Jennifer Schufer has dedicated nearly 30 years to steering marketing and communication strategies in higher education. As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Content Strategy at the University of Colorado Boulder, she leads cross-functional teams in developing student-centric content and campaigns that engage audiences at every stage of their university journey. In this episode, Jennifer takes us behind the scenes of her professional path, from humble beginnings as a temp to spearheading the celebrated "Be Boulder" brand initiative. Along the way, she shares insights on winning over key stakeholders with data, cutting through red tape to get things done, and the importance of nurturing rising talent.

A central theme emerges in this conversation: the power of an entrepreneurial mindset to drive meaningful change within institutions. Time and again, from her early days at Cal Poly Pomona to her current role at CU Boulder, Jennifer has approached challenges as opportunities to innovate. She spots gaps in the status quo, builds compelling cases for new solutions, and deftly navigates organizational dynamics to bring her vision to life. Her experiences offer a whole lot of practical advice for any marketer looking to leave their mark in higher education - or any large, complex organization for that matter.

If you're aiming to shake things up and make a real impact at your institution, this episode is well worth a listen. Here are a few key moments to listen for:

[16:17] Building an ambassador program from the ground up at Cal Poly Pomona
[20:05] Leveraging data to secure buy-in for new initiatives
[25:36] Restructuring an admissions department to better support key objectives
[33:22] Adapting marketing strategies to boost student retention rates

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