Our Collective Challenge 

Amidst rapid global changes, higher education is confronting unprecedented challenges. Traditional enrollment is declining, set to decrease by approximately 576,000 students between 2025 and 2029. Technology is advancing faster than some degree programs can support. And low-cost, self-led resources are abundant.

Here in Pittsburgh, our stalwart local institutions are exploring every avenue, including combining administrative resources and consolidating programs, to stay ahead of looming challenges. Resilient institutions will survive. Innovative schools will thrive.

Learn how experts from our own community are using real student insights to stay competitive and create a more engaged campus:   

• Reaching non-traditional students and adult learners 
• Developing programs for a changing workforce: micro-credentials, boot camps, and online degrees
• Building a great student experience from the classroom to the "real world" and the home office

Old Dominion University

With nearly 20 years in higher education marketing combined with digital and social savvy, Kate is focused on developing and promoting powerful brands, leading strategic planning, and fostering engagement. In 2022, she was named the Higher Education Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association Foundation and Lipman Hearne. Her strengths in relationship building and enthusiasm for telling the institution's story make her a valuable partner.

Director of Online Education & Acting Dean, School of Education

Point Park University

Shari Payne, Ed.D., is the acting dean at Point Park University's School of Education and oversees the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, as well as Point Park Online. With extensive expertise in higher education, she's worked in enrollment, financial aid, and student support. She champions student experience and university-wide collaboration. Before Point Park, she was vice president of enrollment at Waynesburg University, achieving record diversity in 2022 and innovating financial aid strategies. Dr. Payne is a Leadership Pittsburgh Class XXXIX graduate and sits on the Peters Township School District Board.

Campos Market Research

Kate Murphy is co-owner and president of Campos, a market research and strategy firm based in Pittsburgh. She leads the Campos team in developing and fielding custom research studies that produce actionable insights for clients in a range of industries. Kate has extensive experience working with higher education institutions in particular, overseeing qualitative and quantitative research that fuels decision making for marketing, admissions, and program development teams.

Prior to joining Campos, Kate was a writer and editor at The Nation, America’s oldest weekly magazine. 

Career EDGE

As Chief Business Officer of Career EDGE, Micaela brings a background in higher education, coaching, and career development to the organization. Micaela strongly believes that education is a gateway to empowerment, confidence, and most of all - choice! As a result, what excites her the most about her role is sharing Career Team’s 25 + years of Workforce Development experience with partner institutions and, ultimately, with graduates. Prior to CTL, she served as National Director of Sales for McGraw Hill Education. Micaela completed the Accomplishment Coaching leadership and coaches training program and she is also a certified trainer in the Aha! Process, Bridges Out Of Poverty program.

Level + Becker are Better Together. 
 
We are a trusted marketing partner for higher education institutions nationwide. With more than 125 professionals and experience across traditional, vocational, and career-prep schools, our agency supports growth-minded institutions with data-led strategy and execution. 

The number of adult learners returning to school is booming. In fact, today adult learners make up 42% of higher education revenue, and that number is only expected to increase in coming years. John Meyer, CEO of CompleteU shares how to schools can adapt to capture this growth opportunity and the barriers facing non-traditional students today.  

Our team lives and breathes higher education marketing. Facing a challenge in your current marketing? We'll deep dive into an active media channel or tactic of your choice and help surface the best opportunities.