Higher Ed Pulse

Live at NAGAP: Mic Drop Moments! How UM-Flint Harnesses the Recruitment Power of Podcasts

Episode Summary

Dr. Chris Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan, Flint, joins Mallory Willsea live from the NAGAP GEM Summit. They dive into the impact and insights from Dr. Lewis's extensive podcasting experience, both personally and professionally. With a focus on enhancing student engagement and recruitment, Dr. Lewis shares how his podcast, 'Victors in Grad School,' has become a strategic tool in connecting with and guiding prospective students.

Episode Notes

Dr. Chris Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan, Flint, joins Mallory Willsea live from the NAGAP GEM Summit. They dive into the impact and insights from Dr. Lewis's extensive podcasting experience, both personally and professionally. With a focus on enhancing student engagement and recruitment, Dr. Lewis shares how his podcast, 'Victors in Grad School,' has become a strategic tool in connecting with and guiding prospective students.

Key Takeaways:

• Podcasting as a Strategic Tool: Dr. Lewis leverages his podcast to answer frequent queries from students, effectively using it as a platform to guide and inform prospective and current students.
• Personal Journey to Professional Impact: Starting from a personal desire to share his experiences as a father, Dr. Lewis has expanded his reach to influence the higher education space, particularly in graduate studies.
• Content Utilization Across Platforms: Insights from podcast episodes are repurposed across digital channels, enhancing accessibility and engagement with university content.
• Success Through Storytelling: Sharing compelling stories, like that of a first-gen student turned physics professor in Australia, underscores the transformative power of education and mentorship.
• Sustaining Engagement: Consistency in content delivery and adapting to listener feedback are critical for podcast growth and impact.
• Measuring Impact: Dr. Lewis discusses the challenges of quantifying the direct impact of podcasts but highlights the importance of gradual growth and listener engagement as indicators of success.

Guest Name: Dr. Chris Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan - Flint

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchristopherlewis/

Guest Bio: Christopher A. Lewis, Ed.D serves as the Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan - Flint. He is also the host of the Victors in Grad School podcast, amongst a number of other podcasts, including SA Voices from the Field and Dads with Daughters. Christopher is the President of the Rotary Club of Williamston Michigan and is the Treasurer of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education and was honored recently as a Pillar of the Profession from the NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Foundation. He also co-founded an international organization called Fathering Together which supports fathers in being engaged members of their children’s lives.