The 2023 Engage Summit brought together leading educators, administrators, and innovators to explore groundbreaking ideas and strategies for transforming education in the digital age.  Through engaging keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, participants gained valuable insights into fostering creativity, critical thinking, improving processes, transforming recruitment, and increasing social-emotional skills to better serve students. 

We were able to bring in The EdUp Experience podcast to interview staff and participants alike, live during the summit to get their take on higher education, the importance of equity, inclusion, and accessibility in education, inspiring educators, and more. 

About The EdUp Experience

The EdUp Experience podcast effortlessly transforms dry and complicated educational topics into engaging and entertaining discussions. 

Led by the charismatic host, Dr. Joe Sallustio, and backed by producer extraordinaire, Elvin Freytes, The EdUp Experience revolutionizes the way we talk about higher education. With over 40 years of combined experience, the EdUp team is on a mission to refresh, upskill, and reskill their listeners, leaving them inspired and eager to learn. 

Episodes Live from 2023 Engage Summit

Ardis Kadiu, CEO and Founder at Element451

An expert in higher education and cultural exchange, Ardis shares valuable insights on the impact of AI, altering student expectations, and maintaining a commitment to innovation.

Brian Gann⁠, VP of Enrollment & Student Services at ⁠Wake Technical Community College

Brian Gann, an expert in education policy and advocacy, explores the significance of community colleges in providing better student support, particularly for first-generation students, and implementing the Care Center model to address mental health concerns, develop individualized plans, and more. 

Courtney Skiles, Director of Recruiting and Admissions at Trinity Valley Community College

Courtney Skiles, recognizes the significance of offering programs that align with students' needs, with a specific focus on workforce programs and trades that cater to the local student population.

Daniella Nordin, Senior Engagement Strategist at Element451

Joe and Daniella sit down to discuss the transformative power of a healthy workplace for higher education professionals, transformative leadership starting from the top down in order to better serve all students and learners. 

Devin Purgason, Executive Director of Marketing & Student Care at Forsyth Technical Community College

Highlighting the significance of leveraging technology tools and digital resources in education, Devin speaks to how to promote personalized learning experiences, and empower educators to effectively integrate technology into their instructional practices, ultimately preparing students for the digital age.

Eric Range, VP of Product at Element451

This discussion dives deep into the AI-powered magic that the Element451 product can offer to customers and students alike. 

J.C. Bonilla, PhD, Global Chief Analytics Officer at VaynerMedia

Highlighting his transformative journey from Element451 to VaynerMedia, JC speaks to the correlation between analytics and higher education, and underscoring the pivotal role of data in effective marketing strategies and messaging. 

Kristina Faller, Director, Marketing & Brand Experience at RIT Certified

Kristina shed light on the significance of the Element451 and RIT certified partnership, highlighting how this collaboration has paved the way for groundbreaking initiatives and enhanced educational experiences. She offered valuable insights into the strategic aspects of the partnership, such as leveraging advanced marketing techniques and cutting-edge technologies to propel the success of both entities.

Michael McGetrick, Principal, Creative & Interactive Service at Spark451 Inc.

Mike explores the realm of student journey mapping and the significance of understanding students in the context of marketing within higher education. Delving into the traits of an effective marketer, he speaks around the Web-CRM connection and offered valuable insights on crafting a higher education website that truly distinguishes itself from the competition.

Ty Fujimura, Chief Product Officer at Element451

Devoting relentless efforts to construct the exceptional Element product, Ty provides an unwavering commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and cutting-edge technologies such as AI.