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About the Episode

The what's what...

About the Episode: 

Lauren McGowan, the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment at the University at Buffalo's School of Social Work, sits down with Mallory at NAGAP. Fresh from her recent promotion, Lauren shares her journey from Director of Recruitment and Admissions to her current role, emphasizing the diverse skill sets needed in higher education leadership, from student recruitment to budget management. She also dives into the critical role of continuous learning, value of teaching yourself new skills, and the promise of AI in academic settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Career Evolution in Higher Ed: Lauren discusses her transition from recruitment to strategic decision-making roles, highlighting the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
  • Professional Development: Lauren's involvement in the Professional Development Committee at NAGAP, planning institutes and seminars that foster career growth for both new and experienced professionals.
  • Self-Directed Learning: Lauren emphasizes the necessity of self-teaching in today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, with personal anecdotes about her learning journey and resource recommendations.
  • Networking and Professional Growth: The significance of building and leveraging professional networks in advancing one's career in higher education.

Connect With Our Host:

Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/ 
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. 

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout.

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

About the Podcast

Mallory Willsea

Host

Mallory Willsea

Mallory Willsea serves as VP of Marketing at Element451 — the next generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful, personalized, and engaging interactions with students. Her insights on best practices and new trends are informed by her sector research and more than 15 years of experience. Mallory has held executive leadership roles in ed tech and at agencies spanning customer success, marketing, and business development. Her superpower is building media brands to reach, educate, and inspire forward-thinking higher education leaders.

Lauren McGowan

Interviewee

Lauren McGowan

Lauren McGowan is the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment for the University at Buffalo School of Social Work where she has worked for over seven years. She previously worked for the University at Buffalo School of Nursing as a Graduate Recruitment Coordinator and for D’Youville College as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor. She has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Buffalo State University and has been working in enrollment management since she graduated in 2012. Lauren received NAGAP’s Visionary Award at the 2023 Summit and serves as a co-host for the NAGAP Report Podcast. In 2019, she received a NAGAP Winter PDI Fellowship and the National Deans and Directors of Social Work Admissions Rookie of the Year Award.

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