Businesses Are Built On Partnerships And Relations | Darren Wagner, Rowan University – Edu Unlocked Podcast

Darren Wagner

Guest

Darren Wagner is the Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management at Rowan University, where he leads strategy and operations across recruitment, admissions, enrollment, Global Learning & Partnerships (Rowan’s online education unit), and marketing and brand advancement.
With more than two decades of experience, Darren has a proven track record in change management, strategic marketing, and organizational growth. Prior to joining Rowan, he served as Chief Marketing Officer for a marketing data analytics software startup, where his leadership contributed to the company’s successful acquisition. Across his career, Darren’s teams have earned 50+ marketing awards.
At Rowan, Darren has designed and executed strategic enrollment management plans that drove unprecedented international student growth, contributing to record-breaking applications and overall enrollment.
Darren has also held an adjunct faculty position at Penn State, teaching marketing and business management, and is a frequent conference speaker in the U.S. and internationally. In addition, he has consulted with numerous colleges and universities to improve their marketing operations, business practices, and data-driven decision-making.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and an MBA from Pennsylvania State University.
Key Highlights:
1. Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management at Rowan University
2. Oversees recruitment, admissions, enrollment, online education (GLP), and brand marketing
3. 20+ years of experience in marketing, enrollment, and organizational leadership
4. Former Chief Marketing Officer in a marketing analytics SaaS startup → led to successful acquisition
5. Teams recognized with 50+ marketing awards
6. Architect of enrollment strategies driving record international student growth at Rowan
7. Adjunct faculty experience at Penn State
8. Frequent national and international conference speaker
9. Consultant to multiple higher-ed institutions on marketing, operations, and data usage
10. Holds a BS in Management and an MBA from Penn State

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives