Summer Rewind : Launching a Brand New Website While Being New To Higher Education

Encore Episode: Originally Aired March 2026

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What happens when a university website becomes a cluttered “junk drawer” instead of a clear, welcoming first impression? Paul Garner, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Western Carolina University, shares how his team transformed a confusing, overloaded website into a true digital front door that reflects the student experience and institutional story. This conversation unpacks how thoughtful leadership, trust, and alignment can turn a fragmented digital presence into something purposeful, intuitive, and mission-driven.

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What We Cover in This Episode

🔘 Why “attention is king” in modern higher ed marketing

🔘 Lessons from transitioning into higher ed from the private sector

🔘 Building trust across campus before launching major initiatives

🔘 Navigating website redesigns as change management, not just tech projects

🔘 How to align stakeholders around a student-first digital experience

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Episode Highlights