Ep. 75: Stop Marketing Amenities. Start Marketing Belonging

About this episode

Safaniya Stevenson discusses the importance of marketing belonging in higher education rather than just amenities.

Students today aren’t just evaluating colleges based on rankings, programs, or amenities — they’re asking a much deeper question: Will I feel like I belong here? In this solo episode of Talking Tactics, Safaniya “Safy” Stevenson explores the growing connection between student loneliness, emotional wellness, and higher education marketing. From the rise of “third spaces” to the power of emotionally intelligent campus storytelling, Safy unpacks why the future of enrollment marketing may belong to the institutions that know how to market human connection, not just outcomes. If your campus tour, student experience, or brand messaging still feels transactional, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to create more resonant, belonging-driven narratives that today’s students are craving.

People in this episode

Host: Safaniya Stevenson

Topics covered

• higher education marketing
• student belonging
• emotional wellness
• campus storytelling
• enrollment marketing

Keywords

• student loneliness
• third spaces
• emotional intelligence
• campus experience
• brand messaging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Talking Tactics

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• Ep. 71: How Pretzels Became One of Higher Ed’s Most Memorable Enrollment Marketing Campaigns · March 17, 2026 · 32 min
• Ep. 70: Fun, Strategy & Fur: Rethinking Mascot Rebranding in Higher Ed · March 3, 2026 · 30 min
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