GEM Horizons- From Signals to Strategy 4.23_LP Graphic

About the GEM Horizons Webinar Series

The GEM Horizons webinar series is a product of the NAGAP-Liaison partnership, delivering insights into the graduate enrollment management (GEM) landscape. Drawing on NAGAP's deep expertise and Liaison's holistic approach to higher education technology, the series focuses on building a shared perspective within the GEM community of current trends. Join us to learn tactics for navigating the present and future complexities of graduate enrollment.

About this webinar

From Signals to Strategy in Graduate Enrollment

Graduate enrollment leaders are navigating an exceptionally complex landscape: shifting applicant behavior, changing expectations around value and outcomes, rapid advances in tech like AI, and growing concern about the impact of an unpredictable regulatory and geopolitical environment.

Environments like this often lead to cognitive overload because it’s simply too difficult to manage every disruption at the same time. But instead of trying to see it all, perhaps the more pragmatic approach is to select the most important signals and work to interpret them as part of the practice of strategic agility.

In this session, representatives from NAGAP will interpret the emerging signals shaping graduate enrollment management today. Drawing on recent conversations across the field, including themes surfaced at the 2026 NAGAP GEM Summit, we will move beyond individual trends to examine what they collectively reveal about where the market is heading.

Together, we’ll explore:

  • The most important signals emerging across graduate enrollment.
  • Where institutions are adapting and where gaps remain.
  • How leaders can translate these signals into clear, practical action.

Designed for practitioners and leaders alike, this conversation focuses on turning observation into insight and insight into strategy.

Together, we can shape the future of higher education!

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Speakers

GEM Horizons- From Signals to Strategy 4.23_Naronda Wright

Naronda Wright, Ed.D.
Associate Dean, Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Southern University
President, NAGAP

Naronda Wright, Ed.D., currently serves as the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services at Georgia Southern University where she oversees graduate student services, prior to that she served as the inaugural Director of Graduate Admissions at Augusta University, where she was tasked with developing & creating the graduate admissions office. Dr. Wright has nearly 18 years of experience in graduate enrollment management and has been deeply immersed in the realm of graduate education from prospect to alumni. Beyond her institutional commitments, Naronda is actively involved in NAGAP, a leading professional association dedicated to Graduate Enrollment Management professionals. Dr. Wright has played pivotal roles at both the regional chapter and the national board, currently serving as the association President. She is the first African American president of the association. Originally from South Carolina, Dr. Wright holds her undergraduate degree from Columbia College, a master's degree from Georgia Southern University, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Clark Atlanta University.

GEM Horizons- From Signals to Strategy 4.23_Brett Dimarzo

Brett DiMarzo
Director of Graduate Enrollment Digital Strategy, Boston College
Secretary, NAGAP

Brett DiMarzo has been in the field of higher education for over 20 years and is currently the Director of Graduate Enrollment Digital Strategy at Boston College. He began his professional higher education career in Financial Aid at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, later moving to the Office of Admission as the Assistant Director of Admission. He also spent several years as Associate Director of Graduate Admission at Suffolk University and led the recruitment and admission efforts as Director of Graduate Admission for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Simmons University prior to coming to BC. He received his Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in 2011. He has served in several positions in the New England chapter of NAGAP (the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management), presented at national and regional professional conferences, and is currently serving on the Governing Board of NAGAP as Secretary.

GEM Horizons- From Signals to Strategy 4.23_Jack Klett

Jack Klett
Associate Vice President, Graduate Enrollment Solutions, Liaison

Jack Klett considers graduate education his professional playground having spent over 20 years of his higher ed career working with graduate education stakeholders. His roles as chief graduate enrollment officer and associate dean of graduate studies positioned him well to do what he loves – helping graduate students, faculty and staff. When not making the higher ed world a better place as Liaison’s AVP for Graduate Enrollment Solutions, he serves students as associate faculty for Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. When completely unplugging, you can find Jack on the beach in Lewes, DE, the town he, his husband, Brian, and dog and cat, Kooper and Kiwi, call home.

Headshots 2025_Jay Murray

Jay Murray
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, West Connecticut State University

Jay is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Western Connecticut State University. With over thirty years of experience in higher education, he has worked in all aspects of admissions and enrollment, including strategic planning, marketing, and multicultural and international recruitment.

Headshots 2025_Leslie Dickerson

Leslie Dickerson
Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Montana Technological University

Leslie Dickerson is Montana Tech’s Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment. She began her career as an admissions counselor at the Montana Tech College of Technology (now Highlands College). Dickerson moved to Enrollment Services in 2008 where she served as the Director and then Registrar. She began her current role in 2019. Dickerson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography & Regional Planning from Eastern Oregon University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Montana.

Featuring:

Naronda Wright, Ed.D.

Associate Dean, Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies
Georgia Southern University

Three in 30 Episode 10 Specific Assests_Headshot Brett DiMarzo

Brett DiMarzo

Director of Graduate Enrollment Digital Strategy
Boston College

Headshots 2025_Leslie Dickerson

Leslie Dickerson
Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Montana Technological University

Leslie Dickerson is Montana Tech’s Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment. She began her career as an admissions counselor at the Montana Tech College of Technology (now Highlands College). Dickerson moved to Enrollment Services in 2008 where she served as the Director and then Registrar. She began her current role in 2019. Dickerson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography & Regional Planning from Eastern Oregon University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Montana.

Liaison’s GradCAS platform is trusted by leading institutions such as:

Carnegie Mellon University
Howard University
Marist
Temple University