CollegeAPP Webinar: Reimagining Recruitment and Engagement for Older Adults – Lessons from Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Program

Date: February 3, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Location: Virtual
Register Here

As California’s community colleges continue to serve lifelong learners, Santa Monica College (SMC)’s Emeritus Program stands out as a model for engaging older adults. For more than 50 years, the Emeritus Program has offered a broad range of free noncredit classes designed to enrich the lives of older adults—ranging from art and healthy living to community engagement and skill building. As one of the few programs of its kind in the state, it continues to demonstrate the vital role community colleges play in supporting lifelong learning and social connection.

In partnership with CollegeAPP, SMC has taken a data-driven approach to marketing and recruitment, using person-level data and digital marketing strategies to identify and connect with adults 55+, and in some cases, their family member living with them. Through precise audience targeting and messaging, the team used predictive models and detailed data to understand which audiences, messages, and marketing channels delivered the strongest results.

This session with CollegeAPP will highlight how those data insights translated into measurable enrollment growth, improved marketing performance, and more efficient processes that reduced barriers for older adult learners.

Speakers

Scott Silverman

Dean, Academic Affairs (Noncredit & External Programs) at Santa Monica College


Scott C. Silverman, Ed.D., serves as Dean of Noncredit & External Programs at Santa Monica College, California’s leading transfer institution and one of its largest single-campus districts. He oversees several Academic programs that includes Noncredit Career Education & ESL, Emeritus, Community Education, and the Malibu Campus—supporting SMC’s broad and dynamic student body.

Tara Conrad

Vice President, Community and Technical Colleges at CollegeAPP


Tara currently serves as the Vice President for Community and Technical Colleges at CollegeAPP, where she drives operational excellence, fosters collaborative relationships, and enhances student enrollment outcomes through innovative data and approaches. Prior to her role at CollegeAPP, Tara held key positions at organizations such as the National Student Clearinghouse and SUNY System Administration, where she spearheaded initiatives to address complex challenges in higher education.