Phil Ollenberg - Higher education enrolment and recruitment leader
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Howdy, I'm Phil.

​I'm an experienced post-secondary leader focused on sustainable enrolment through responsive student services, recruitment, and admissions. I believe in data-driven decisions informed by experience, collaboration, and best practices.

In my off-time, I'm a home cook, husband, LGBTQ+ activist, dog owner, and nerd for Star Trek and retro game shows. Settler on Treaty 7 land in Southern Alberta, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy,  Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut'ina nations.
 
My pronouns are he/him/his.
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Photo of Phil Ollenberg at the Calgary Stampede

Fourteen years' progressive experience

Since 2008, I've presented across Canada on post-secondary admissions and student services, and sensitive matters of LGBTQ+ gender and sexual diversity to audiences from one to one thousand.

I've served on provincial advocacy and planning associations representing higher education institutions for a decade in a variety of leadership roles, and led diverse teams of professionals at various levels. 

Balanced strengths.

My top five CliftonStrengths¹ are balanced between all four domains:
  • strategic thinking,
  • executing,
  • influencing, and
  • relationship building.

Read the definitions for these strengths at gallup.com.
Five interconnected text boxes reading
Phil of Curtis Paradis (left) and Phil Ollenberg (right) co-hosting the 2015 Queen City Pride Festival TV broadcast produced by Access Communications

Proud about my work with Pride.

Pride is political, trans rights are human rights, and my values are uncompromising.

For four years, I served the board of Saskatchewan's longest-running Pride festival in financial and fund development roles. In that time, I helped eliminate the organisation's long-standing debt, quadrupled sponsorship revenue to $40,000, and made frequent TV and media appearances on LGBTQ+ issues. 

I now co-chair on my organization's pride committee where I've helped produce multiple pride weeks, education pieces, and speaker series.

Media experience and coverage

As a recognized expert in college/university enrolment trends and an advocate for LGBTQ issues, I've earned a variety of TV, radio, and other media appearances. Here's a selection of my appearances:
  • Yahoo! Finance, Aug. 15, 2022: Thought leader on mobility in higher ed
  • EduMed, Mar. 12, 2022: Industry expert on college admissions
  • Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges, Sep. 21, 2021: Admissions contributor
  • Military Families Magazine, July 2021, thought leader on COVID safety in higher ed
  • ​MarketScaleTV, Apr. 19, 2021 thought leader on employer sponsorship of higher education
  • CTV Calgary, Nov. 16, 2020, college spokesperson on tuition policies
  • ​Wolf 104.9 Radio, Jun. 10, 2015, spokesperson for Queen City Pride festival
If you're a journalist, blogger, or podcaster seeking a subject matter expert on these areas, contact me. Note that I speak only on as an industry expert, and generally not on behalf of my employer.

Recent papers:
  • ARUCC Conference, data security in higher education (Ollenberg/Nott/Cairns), Jun. 20, 2022
  • ARUCC Conference, transformations in student finance, Jun. 20, 2022
  • SEMM Forum, "We Cut Delinquent Payments by Half… And You Can Too!" Nov. 9, 2021
Photo of Phil Ollenberg recording material for a student welcome event.

What's the point of this page, Phil?

I'm happily employed and not seeking new opportunities. This page is mostly here as a vanity project and placeholder for my email account.

Additionally, I am available to speak on subjects of higher education (university/college) admissions, enrolment and outreach with reporters, podcasters, bloggers, or parent and community groups as an individual expert and insider on the industry.
Email Phil
Photo of Phil Ollenberg in western apparel visiting Nashville, 2019

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This is a personal site and is not affiliated with my current or past employers or industry associations.

© 2022 PHIL OLLENBERG - CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
Some profile photography by J. Mayers-Jaekel, J. Cale, L. Au, & Access Communications.
"CliftonStrengths" is a trademark of Gallup, Inc.
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