In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Amanda Slaughter, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bethel University. Amanda shares her inspiring journey from dropping out of high school to pursuing higher education and building a successful career in Christian education.  Phil, Heidi, and Amanda discuss the challenges faced in the current higher education landscape, the need for agility in enrollment strategies to adapt to shifting demographics and student needs, and the significance of integrating faith with work.

What You Will Learn:

• Amanda's journey from dropping out of high school to achieving academic success 
• The importance of mentorship in guiding students through their educational paths.
• Faith integration in higher education.
• The need for agility in enrollment management is critical in today's changing educational landscape.
• How students can explore their potential and not limit their dreams.
• How to network with peers in the NACCAP community!

Resources:

Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org

Email us: Office@naccap.org

Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org

Welcome to the Higher Ed Higher Purpose Podcast, a podcast designed for NatCap members, prospective students and their families.

Hello, everyone.

Welcome again to another edition of the Higher Education Higher Purpose Podcast.

My name is Phil Cook.

It's my pleasure to serve as the president of NatCap and I'm so pleased to be with you today.

And I'm Heidi Sturm and I'm the Director of Marketing and communications here at NatCap.

Heidi, you know, we've been talking to a lot of folks that we know that we have personal relationships with, and some of them have been our bosses.

And so we are thrilled today to have another one of those representatives from the NACAP Board of Directors, Amanda Slaughter.

Amanda, thanks for joining us today and being with us.

Thank you.

It's great to be here.

Well, Amanda, we've been doing a formal introduction.

We want people to know the credibility that you bring to this and how you serve.

And so Amanda serves currently as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana.

But she's been in this industry in higher education for more than 20 years.

She's worked with undergraduate, non traditional graduate students from various NATCAP institutions in multiple states.

Enrollment, financial aid, career services, and student retention are all her specialties.

Amanda was a past recipient of our Regional Service Award that NATCAP gives.

And as I mentioned, she currently serves on our board of directors and also our executive committee.

I didn't know this before reading the profile, but Amanda has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Biola University, a master's degree in higher education from Geneva College, and she's currently pursuing her PhD at Indiana State University.

Amanda's originally from South Central Los Angeles and she's dedicated to serving others in advancing Christian education.

Her husband is Andrew.

She's been married 18 years and they have a 13 year old son, Jonathan.

Amanda, thanks again for being with us today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Amanda.

I have a son.

His name is Andrew, but his major, he just graduated a year ago, is journalism.

And he loved writing and he loves.

Now he's a sports guy, so he loves.

He's a frustrated athlete.

But I didn't know about your journalism degree.

Tell us a little bit about your desire for that.

Did you ever work in it?

How does it serve you in your work?

Now?

Tell us about your journalism pursuit and your academic interest there, please.

Yeah, well, I graduated from Biola, as you said, and when I enrolled originally, I didn't know these things about college.

I didn't know what I wanted to do and I didn't know that I like to dress up.

So I literally picked business initially because I was like, okay, business, that's a good career.

And then I realized how much math was involved in it, and it said, oh, no, oh, no.

And then I switched to communications.

So that was my major coming in.

And at that time, public relations was under it.

And they formed a new major, journalism, with PR and broadcast and other things under it.

So they moved me over to PR under journalism, and I was like, oh, no, I don't want to be a journalist.

So, yeah, it was a newly formed.

Like, Violet has since created PR as a major.

But as I started going through business, I was like, you know, can I major in something that's business and communication?

My goal was if there could be someone who would pay me to talk.

That was the ultimate, like, goal.

I always like to write and write creatively, poetry and things like that.

But I never saw myself as a true journalist.

I did have to learn a lot broadcast friends.

I actually worked at the student newspaper, but I worked as the person who did the business side of that.

And, yeah, so that kind of helped develop me.

Obviously, it helped my writing skills.

And I'm still more of an editor than writing from scratch, I think, because it honed those type of skills within me.

But at the end of the day, the PR major, as it stands right now, that's probably what I would have gone for.

I love it.

You describe what I was trying to do.

I said, I just want a job where I get to talk for a living.

And admissions enrollment is a part of that.

Right.

But you talked about.

And you tell families and working there at Bethel about the Christian college experience.

And we're very open and talking about.

All of us come from a Christian college experience that we've been talking.

What about your experience at Biola?

What stands out from your time there?

Your growth, your spiritual development?

When you tell people about this was my experience at a Christian college.

What did you tell people?

That's a great question.

I often.

I'm not sure if I tell my full story to people because I don't feel like my story is very typical.

I was someone who dropped out of high school, and my family was living on welfare and we just couldn't sustain staying housing.

And so I dropped out of high school to work.

I went to work and I tried to stay in school, but school didn't really matter to me.

So then when I.

It was only a friend that I had who wanted to go to community college, and she was really nervous about it, and she.

I Was like, I'll go to that class for you, with you.

And I went along with her to community college.

Along the way we realized, oh, we probably need a GED or high school diploma.

So I actually went back to school at night and then transitioned to community college.

And with no intention of really transferring, I was just going to support.

And over time we went to classes together.

And then I was very involved in church.

So one women's retreat that I went to, I ran into a Biola professor.

And that professor was like, well, have you considered transferring or where do you go?

I never.

To me, I started working at my church as a receptionist and I really loved that job.

And I was like, one day I'll be the pastor's head secretary.

It was like the dream of mine.

And I would work all day and then at 6 to 10, go to class at night.

And when I met Dr.

Marla Campbell, who was a professor at Pilot, she said, this is what you're going to do.

You're going to stay at my house and visit Biola during the day.

I didn't know what a Biola was, even though it was a Christian and you'll just check it out.

And I just went on campus and just felt God speak.

And I was like, well, Lord, did you see the price tag though?

Did you see the price tag?

I believe faith without works is then.

So I went through the process of applying and everything and I got in and got just enough aid, just, I mean, short enough at the poverty level.

I was to have to do some creative things to pay the balance that I had.

But I moved in.

I got rid of my apartment.

So I went into college.

I went into Biola with like, I feel a real sense of call to be here.

The idea of like integrating your faith and your job work, but without a real plan.

I just wanted to graduate and like, okay, maybe I can make more money and I can serve God.

It.

But as an adult, moving in with freshman was a little challenging for me.

And that was a little bit different in that unique space.

I think I was a really serious student because of that.

Like, really serious, but then working my way.

And the only things I really got involved in in student life are things like were things that were pertaining to my job.

I'm like, ok, business.

I was involved in the student missionary organization, but publicity director.

So I just tried to put all those things together to make the best path and career for me because I didn't have anything to go back to.

I was adult student who moved in and then I had to make sure I had a land at a job to be able to afford to live somewhere.

Right.

So I think my own story is unique in that.

But if I tell it to students or families that say, God has a call on your life and it's greater than what you can imagine and you don't have to decide right now what you want to do because it's greater than you can imagine.

Be at a place where you can develop your yourself academically and spiritually at the same time.

Well, I don't know if what school that I would go to when hearing you describe that, but I know I would go to the school where you were working.

And I and I and Heidi, when we doubt and think, oh, girl, we questioned what should we be doing in this podcast.

This is why we do this.

Amanda.

Amanda, I've got a couple more questions come to mind.

How much does your story, by the way, you should be.

In my opinion, you should be telling that story.

You should.

I mean, I feel like this is a book, a story of overcoming and success and survival, all of those things, and the goodness and the faithfulness of the Lord at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in your life.

But I would say, how much does that inform your work today?

How much does your story.

You're going to have students that walk in that can write a check where they come from.

Privilege.

I was a full pale kid.

I get that and I understand it.

But also the issues of growing up in South Central.

How does that inform your work today in Mishawaka, Indiana?

Yeah, so I worked at multiple different institutions across the United States.

I've only worked at Christian institutions, interestingly enough, before I got involved in Christian education, I worked at a church.

So I've always had this element of integration of faith with work that we do.

So I've only chosen to work at places that were truly Christian, though that really did that integration and really believed in Bible tenets and didn't waver from them.

So Bethel, in my work, how it shows up is that I'm recruiting for a student body that is diverse and I represent a diversity of the future as the nation is diversifying.

And so just sometimes the physical presence of showing, hey, there's someone who through God's own divine resiliency made it through college.

And college is a possibility for you.

I love talking to parents also, because I'm a parent, I look at those things in a different way.

I see parents trying to guide their student as they're becoming an adult.

Like you're kind of trying to push them forward.

We had our NATCAP College fair here in Mishawaka yesterday, and I saw parents kind of walking through, but trying to make sure they step behind students.

I'm pushing them forward, and I hope that they would choose a Christian institution like Bethel, but I'm trying to help make them make their own decisions and own choices.

So actually, in the recruitment process, we're trying to give hope to students as well as trying to guide parents in the right way to be behind the student as they make their choice and make informed decisions and play that advocate role as they're helping the students through the guiding process.

You're listening to the Higher Ed, Higher Purpose podcast.

We are talking today with higher ed and higher purposes.

This is precisely why we do this.

And with Amanda Slaughter, vice president for enrollment management at Bethel University in Mishawak, Indiana, and a member of NatCap's board of directors, I've got one more question, and then Heidi will jump in.

You mentioned a faculty member who reached out to you.

And, you know, my thought is about a faculty member because we work in the academy, but just a person, someone investing in your life.

How important?

I know it's very important in your story, obviously, but just talk a little bit about that, about the importance of a somebody inserting themselves into your life that changed the trajectory of your life and how you do that today in your life as well.

Yeah.

Interestingly enough, when I went back to work at Biola in leadership, my very first day was Dr.

Marla Campbell's last day as a professor.

And she got to see me open.

There was a grand opening of the welcome center, and I spoke there, and I spoke about her.

She was in city, right there in front of me, Marlon.

And I've talked and we've kind of stayed in touch in some capacity about how God can use you in moments and showing up for people because you're letting God lead you and use you as a voice.

I mean, we are his vessels and we are made.

We're like the potter's clay.

Right.

And as he molds us, we are allowed to be the vessel which God can pour into.

But you're not meant to keep all that water to yourselves.

It's meant to be poured out to others.

So you have to feel that I talk to my staff about that.

You have to make sure your cup is filled so that you can pour out to others.

The way that you show up is first you make sure that your cup is filled.

Then you allow yourself to be used by God to speak through.

So in that moment, for me and Dr.

Campbell and I talked about this is God.

God just placed in her a spirit of humbleness to be able to say, hey, here's what I think you should do.

And I'm opening up my own space for you to reside in, in that humility for you to experience something new.

And I hope that I could show up for that, for other people to be present enough to see somebody and say a word and encourage them in the process of looking at Christian hiring and.

And Bethel, specifically in the area, in the neighborhood that I live in here in Northern Indiana, are just virtually in this capacity.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Wow, Amanda.

It's just so neat to see how God uses people and then brings things full circle.

I'm like, what a cool story.

And it's so neat talking with you because I feel like I'm kind of coming full circle because I used to work at Bethel in Indiana.

The office has changed a little bit.

It's still somewhat.

Looks like a barn, but not as much as when I used to work there.

But the person who hired me at Bethel, I worked for for two years, and then she left and went to Biola.

And I believe she's the one that hired you, correct?

Yes.

Yes.

Andrea Helmut, who's still a good friend of mine, lives down the street.

When I was graduating from bio, I was considering what I was going to do with my next step, and I was one of those students who were like, I'm graduating.

Let me move on.

And someone in the office in admissions encouraged me to apply as I was applying different places to work.

And Andrea tells the story.

There were 50 applicants in that pool, and I became the main recruiter for Violin Southern California, out of that pool.

Me and Andrea have stayed in touch.

And so when this shop opening came, as she was seeing me rising my own leadership, she actually recommended me for this position here.

So she's been a big part of my life.

A mentor.

I think more like a friend as we've transitioned and stuff.

But it's interesting.

I run to a lot of people who know Andrea because I believe, I think.

Was she a NatCap president?

She was.

She was, yes.

She and other people in my life, like Andre Stevens was Andrea's boss at Biola at the time.

So now he's a president at a CCU, a NatCap institution, too.

So I've had a lot of greats in enrollment be a part of my life.

But, yeah, full circle that.

I live in Northern Indiana.

And I'll tell you, I was like, I'm not moving to Indiana.

I'm a city girl.

All she showed me was horse and buggies.

And I was like, yeah, but this is, like, this is a big city in the state of Indiana.

This is where our city girl actually goes.

But close enough to the country, so it's a mix of those.

And that's why I think.

Right.

Oh, that's great.

So as you have been working in NatCap schools for so many years, what do you feel some of the NatCap membership benefits are that you would tell other people that might be considering a NatCap membership?

Yeah.

Well, I became a NACA membership person because this institution I was at was already a member.

So I didn't know I was a member until I got signed up for the conference as an admissions person.

So I went to my first conference.

I believe that was at Calvin University in 20.

Oh, I can't even say 20.

What do you say now?

And I really loved that experience and was encouraged.

I saw all the sessions, and I felt like at that time, I transitioned into being a transfer counselor, and I didn't see any transfer sessions.

So Andrea suggested, hey, how about submit a session?

So the following year that I went back, I had a session.

So in NatCap, I found the opportunity to be poured into and learn more about the industry as a young professional, and then take my knowledge, find a piece within the organization that I could get back.

And I did that my second year, and I started doing sessions and things like that.

So involvement that way.

I felt like it's a network of people that you can lean on your competitors, but you also become friends with a lot of people.

So I got to be friends with some people at apu, which was a bio's rival at the time, and now I'm good friends with other people, particularly in our state of Indiana.

So I know all the VPs, most of the VPs in the area that are part of NatCap, and there's some camaraderie.

Like when the FAFSA fallout came, we're emailing and talking to each other about, what are you doing in this challenge?

What are you doing that challenge?

So I find camaraderie, camaraderie there.

Now, NatCap has developed a lot further since when I started, so there's, like, webinars and other things to participate in, just in terms of professional development.

Now I am a part of the professional development committee.

Come on.

You're right.

Preaching to the choir.

Let's go.

Yes.

That are Just, just a part of just being a member and most institution because since it's institutional membership, membership, all the staff that are part of that institution get to benefit from any other resources.

And then how did you decide that you wanted to serve on the NATCAT board?

Oh, I feel like my story is a bunch of told people.

Like God's using people to tell me go do this, go do that.

And I end up saying yes.

So I won't tell the full story.

But I think it was Chan, who was the former executive director, president of, of NatCap, who encouraged me and Ryan Spears also encouraged me to be on the board.

I resisted for a couple of years because as a leader, particularly at that time I was associate vice president.

I had a lot on my plate.

And so I think it wasn't until like Phil's first day.

That's right.

And he's Pentecostal in the background.

I'm God.

And so we felt the spirit, I guess, come on.

And I said, yes, I'll be on whatever position or whatever role you would have me in.

Yes, I did say wait for a couple years.

And it's been a couple years, so I'll serve now.

And we are glad you are, Amanda.

That is true.

I tell people that I'm a recovering Pentecostal.

I'm not sure what that.

I know what it means in my mind, but what it does mean is that I believe that God still speaks and God is one of the told people and God tells us to do things.

And I'm glad he told and you listened to serve with us and helping lead NACAP to what we think has been a really exciting three years and the future.

And by the way, I was on a call yesterday with some Fort Wayne, Indiana folks and do you know of the five midwestern contiguous states here, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana is the only state that's adding population people.

The others are declining significantly.

Just thought I'd share that little tidbit for you there, Amanda.

Thanks for this is why we do it.

You know, sometimes I've said this in previous podcasts.

You've been to a church service where a pastor will cram a 15 minute sermon into 4:45 minutes and you think, oh God, when is he going to be done?

When is she going to be done?

It's not the case today.

Our time is already gone and the purpose of what we're doing is to get people to hear your story, get an appetizer and want to know more about you.

Bethel had a great year this year.

You know and you and I talked about this and as an enrollment leaders, it should be celebrated when we have good this is the most difficult environment of my 30 years in higher education that I've ever seen.

What advice, what encouragement, what pastoral working at a church, wanted to work at a church.

And now being a leader in this industry.

What advice or what's on your mind and heart to your colleagues and to your friends who might be listening to this as we serve the kingdom in this.

That's a good question.

You know what comes to mind?

I've read a lot of books and told me early on leaders are readers.

So one of my favorite authors or person who speaks about the future of Krishna Hare is Nathan Grahl.

And Nathan Grohl has two books, one that talks about demographic shifts and then his second book on the agile College is something that we should take a look at for the future.

And that's what our space is in enrollment and marketing.

And actually I just got asked to take on marketing and that is officially congratulations yesterday.

And that speaks to the need to be agile in this space.

There is a need for Christian higher education to grow.

There's obviously growth that's taking place.

People are coming to Christ and there's still opportunity for Christian higher ed.

But you need to be agile and move with the environment and learn along the way.

Use the resource that are at your disposal, like NatCap and other resources to learn more about how demographics are shifting about higher education and be able I said this is an example FAFSA's change for this year.

The schools that were able to still get their students to file and be still inspired to go to college because lots of the nation did not go to college, they decided to put it on.

But the schools who were agile enough to keep the students engaged are the ones that had big returns this year.

But that took agility because the FAFSA kept moving its deadline and schools had to respond accordingly.

So that's my encouragement today.

Read the book.

Maybe I'll write a book one day.

Keep agility at the forefront, Heidi.

Now be in the front of the line or online buying it when we do that.

The soon to be Dr.

Amanda Slaughter.

And that is my Pentecostal kind of prophetic utterance there.

Vice president for enrollment management.

And maybe marketing will be added to the title at Bethel University and member of the NatCap board of directors and our boss.

Amanda, we're glad you're with us.

Thank you for your time today and thank you for the work that you're doing.

Thank you so much, Amanda.

Be sure to join us next time for the Higher Ed, Higher Purpose podcast.