About this episode

The episode discusses the role of community colleges in enhancing student success in the age of AI, featuring insights from Devin Purgason.

Join Jeff Dillon as he sits down with Devin Pergason, AVP for Student Experience, Marketing & Outreach at Forsyth Technical Community College, to dissect the evolving landscape of higher education. This episode tackles a critical question: why are community colleges currently best positioned to drive student success? Pergason argues that their inherent “student-first” mission – unlike research universities attempting to retrofit a student-centric model – gives them a significant advantage. The conversation centers on the urgency with which institutions must engage with emerging technologies, particularly AI, mirroring the same dedication they bring to the classroom. Pergason emphasizes a shift away from traditional marketing approaches that “market *to* students” towards strategies designed *for* their needs. He highlights how Forsyth Tech built a groundbreaking student care model – integrating support services directly with marketing – creating a unified approach for genuine engagement and lasting impact. Ultimately, this episode explores whether community colleges are truly ‘getting there’ in embracing the technological conversation, and what it takes to ensure students receive…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Dillon

Guest: Devin Purgason

Topics covered

• student experience
• community colleges
• AI in education
• student-first marketing
• higher education innovation

Keywords

• student journey
• community colleges
• AI
• student success
• marketing strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Forsyth Technical Community College

More episodes of The Signal (formerly the EdTech Connect Podcast)

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• Ep. 79 - Valerie Fox: The New Front Door to Graduate Enrollment · March 20, 2026 · 32 min
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