Signals In Higher Ed | Harbinger Lane

signals in higher ed provides a forum for trusted messengers to share proven solutions, and meaningful outcomes, for education.

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Gamifying College Readiness

In this episode, signals explores how college exploration can become an engaging, confidence-building journey rather than a stressful checklist. Host Darin Francis talks with Eric Menna, Co-Founder of Loper, a gamified college readiness app helping more than 300,000 high school students navigate their path to higher education. Together, they discuss how Loper combines discovery, data, and design to make exploring college accessible, motivating, and equitable for students of every background.

Host: Darin Francis

Guests: Eric Menna

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October 16, 2025

Non-Traditional Students Need More Than Just Financial Aid

signals in higher ed takes a close look at how colleges can better support non-traditional students facing financial strain, mental health challenges, and doubts about higher education’s value. Host Darin Francis talks with Laurie Koehler and Melvin Hines to unpack insights from Upswing’s 2024 Ana Report and what they reveal about student needs today. Together, they explore practical strategies for holistic, student-centered support—from early intervention and teletherapy to reimagined financial aid and community partnerships.

Host: Darin Francis

Guests: Melvin Hines & Laurie Koehler

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October 1, 2025

Kai: AI for Enrollment Teams to Create Connection beyond Mining Data

signals in higher ed explores how artificial intelligence can help—not hinder—human connection in enrollment and student success. In this episode, host Darin Francis talks with Kai co-founders Tim Brandt and Lungile Tshuma about using AI to give enrollment teams time back and amplify authentic engagement. Together, they discuss how Kai Nurture reframes AI as a relationship-building tool that strengthens belonging, yield, and retention.

Host: Darin Francis

Guests: Tim Brandt & Lungile Tshuma

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September 19, 2025

The Future of Enrollment and Community On Campus

Research shows that institutions lose up to 10–40% of admitted students to “summer melt” each year, a challenge that directly impacts revenue and retention. Darin Francis discusses how social media data can be leveraged as a powerful enrollment tool with the founders of MeetYourClass ahead of the NACAC Conference 2025.

Host: Darin Francis

Guests: Blake Mischley & Jonah Liss

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September 11, 2025

Why Data-Driven Financial Aid Strategies Are Critical to Higher Ed’s Future

In this episode, host Darin Francis, host of signals in higher ed, speaks with Scott Cline, Ed.D., consultant at SightLine and veteran enrollment leader. Their conversation spans the challenges of demystifying financial aid, the promise (and pitfalls) of AI, and what smaller colleges can do to thrive in an era of constrained resources.

Host: Darin Francis

Guest: Dr. Scott Cline

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September 8, 2025

Engaging Stealth Students with Precision Marketing, Advanced Tracking, and Privacy-First Strategies

Research shows that at least one in three applicants to private four-year colleges in the U.S. apply as stealth students. In this inaugural episode, signals in higher ed host, Darin Francis, chats with Joe Petrucci, Owner of GHOST Targeted Marketing, about how institutions can efficiently, and ethically, uncover stealth student prospects.

Host: Darin Francis

Guest: Joe Petrucci

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September 5, 2025