How Holy Family University Uses FlippedApp to Spark Meaningful Student Conversations and Expand Their Reach
Overview: Holy Family University and FlippedApp
Holy Family University, a Catholic liberal arts institution in Northeast Philadelphia, serves a growing and diverse student population across the Mid-Atlantic region. Known for its community-centered mission, Holy Family has embraced innovative technology to reach students more personally—and more effectively.
Facing an increasingly competitive admissions landscape, the university turned to FlippedApp to deepen engagement with prospective students beyond traditional email blasts and college fairs. The result? A faster, more personalized, and conversational way to connect with students—powered by AI.
85% of college-bound students are more likely to engage if they get a personalized message
“FlippedApp is a disrupter in the college recruitment process. This platform is led by those who want to see positive change in recruitment, have the innovative technology to do so, and provide it at a budget-friendly cost. “
Edward Wright, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Holy Family
Challenge: Moving Beyond Transactional Outreach
While Holy Family wasn’t facing a crisis in enrollment communications, Director of Enrollment Communications Christopher Jester saw an opportunity to evolve.
“So much of lead gen is academically, financially, or regionally based,” Jester explained. “What FlippedApp allowed us to do was engage students differently—on a personal level first.”
Traditional outreach methods—email campaigns, college fairs, and purchased name lists—lacked the warmth and nuance needed to stand out in a student’s crowded inbox. Holy Family wanted more than just higher open rates—they wanted real conversations.
Solution: AI-Powered Conversations That Feel Human
With FlippedApp, Holy Family’s admissions team can review rich student profiles that include personal bios, academic interests, and creative passions. The platform’s AI-generated messages stay true to the university’s voice while drawing direct connections to what students care about most.
Jester recalls one of the first moments he knew FlippedApp was different—when he connected with a student from South Carolina with an interest in color guard. “We’d likely never reach her through traditional name buys. I leaned into what she listed in her profile—her color guard experience—and we had a full conversation about her band shows. That opened the door to talk about her academic goals. I’ve used that method ever since; if they put it on their profile, they want to talk about it.”
“FlippedApp’s platform connects admissions officers with students by utilizing generative AI technology that produces messages true to the institution’s voice and mission while capitalizing on a student’s individual interests,”
Edward Wright, Vice President of Enrollment Management
Impact: Personalized Outreach That Students Respond To
With FlippedApp, Holy Family can initiate conversations based on what students actually want to talk about—music, sports, art, poetry—not just what they want to study. These hand-raisers have already signaled interest, creating more qualified, engaged leads.
“This isn’t like a college fair where a student feels like they have to talk to us,” Jester said. “These are students who already said yes to a conversation. That changes everything.”
Instead of cold outreach, Holy Family admissions counselors now jump directly into tailored conversations. Students list interests outside of academics, allowing the team to weave those into the college discovery process—creating more memorable, meaningful interactions.
Efficiency Through AI and Automation
The platform also streamlines engagement. There’s no need for travel, setup, or mailing campaigns—just targeted, student-led conversations delivered through automation and guided by AI.
“Getting students to want to engage with us without having to drop something in the mail, be on the road or go to another lead gen source has been really helpful. They come to us, and there’s a demonstrated interest there.” Christopher Jester, Director of Enrollment Communications.
The ability to follow up with students using a centralized messaging platform has also improved continuity. Instead of starting from scratch, counselors can pick up right where the last message left off, referencing past interests and creating a sense of familiarity.
A Competitive Edge in Modern Recruitment
By tapping into students’ full stories—not just their academic stats—Holy Family is creating an experience that feels both personal and empowering.
FlippedApp has helped Holy Family expand its geographic reach, improve lead qualification, and connect more meaningfully with prospective students.
“Students have long wanted to be able to tell stories beyond their GPA and this provides them an opportunity to tell that story and it allows us to be able to learn how students think.”
Christopher Jester, Director of Enrollment Communications
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