The Weekly VineDown with Emily Smith

What does it really mean to put students first in the college admissions process?In this episode of The VineDown, Emily Smith sits down with Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, nationally recognized counselor, City of Austin Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, and founder of YESpi College Counseling. After 19 years serving Title I and alternative schools in Austin, Yvonne launched her own independent practice to keep doing what she loves most: helping students find their authentic voice and real college fit.We cover:Why independent educational consultants (IECs) are misunderstood (and why banning them won’t fix equity).How Yvonne creates truly student-centered counseling, including her rule: parents aren’t allowed in the room.The difference between prestige chasing and true “fit,” and how to reframe that conversation with students.Why teaching students to reflect and write matters more than ever in the age of AI.What it’s like to move from public schools to private practice and how she’s pushing the profession toward higher ethical standards.Yvonne’s perspective is honest, refreshing, and deeply rooted in equity. Whether you’re an enrollment leader, a high school counselor, or a parent trying to navigate the chaos, this conversation will help you rethink what matters most in admissions: student voice, authenticity, and opportunity.

Families obsess over “dream schools.” Colleges obsess over rankings and yield. Somewhere in between, the real truth about admissions gets lost.In this episode of The VineDown, I sit down (again!) with bestselling author and higher ed strategist Jeff Selingo to cut through the myths and talk candidly about what really drives admissions decisions today.Jeff has spent decades reporting on higher education, embedding inside admissions offices for his book Who Gets In and Why, and now challenging families to rethink what “a good college” actually means in his newest work Dream School.We get into:- Why admissions isn’t the pure meritocracy most families assume.- The outsized role of “hooks” like legacy, athletics, and full-pay admits.- Why prestige is more fluid than people think (remember when Northeastern, NYU, and USC weren’t “powerhouses”?)- How institutions can invest in the “knitting” that really matters: great teaching and faculty mentorship.- Why the first weeks on campus are make-or-break for student retention.- What colleges need to change about campus tours to show, not just tell, families what they’ll experience.- Why fit (not rankings) is the most reliable predictor of student success.If you’re a parent, an enrollment leader, or just curious about the future of higher education, this conversation will help you see admissions with fresh eyes: less about chasing the top 25, and more about finding the schools that will actually deliver on growth, opportunity, and long-term success.

What happens when universities stop thinking of “student experience” as a buzzword and start treating it like an outcome-driven mission?In this episode of The Vinedown, host Emily Smith sits down with Joe Hartman, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at UMass Lowell, to explore how his university reimagined student success by breaking down longstanding silos between academics, student life, and career services.Drawing on insights from employer feedback and research-backed frameworks, Joe and his team developed the groundbreaking Mosaic Student Experience. It’s an intentional system that helps students build a comprehensive record of not just classroom achievements, but also real-world experiences, co-curricular activities, and professional milestones. The goal: Ensure that every student leaves campus career-ready, equipped with crucial soft skills, and fully prepared for life beyond graduation.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why academic and student affairs should live under one roof—and how merging these typically separated functions can radically improve student outcomes.The “Mosaic” framework UMass Lowell uses to guide students intentionally through a customized, holistic college experience.How UMass Lowell tackles equity gaps by guaranteeing paid, career-aligned internships for all students—including majors traditionally excluded from these opportunities.Joe’s unique insights into why soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability increasingly determine graduates’ career success—and how higher ed can better cultivate them.What higher ed leaders can do right now to build meaningful career-connected experiences that benefit first-generation, Pell-eligible, and underserved student populations.If you care about closing gaps, breaking outdated structures, and helping students succeed in college and beyond, you won’t want to miss this episode.Tune into the full episode on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

What if the secret to enrollment success isn’t about bigger funnels, but about smaller friction?In this episode of the Vine Down, I chat with Kevin Halle, VP of Enrollment Management at Wayne State College: a public institution serving a student body that’s nearly 50% first-gen. Kevin breaks down how Wayne State has not only grown enrollment significantly over the past decade but maintained a uniquely personal touch while doing it.We dive into the common “scary friction” points first-gen students face, like hesitating to speak with professors about grades, feeling intimidated when dropping classes, and navigating unfamiliar college systems. Kevin shares how Wayne State proactively addresses these anxieties by intentionally creating a culture where students feel known, heard, and supported.You’ll hear:How Wayne State balances rapid enrollment growth with highly personal student experiences.Specific ways their staff identifies and eliminates friction that can block student success.Why the concept of “Nebraska Nice” actually powers a cohesive, cross-departmental support network.Kevin’s insights are not only thoughtful, but refreshingly actionable: If students repeatedly struggle, he says, it’s not the students who need to change. It’s us.Listen in for powerful, practical ways your institution can get proactive about student support, and keep enrollment growth both meaningful and sustainable. Available wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, Emily Smith sits down with Dan Garcia, VP of Enrollment Management at the University of New Mexico, to unpack the realities and anxieties around adopting AI in enrollment and retention strategies.Dan gets candid about shifting from if to how to use AI, the outdated tactics to abandon, and the core enrollment fundamentals he’ll never give up. He shares practical strategies for addressing your team’s fears about new tech, increasing cross-campus buy-in, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in admissions.Key Highlights:Which enrollment processes AI truly transforms (and which ones it doesn’t).How Dan increased housing applications by 72% with one simple tweak.Tackling hidden anxieties within your team about AI adoption.Why curiosity and questioning are essential leadership tools at any career stage.If you’re navigating innovation fatigue or wrestling with how to effectively roll out AI at your institution, this episode offers clarity, actionable advice, and reassurance that you’re not alone.Watch now to transform how you think about AI, retention, and leading change in higher ed.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

If your institution treats student recruitment separately from retention, you’re missing a critical connection.On this episode of The Vinedown, Emily Smith speaks with Katie Condon, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University. Katie draws from her own experiences as a first-generation college student to explain why student retention begins from the very first interaction with recruitment, and why that matters deeply to the health of any institution.Katie shares powerful personal insights and data-driven approaches for colleges aiming to improve student success, address internal campus silos, and better prepare students for life after college. She also provides a candid exploration of the “Glass Cliff” phenomenon and how it uniquely impacts women in enrollment leadership.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why Katie believes recruitment equals retention, illustrated through her personal story of experiencing rejection and alienation as a first-generation student.How every interaction matters: from faculty comments to dorm conditions, seemingly small experiences have major impacts on student retention.Effective strategies for breaking down silos across departments to improve student outcomes—starting with a clear, unified vision for student experiences.The hidden challenges of the “Glass Cliff”—how women in leadership roles are often asked to achieve more with fewer resources and higher stakes, setting them up for disproportionate failure risks.Preparing students for the real world: why higher education often fails to prepare students adequately for non-academic careers, and what colleges should do instead (including meaningful career prep and skill-building like AI literacy).Practical ways enrollment managers can better understand students, including student-focused data collection and proactive campus engagement.Katie’s thoughtful discussion emphasizes practical actions colleges can take right now to boost both recruitment and retention, while genuinely serving students’ best interests.Listen now for an honest, actionable conversation on enrollment management’s most pressing issues.

Colleges are stuck sending mixed messages about AI—and students are paying the price.Emily Pacheco, Associate Director at Case Western Reserve and founder of the AI in College Admissions (AICA) group, joins Emily Smith on The Vinedown to break down how the absence of clear AI policies in college admissions is quietly damaging student belonging, creativity, and authenticity.In this conversation, you’ll discover:Why unclear AI guidelines fuel anxiety, shame, and uncertainty in students.How outdated AI detection fears inhibit genuine student creativity.Practical frameworks to help colleges establish transparent AI admissions policies.Why normalizing open conversations about AI use is critical to student success.Emily offers candid insights and actionable advice to help institutions bridge the AI clarity gap—before more students are left behind.Watch now to learn how colleges can embrace AI openly, ethically, and effectively.Subscribe for more deep dives on higher ed’s biggest challenges.

Enrollment leaders, listen up—it’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth: colleges stuck in old models of recruitment and data management risk falling dangerously behind.In this eye-opening episode, Emily Smith sits down with David Burge, VP of Enrollment Management at George Mason University, to unpack the critical issues facing higher education enrollment today. From the limitations of traditional selectivity metrics, to the hidden potential of transfer and community college populations, David argues it’s time for a fundamental rethink of how enrollment offices use data to shape their futures.They discuss:- Why colleges overly dependent on freshman admissions alone are facing a difficult decade ahead- How widening the funnel to embrace transfer students and non-traditional populations can unlock entirely new enrollment pathways- The critical difference between having data and effectively using it to drive decision-making- The dangers posed by a potential dismantling of the Department of Education’s data infrastructure, and how institutions might cope- Actionable advice to embed genuine data fluency across your team—regardless of your current resources or skill levelIf you’re serious about future-proofing your enrollment strategy, building a truly data-informed culture, and identifying overlooked talent pools, this conversation is your essential guide.Ready to adapt? Dive in and start the transformation.

In this episode, Emily Smith sits down with Reggie Hill, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. They discuss innovative approaches to recruitment at regional public universities, building community partnerships, and adapting to changing enrollment landscapes in higher education.TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction & UMSL's Institutional Context 3:08 Balancing Local Service with National Reach 7:38 Building Strategic Community Relationships 10:35 Creating Corporate Partnerships & Workforce Development 13:04 Overcoming "No Culture" at Regional Public Universities 16:38 Becoming an Agent of Change in Higher Education 21:17 Shifting from Competition to Collaboration 24:53 Strategic Budget Allocation & Prioritization 29:59 Training the Next Generation of Enrollment Leaders 33:17 Finding Value in the Higher Education Ecosystem 38:55 Book Recommendations for Enrollment Leaders

In the latest episode of The VineDown, Heath Einstein, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Texas Christian University, reflects on the evolving challenges and responsibilities we face in higher education today.

In this episode, Emily sits down with Sean Whitten, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SMU in Dallas, to explore workplace psychology, emotional wellbeing, and managing stress in higher education. They dive into the neuroscience behind our stress responses, tactics for maintaining emotional health during workplace conflicts, and practical strategies for avoiding burnout. Throughout their conversation, Sean and Emily share personal experiences and insights about creating psychological safety, navigating job transitions, and finding balance in professional life.TIMESTAMPS:0:41 - Introduction to workplace psychology and emotional wellbeing2:40 - Understanding the connection between physical and emotional responses to stress5:21 - The science behind our brain's stress response and impact on decision-making10:09 - Sean's approach to psychological safety and "right-sizing" conflicts15:44 - Emily's strategy for grounding herself in her body during difficult conversations19:42 - The vulnerability of asking for processing time during conflicts24:42 - Self-care strategies during job transitions and searches36:29 - Scaling up in a new job while maintaining emotional wellbeing41:19 - Recognizing the early warning signs of burnout

Higher Ed expert Jeff Selingo (former Chronicle of Higher Education editor) joins The Vinedown to discuss the future of colleges in 2025 and beyond. Will two dozen colleges close this year? What separates surviving institutions from truly thriving ones? In this episode, we dive deep into: - Which colleges are just "limping along" vs innovating for the future - How AI might transform college administration (not just classrooms) - The surprising future of enrollment management - Creating flexible pathways from high school to career Plus, get an exclusive preview of Jeff's upcoming book "Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You" and his curated list of 75 colleges worth watching. Whether you're a higher ed professional, parent, or student, this episode offers crucial insights into the changing landscape of college education.

For years, colleges have been navigating technological change. Many institutions today KNOW they need to embrace new technology, but they remain tightly gripped to familiar processes. In this conversation, Adam Park, the CEO of Softdoc, gives candid insight into why this happens. It's not just about resistance to change – it's deeper than that. It's about institutional trauma from past failed projects, about departments that have weathered storms together and developed protective instincts, and about leaders who carry the weight of their institutions' futures on their shoulders.

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form. During our recent conversation on The Vinedown, PJ shared insights into the role of swag (yes, swag!) in creating memorable and lasting connections with prospective students. From thoughtful giveaways to bridging guidance gaps, PJ’s approach goes beyond the surface, delivering practical strategies with a human touch.

Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form. During our recent conversation on The Vinedown, PJ shared insights into the role of swag (yes, swag!) in creating memorable and lasting connections with prospective students. From thoughtful giveaways to bridging guidance gaps, PJ’s approach goes beyond the surface, delivering practical strategies with a human touch.

In this week’s episode of VineDown, I am joined by Gene Chao, a leader in digital transformation and the founder of GenReventures. Our discussion spans AI's evolving role, the importance of human-machine collaboration, and how organizations can embrace technology without losing the human touch.

Sometimes, leadership means stepping into your team’s shoes to see how you can improve your team from the bottom-up. Dr. Brent Gage, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Strategy at the University of Iowa, recently returned to the recruitment trail after a decade-long break. When unexpected staffing changes left his team short-handed this fall, Brent hit the road, attending college fairs and high school visits in Ohio. What he discovered there challenged his assumptions about Gen Z, reignited his connection to the admissions process, and shed light on how institutions can better serve students.

Modern admissions offices are facing a paradox. As processes become more automated, how do they hold onto authentic human connection? Rick Clark, Executive Director of Strategic Student Access at Georgia Tech, isn’t just asking that question—he’s answering it. With over two decades of experience in admissions and a reputation as a truth-teller in higher ed, Rick is finding ways to embrace AI while championing the stories, relationships, and human moments that define the college admissions process. Dive in to learn how AI can help your institution move faster, tell better stories, and focus on what really matters: being human.

Traditional college counseling isn’t keeping up with today’s digital-first students. Jeff Neill, Director of College Counseling at Graded - The American School in São Paulo, is using AI to make counseling more effective. By handling routine tasks, AI frees up Jeff’s time to connect more deeply with his students. And for Jeff, it’s not just about saving time; it’s about giving students a new kind of support that’s always there when they need it.

Higher education marketing has reached a crossroads, and Jenny Petty knows it well. In her second appearance on *The VineDown*, Jenny, VP of Marketing Communications at the University of Montana, dives into the “perfect storm” facing higher ed—a series of shifts reshaping how colleges recruit, engage, and retain students. From demographic changes to consumer expectations, Jenny unpacks what these challenges mean for today’s enrollment teams and how they can prepare for what’s next. Jenny shares the balance we all have to maintain: between adapting to massive change and staying true to what makes an institution genuine. So, what are the biggest challenges? And more importantly, how do we tackle them? Let’s dig in.