The New Era of Student Search: Content Strategies for AI and Student Discovery
January 21
3:00-4:00pm ET
Today’s prospective graduate students discover programs across search engines, AI tools, and institutional websites, making organic visibility and content strategy a critical driver of enrollment performance. This session will clarify what modern search optimization—including SEO, AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—actually means in practice, and how these strategies work together to improve discovery, inquiry quality, and conversion outcomes. Through real-world examples and panelist case studies, participants will learn what effective AI and SEO optimization looks like, the types of strategic recommendations institutions receive, and how timely implementation can lead to meaningful enrollment gains alongside paid advertising. Two graduate education leaders will share their experiences implementing these approaches.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how content and organic search strategies support measurable enrollment growth—and how these approaches can be applied effectively within their own institutional contexts.
Moderator:
Marcus Hanscom
Senior Director of Client Success, Direct Development
Speakers:
Sabrina Jedlicka
Deputy Provost for Graduate Education, Lehigh University
Ariana Balayan
Assistant Dean of Enrollment and Marketing, Graduate Programs, Tufts University School of Medicine