Schedule

Monday, November 18 at 1pm ET: Where is the Graduate Market Heading

As strange as it may seem, the pandemic years were a “boom time” for graduate education. While graduate education was growing incrementally prior to the pandemic (near 1 percent per year), the years between 2020 and 2022 saw annual increases that doubled or tripled those rates. Some data show that we have returned to a growth pattern more like the pre-pandemic period. Other sources indicate that enrollment is contracting. What is really going on? Can both be true? If yes, how so? Whatever the case, market intelligence – from IPEDS or from survey work – indicate that whatever growth there will be will not “lift all boats” but rather will “lift the boats” (the programs) that are best aligned with student expectations. In this session will be review the trend data as well as student expectations and preference data and talk through how institutions can best chart a course toward enrollment health. 

About the presenter(s)

Scott Jeffe is Vice President of Graduate and Online Research at RNL. He has worked with more than 400 institutions in 40+ states to help align programs and practices to the expectations of working undergraduate and graduate students, online students, and other "post-traditional" audiences. His consulting, underpinned by customized market research and national trend data, has helped institutions update curriculum, marketing strategies, recruitment practices, and admissions policies to better reflect the unique needs of these students. He is a co-author of RNL’s Strategic Enrollment Planning: A Dynamic Collaboration (3^rd Edition), as well as being the principal researcher for RNL’s 2024 Online Student Recruitment Report, 2023 Graduate Marketing and Recruitment Practices Report, 2023 Graduate Student Recruitment Report, 2022 Online Student Recruitment Report, 2022 Online Program Marketing and Recruitment Practices Report, 2021 Graduate Marketing and Recruitment Practices Report, 2021 Graduate Student Recruitment Report, and more than 100 blogs and articles.

Amanda Ostreko is the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Graduate Enrollment Management at the University of Kansas (KU). Amanda oversees the Graduate Admissions office, providing strategic leadership for enrollment management efforts for domestic and international graduate applicants and students. She collaborates with multiple university offices to develop proactive and nimble strategies to adjust to changing environments and trends in recruitment and admission of graduate students, using best practices and technology solutions to manage search, inquiry and applicant pools, and collaborates with campus partners to facilitate retention and timely degree completion.

Amanda has held various roles at KU for over 20 years, including Director of Graduate Enrollment and Assistant Dean in the Office of Graduate Studies. She has served in leadership positions for KU’s Staff Senate, including President, and served on the NAGAP Governing board for 6 years, most recently as the Research Chair. Amanda’s research and professional interests revolve around Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) and higher education, with numerous publications and over 50 presentations.

Dr. Joseph Paris is Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Delaware Valley University. As a scholar-practitioner, his research, teaching, and practice focus on the intersection of institutional effectiveness and college access and draw upon his professional experience in enrollment management and higher education marketing. His research analyzes the relationships between college admissions criteria and selection methodologies, institutional finance, and access to postsecondary and graduate education. Dr. Paris previously served as Executive Director of Graduate Admissions at West Chester University, and as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Temple University. Dr. Paris is an Experts Bureau member of NAGAP, The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management and a Research Advisory Board member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. He holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Temple University and a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Tuesday, November 19 at 1pm ET: AI Adoption in Graduate Enrollment Management

This presentation explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on graduate enrollment management. It highlights key areas where AI is being integrated, such as automating outreach processes, improving student engagement, and personalizing recruitment strategies. Attendees will learn how AI tools are reshaping the ways universities attract, enroll, and support prospective graduate students, with real-world examples of successful implementations. The discussion will also offer insights into future trends in AI-driven enrollment strategies.

About the presenter

With over two decades of dedicated service in higher education, Dr. Ray Lutzky expands the reach of the world’s most innovative universities through digital media.

Ray’s expertise encompasses digital audience strategy, social media marketing, enrollment outreach, and public relations, where he crafts practical and effective strategies to drive enrollment growth and expand academic programs. He has successfully collaborated with multiple higher education institutions to enhance accessibility and relevance in areas such as business, healthcare, engineering, and education.

Currently serving as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Element451, an AI-powered student engagement platform, Ray pioneers initiatives that foster personalized and meaningful interactions within higher education. His previous leadership roles include Vice President, University Partnerships at Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships) and Director, University Partnerships at InStride.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Ray held enrollment leadership roles at Cornell, NYU, Pace University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). At these universities, he managed admissions, international recruitment, teaching assistants, and financial aid, gaining invaluable experience in various aspects of enrollment management.

Ray’s dedication to graduate education management led him to serve on the Board of NAGAP, the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management, where he also served as the editor of their magazine, Perspectives. His commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in other volunteer roles, having served as Acting Chair for the Board of Study New York, promoting educational opportunities in the state, and as a board member of the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, advocating for LGBTQ+ representation in the business community.

As the host of the “Mastering the Next” podcast on the Enrollify Network, Ray engages with thought leaders and innovators shaping the future of graduate education and technology in the academic landscape of the 21st century.

Ray holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, complemented by master’s degrees in public relations from Syracuse University and digital audience strategy from Arizona State University. Additionally, he completed a Certificate in Leadership Principles at Harvard Business School Online in December 2020.

Wednesday, November 20 at 1pm ET: Meet Your New Graduate and Adult Learner: Insights from EAB's Survey of 3,800 Students

• Graduate and adult learners’ search behaviors—including the recruitment channels and messages your team should prioritize
• Students’ motivations for furthering their education, and what they mean for your program design and marketing
• Students’ evolving criteria for selecting graduate, online, and adult degree completion programs

About the presenter

Val Fox is a Senior Director and Principal with a focus on partner development in EAB's Adult Learner Recruitment division. In her role, she advises future partners on how to grow enrollments for their graduate and professional programs, spotting opportunities by sharpening their market insights and audience engagement strategies. Val brings over a decade of higher education experience, having consulted for dozens of universities and serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at Bentley University. Prior to higher education, she worked at Forrester Research, helping organizations adopt digital-first strategies to reach - and stay relevant with - consumer audiences.

Thursday, November 21 at 12pm ET: Leading Hybrid teams with Confidence: Yes, you can!

In today’s dynamic workplace, the way we lead has dramatically shifted. Hybrid teams are becoming the new norm, and with that shift comes new challenges and opportunities. As the world of work continues to evolve, hybrid teams are becoming a standard model for many organizations. And at the heart of this new model is trust. Trust is the glue that holds hybrid teams together, and it starts with each of us as leaders. In this session, we’ll look at how to lead hybrid teams with confidence, by exploring ways to build trust through knowing your work environment, your people, and yourself as a leader.

About the presenter

Sherry Quinn has more then 20 years of leadership experience in the public and private sectors. Currently, she serves as the director of graduate admissions and enrollment management in the Graduate School at Wayne State University (Detroit, MI).

In her role, Sherry oversees domestic and international graduate admission for more than 240 doctoral, master's, and certificate programs, collaborating with 11 schools and colleges and the Office of International Programs in a centralized model. She provides leadership in the implementation and maintenance of technology systems, continuous process improvement, customer service initiatives, and delivering various student outreach programs and events. She also compiles and summarizes admissions data to inform decisions related to enrollment management objectives, and serves as the compliance officer regarding graduate admission policies.

Sherry earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s degree in organizational communication and public relations from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI), a post-master’s graduate certificate in higher education from Oakland University (Rochester, MI), and is a graduate of the HERS Leadership Institute at the University of Denver. She is passionate about empowering team-members to take charge in their roles. 

Sherry has been a member of NAGAP since 2006, and is the past-Treasurer for MAGAP, the Midwest Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals.

Friday, November 22 at 2pm ET: Graduate Certificate Programs as Alternative Pathways to Graduate Education

North Carolina A&T uniquely uses micro-credentials. It grew organically from a technique that encouraged and provided an alternative pathway for students to pursue a graduate degree. The micro-credential highlighted, stand-alone graduate certificate programs, allow students to receive financial aid, provide access to graduate education for those who would not otherwise have the opportunity, can be stacked to give credit towards a master’s degree, can be deployed rapidly, along with many other benefits. Graduate certificate programs can also enhance program diversity without altering admission requirements for underserved populations.

About the presenter

Clay Gloster, Jr. is the Dean of the Graduate College at North Carolina A&T (N.C. A&T) State University. With 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Gloster has also served on the North Carolina State University and Howard University faculties. He has a proven track record of strategic, results-oriented leadership that has shaped his strong reputation for establishing new programs that positively impact organizational health and national credibility. Dr. Gloster received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and the Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University. He has also been employed by IBM, the Department of Defense, and the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina. Dr. Gloster has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed conferences and journals and has made presentations throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, and China. He has served on the program committee for several international conferences and received best paper and presentation awards at an international conference. Under his leadership, the Master of Science in Information Technology degree program at N.C. A&T was ranked 16^th in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Dr. Gloster has received numerous fellowships and distinguished awards and holds two patents.