Live at NAGAP: A Young Professional's Journey Trailblazing a New Role in Graduate Recruitment

Lesley Mackey, a young professional stepping into a new graduate student recruiter role at Fort Hays State University, chats with the Pulse at the NAGAP Summit in Louisville. Fresh from his first trip to Hawaii, Les shares his journey as a new GEM professional, highlighting the unique challenges and breakthroughs of his new role in graduate recruitment. 

Key Takeaways

• Role Exploration: Les discusses the intricacies of stepping into a newly created role in graduate recruitment and the challenges of establishing benchmarks without clear enrollment goals.
• Conference Insights: Insights from NAGAP conference sessions emphasize common challenges faced by small offices in higher education, showcasing varying perceptions of what constitutes a 'small' office.
• Future Aspirations: The conversation dives into future goals and the proactive steps being taken to define and achieve success in graduate recruitment.

Guest Name: Les Mackey, Graduate Student Recruiter, Fort Hays State University

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

Guest Bio: As relatively new professional in higher education, Lesley W. Mackey finished his bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science (2022) from Eastern Kentucky University. In Summer 2022, him and his husband later found themselves moving to Hays, KS, to work on their respective master’s degrees at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). Within in his first academic semester of graduate coursework, he transitioned from a graduate assistantship into a newly created, full-time role in graduate enrollment management (GEM). As FHSU continues to explore what GEM means to them, this role has allowed him the opportunity to get involved in coordinating all aspects of graduate recruitment, retention, and marketing. He will finish his MBA later this year, is a member of the NASPA SAPAA Knowledge Community, and sits on the NAGAP Research Committee as a liaison to the Marketing Committee.

- - - -

Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

Seth Odell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/
https://twitter.com/sethodell

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register