As CIO of Lasell College, Deborah Gelch is known as a transformational leader who solves complex problems and builds strong, collaborative teams. She leads technology for a unique consortium that includes Lasell College, Lasell Village, Pine Manor College, and several other organizations.

When the College Board discontinued Recruitment PLUS, Lasell needed a new approach to enrollment management. In 2012, Deborah led the implementation of a new CRM system with Enrollment Rx, along with a custom student portal.

Initially deployed for Admissions, the solution has since expanded to other departments, including Development and Professional Advising. Built on Salesforce, Enrollment Rx provides flexibility. However, that flexibility also requires thoughtful planning and governance.

As Deborah explains, “The good news is that there is no request we cannot fill. The bad news is that there is no request we cannot fill.”

Learn more about Deborah Gelch here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgelch

Key Lessons for CRM Implementation in Higher Education

In her two-part Evolllution series, Deborah shares insights from her experience moving to the cloud. Her advice is especially valuable for CIOs, admissions leaders, and enrollment teams.

Evaluate Business Processes First

“Identifying what the true business process ought to be in today’s world versus what it has become based on prior software limitations is a fine art.”

Institutions should not simply replicate old processes in a new system. Instead, they should take time to redefine how work should be done.

Align IT and Business Teams

“It’s imperative that the IT office works closely with business units during and after a CRM implementation. This is a two-way street.”

Strong collaboration between IT and operational teams is essential for long-term success.

Adopt Agile Methodologies

“Adopting Agile methodologies in IT and educating business units on how to work within an Agile Scrum framework was critical.”

Agile helps teams move faster and adapt to changing requirements, even with limited resources.

Read more about adopting Agile here: https://www.evolllution.com/opinions/cios-advice-staffing-age-cloud-part-2

Leverage Internal Expertise

“Recognize your pockets of expertise and power users and encourage collaboration.”

Institutions should identify experienced users and empower them to support others across departments.

Hire for Hybrid Skill Sets

“A team member with both IT and business process expertise can bridge the gap between departments.”

These roles are critical for connecting technical systems with real-world operational needs.

Continue the Conversation

Deborah’s experience highlights the importance of strategy, collaboration, and adaptability when implementing higher education CRM solutions.

Read the full two-part series here: https://www.evolllution.com/opinions/cios-advice-staffing-age-cloud-part-1/

If your institution is evaluating Salesforce for admissions or planning a CRM transition, contact us to learn how Enrollment Rx can support your success: https://www.enrollmentrx.com/contact/