea, where she navigated the seas and leaned into her emotions through poetry. But that’s not all. Myla shares a candid perspective on the challenges marketers face in higher education, emphasizing the l

Welcome back to our 6th season of Josie and the Podcast! I am so glad to have you back and excited to dig into this new season, which is all about change. Changes in life, careers, transitions, and how we can prioritize time management during these crazy periods.  Have you heard of the “pandemic skip?” Whether it was your relationship with your family, your career, traveling, or any other part of life, the pandemic uprooted all of us and stole a few years from us! This season, we're going to talk about it, and I’ll be asking my guests for lessons, things that they're still grappling with, and how we can all continue to move on after those rough and isolating years. In this first kick-off episode, I'll update you on what's been going on in my life since last year's mental health season. And then we were getting into platform problems. (And yes, if you're humming Champagne Problems right now, you’ve got the right idea.)    We’re diving into the struggle-bus of Twitter/X, how I feel about Threads, the accessib

We hear about influencers everywhere these days. But what even is an influencer, and where does this kind of person fit into the equation when we are talking about leadership and higher ed? Well, I’m back from NASPA and ready to wrap up season 5 of the podcast! So in this episode, I will break down some definitions we hear when we’re in the influencer sphere, explore some innovative and successful influencer campaigns, how Higher Ed could start dipping toes into influencer marketing, and some of my best practices for working with influencers of all sizes. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, which was a theme to this season of the podcast. As we wrap up the school year and this season, I just hope you continue to take care of yourself and your people, and find some ways to keep self care in your routines! And we’ll see you in season 6!  Josie and the Podcast is a production of Dr. Josie Ahlquist and is produced by University FM. For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to: https://www.josieahlq

When discussing indigenous students, research often focuses on the small number of students  in these communities on college campuses, and often we don't see their experiences represented on campus, in marketing or in data sets. But our heartcentered guest today hopes her work will help dismantle the deficit narrative, and hold institutions accountable for providing culturally relevant support and space for indigenous students. She is also working tirelessly to visabilize indigenous people. Dr. Tiffany Smith is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and is also a descendant of the Muscogee Creek Nation. In her role as Director of Research and Career Support for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), she manages grant-supported research projects and conducts research related to indigenous students and professionals in STEM disciplines.  Dr. Smith joins Josie to chat about her “heartwork” — whether it’s her work within NASPA creating supportive communities for native students in high

I LOVE professional development, especially a good conference. And as I prepare to head out to the NASPA 2023 in Boston (yes, this is recorded a bit early at the end of March), I wanted to share some tips and tricks to planning and having the best conference experience.   Ever since COVID, travel and attending large crowd events like a conference have become even more difficult than they used to be! Do we wear masks? Is attending in person really better than logging in online? And COVID stuff aside, how do you pick which conferences to go to? Or what goes into proposing a presentation, and what are the best ways to get accepted?   In this episode, I download all the lessons I’ve learned over the last 25 years in the world of conferencing. From booking hotels and packing to connecting with colleagues and networking, I'll cover my own process from start to finish and help you take on your next conference, whether it's your first or fortieth.     For all resources mentioned, find the show notes: https://www.josi

“Dr. G” believes it is imperative campus leaders keep students in mind at all times. As he says, “that you aren’t just suited and booted - disconnected from students.” So this VP is advocating and centering students no matter where he is, physically or digitally. But as much as G is the Student's VP, he is the Staff’s VP too, pushing how we recruit, retain and take care of all the humans in our care.   Gourjoine M. Wade is the Vice President of Student Affairs at Texas Lutheran University. A Louisiana native, Grambling State University and Walden University Alumnus, Dr. Wade is a high impact, outcomes-driven, social media connected student affairs thought leader, as well as a Funko Pop connoisseur.   A first-generation graduate, G has dedicated his 18-year professional career towards finding ways to expand higher education attainment for those who desire it. Dr. Wade continues to foster a sincere passion to serve students, especially first gen, HBCU, HSI, and students of color.    In this episode, we chat aut

March is a big month over in Dr. Josieville. It marks 20 years since I met my husband Lloyd and 3 years since I turned in the final edits of my book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education.   Now that we are three years from when I put on the final touches, I wanted to share my reflections: what things I would add to it, what I would edit, and what I think I got wrong.   I’ll also discuss the core frameworks of this work, and I'll share a few pointers I came across during the book writing process for all future authors!    Podcast listeners can enjoy 30% off the book (e-book, regular book, etc.). Just use the code DLHE2023 (Offer expires 4/30/2023) through Stylus Publishing.    For all shownotes, head to: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/digital-leadership-in-higher-education/   Josie and the Podcast is a Dr. Josie Ahlquist production produced by University FM. Connect with Josie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist Podcast Instagra

Teresa is the Founder, Principal, and “Resident President Whisperer” at TVP Communications. With over two decades of work in higher ed, she has only known a career focused on making higher ed more relatable, presidents' and boards' decisions understandable, and student and faculty successes known. Teresa and Josie catch up in this episode, diving into what to prioritize on social media, why leaders should move away from wanting to be liked as one of the major metrics for success, taking care of your people and yourself, reclaiming thought leadership as a strategy, as well as mentorship. Wonder what kind of dog breed best describes Teresa - and Josie? Make sure to tune in and see if you agree.  Josie and the Podcast is a production of Dr. Josie Ahlquist and is produced by University FM.   For all resources mentioned in this episode:  https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/teresa-valerio-parrot/ Connect with Josie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josi

The people that you meet online aren't real. It's not lasting. It's not impactful. Blah, blah blah.  We’re constantly surrounded by people who invalidate or don't believe that friendships or connections online count as real. But if you’re like me, I’ve met so, so many of my friends and colleagues on Twitter, in seminars, and in other online spaces. So today I want to talk about the intersection of friendship, community, networking, and how that shows up online and in all of life, as well as how this translates into our approaches to marketing and communications. In this episode, we dive into my early struggles with friendships and being bullied — plus how hard it is to make friends as adults. We also discuss the increased levels of loneliness and depression, the difference between friendship and parasocial relationships, and some tips on maintaining these bonds, both in person and online. Finally, I'll dig into how all this matters to our work in higher ed marketing and communications. Please note: This episo

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I wanted to incorporate some love, light, and laughter into the show. And I couldn't think of a better duo to do that with than Joy and John Hoffman.Dr. Joy Hoffman is a consultant and trainer with a focus on advancing equitable, inclusive, and socially-just practices. She previously served in higher education for 24 years, and now works full-time as a consultant. Dr. John Hoffman is the president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College. John previously served in a variety of academic and student affairs roles.  Together truly represent the very best in role modeling, mentorship, and coaching for literally hundreds of others, including me. Josie sits down with the Hoffmans in this cheerful episode to chat about Joy’s move to consulting work, John’s recent transition to President of Bemidji State College, how partners & spouses of Presidents can support them in that role, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, cele

I might be biased coming from student affairs, but I see so much potential in student engagement, retention, and recruitment when it comes to higher ed marketing and comms. But overall, efforts are segmented, stretched and many times misunderstood. So in the spring of 2022, I kicked off an inaugural benchmark research on the state of student affairs and marketing communications. In this episode I share some of my preliminary findings, especially digging into staffing, funding, and centralization.  At the end, I also dig into the partnership (or lack thereof) between Student Affairs and MarComm divisions or offices. So, I’m giving three ways each of these areas can better collaborate in 2023.    Tune in to hear my updates for the start of the year, including what made my In list vs Out list!    For all notes of this episode head to: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/potential_with_purpose/   Connect with Josie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josi