Episode Details

Meaghan Arena, VP of Enrollment Management at the University of Southern Maine, shares how she grew enrollment year-over-year while institutions nationally are losing ground — and the leadership philosophy that made it possible.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

✅ How to build a culture where frontline staff drive strategic improvement — not just leadership

✅ Why meeting people where they are (in hours, format, and access) is the highest-leverage retention strategy

✅ How to reframe your organization's value when the people you serve are questioning whether they need you at all

This episode is for visionary executive directors and nonprofit CEOs who are fighting declining engagement, justifying mission investment, and building systems that serve everyone — not just the easiest-to-reach.

👤 ABOUT MEAGHAN ARENA:

Meaghan Arena is the Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Student Retention at the University of Southern Maine — a public access institution serving traditional and adult learners across two campuses. A first-generation college student herself, she has built her career around expanding access to education for working adults, transfer students, and underserved communities. Under her leadership, USM has grown enrollment year-over-year in a national landscape of demographic decline.

🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghan-arena-ba84097/
🔗 Organization Website: https://usm.maine.edu

🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:
Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization.

Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US:
- FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis

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