Shows
Can You Make It Pretty?Self-Care in Higher Ed Marcom? These Days?Self-care has become such a buzzword in recent years, it's tough to look at the concept beyond drinking enough water and going for a walk. But in the last year, it’s become even more important for higher ed employees, who’ve seen their industry get really complicated: With the dismantling of the DOE and the canceling of billions in funding for research and key programs that support students, colleges are left vulnerable. Dr. Lindsey Nemcek, public relations manager at the College of Lake County in Illinois, regularly presents at NCMPR conferences about mental health, happiness and self-care. She share...
2025-12-1141 minCan You Make It Pretty?Beyond the Social Media Trends: Tips & Thoughts from the National Communicator of the YearHow do you know when to jump on a trending audio? How can students help with a college's social media strategy? What happens when colleagues can't understand why you don't want to put their flier on Instagram? Sarah Hernandez Herman, NCMPR's 2025 national Communicator of the Year winner and Arizona Western College's director of content strategy and development, shares tips, tricks and how-tos to help your college's social media presence grab just the right audience. She chats with guest host Stephanie Reyna, new media and marketing specialist at Saddleback College in California.
2025-09-1833 min
Talking TacticsEp. 58: Turning a Brand Transformation Into a PartyWhat happens when a team of former tourism and events pros are in charge of rolling out a rebrand? You’ll want to hold on your beignets for this one. In this episode, we’ll hear from Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications for South Louisiana Community College on why they took a festive approach to their brand launch.Guest Name: Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications, South Louisiana Community CollegeGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annefalgout/Guest Bio: Anne Falgout, Director of Strategic Communications at South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc), is a...
2025-09-1640 min
Education Marketing Leader with Chris RapozoBuilding Campus Pride Through Visual Storytelling - A Conversation with Luis LanderosWhat does it look like when a creative director is also a former student? Luis Landeros brings that full-circle perspective to his work at Arizona Western College, and it shows.We talked about:Why stock photos kill authenticity and how real images connect better with communityHow one unplanned photo shoot turned into a national Paragon AwardThe power of being a real-world practitioner in the classroom (Luis also teaches design)Building creative confidence by failing fast and doing the work anywayHow AWC’s team builds momentum by sharing feedback, wins, and work in progressHe...
2025-08-1434 minCan You Make It Pretty?The Importance of Young Creatives: Meet NCMPR's New President, Patrick StonePatrick Stone remembers feeling a little out of his depth when he attended his first NCMPR conference in 2011. He was new to the field and attending with two long-time industry pros.Fourteen years later, he is president of NCMPR. In this episode of "Can You Make It Pretty?", Patrick discusses being new to the industry, the importance of new members to NCMPR, why marketers need to make time to see their college's big picture and a whole lot more. Patrick is from Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts; and this episode's host is Patrick's fellow...
2025-04-0437 minCan You Make It Pretty?Taking Home a Campaign GoldFor the last two years, South Puget Sound Community College in Washington has won District 7’s gold Medallion Award in Government or Community Relations Campaign. Kati Sagawa, SPSCC’s director of marketing & communications, discusses their most recent win, for the Billy Frank Junior Statue Project. The artist made the statue on campus, and it will be displayed in Washington D.C.
2024-12-1931 min
The Higher Ed MarketerCreative Solutions for Community College MarketingIn this episode, we’re joined by Jeff Ebbing, former NCMPR president and the current Director of Marketing and Communications at Southeastern Community College. Jeff brings a wealth of experience and a passion for showcasing the unique strengths of community colleges. He shares how authentic connections with students can transform lives and dives into marketing strategies that not only engage diverse populations but also empower non-traditional students to feel confident in their educational journey.Jeff also tackles common misconceptions about community colleges, revealing the power of storytelling to shift perspectives. From creative solutions for ti...
2024-12-1036 minCan You Make It Pretty?How to Move From Creative Maker to ManagerMarcom and PR is an industry full of creatives, and District 6 member David Steiman – who worked in the film industry before winding up at Pasadena City College in California – talks about his path to marketing director. He chats with guest host Andrea Rangno, director of marketing & public relations at Golden West College in California. This episode was taped live at the District 6 conference in Tucson, Arizona.
2024-11-2131 minCan You Make It Pretty?Keeping Small Teams Engaged and ExcitedHow can managers keep small teams engaged? How can they help staff avoid burnout? Dana Shaffer, senior creative manager for Purell, chats about leading small teams, plus how to oversee a major marketing plan pivot. This episode was recorded live at NCMPR's District 3 conference in Cleveland on Sept. 27, 2024; and it features guest host Jeff Julian, NCMPR's 2023-24 president.
2024-10-1739 min
A2Z Across LCS2 E7: Gold, silver, bronze & DJ MikeithGold, Silver, Bronze, oh my! L&C grabs media awards! Join Jeff and Cody as they congratulate members of the L&C Marketing & PR and Digital Streaming & Broadcast Media Departments on their recent awards from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR). First, Marketing & PR Manager Laura Inlow and Graphic Designer Tanja Jackson talk about their social media and computer generated illustration awards; then Digital Streaming and Broadcast Media Program Coordinator Mike Lemons, Producer/Engineer/Videographer David Ollenbittle and L&C Alumni Ambassador MiKeith Teague share stories from behind the scenes of the award winning “Discover Your Path” vide...
2024-10-0458 min
I Wanna Work There!Ep. 32: Strengthening Talent Attraction and Experience Through Academic BrandingWhat if your institution had a program that helped faculty promote themselves? What would that possibly mean for your employer brand? Maya Demishkevich has been working on such a program to boost both the value of faculty and the value of the institution.On this episode of “I Wanna Work There!” Maya will share three things:A description of academic brandingHow to determine the best channels to communicate faculty members’ brandsHow HR teams and/or marketing and communications teams can measure the success of these effortsGuest Name: Maya Demishkevich/Chief Marketing Officer/Carroll Community Colleg...
2024-09-1637 min
Higher Ed ConversationsDriving Inclusive Design in Higher Ed CommunicationsSend us a textIn this episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Beth Noel, Director of Communications & Creative Services at Middlesex Community College, to talk about accessibility and inclusive design in higher education. What started with a compliance letter about inaccessible PDFs became a turning point in Noel’s journey toward building a culture of belonging for students with disabilities. She shares how her institution formed a cross-college accessibility team and began embedding inclusive practices into all communications.Noel also offers practical guidance on how to write and design with accessibility in mind, sh...
2024-09-0134 minCan You Make It Pretty?Using Grant Funds for Graphic Novels: The 2023 Best in Show WinnerThe College of Lake County in Illinois won Best in Show at the 2023 Paragon Awards with “The Path to Better Care,” a graphic novel that promotes CLC’s healthcare programs. Marketing analyst Jessey Prugh and graphic designer Maddy Asma – who wrote and designed the novel, respectively – share how they did it and the community’s response.
NOTE: CLC's enrollment in PATH-eligible programs saw a 36% increase after the graphic novel was distributed, and PATH programs saw a 30% completion rate.
2024-08-1934 min
Education Marketing Leader with Chris RapozoEquipping the Next Generation of Marketing Leaders - A Conversation with Sally Cameron - A Conversation with Sally CameronMy latest guest on the Education Marketing Leader told me, "I can't do anything for you," when I met her for the first time at NCMPR this March. What she meant was she was no longer in the market.I was there as a vendor, and she, a retired higher ed marketer, was an attendee. "You can talk with me," I responded, and that's what we did. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Sally Cameron, Communication Strategist at ThreeC Strategy and former VP of College Communications at Bristol Community College (31 years!).
2024-07-2539 minCan You Make It Pretty?DEI Is Everyone's Job on CampusDr. Keith Curry, president and CEO of Compton College in California, discusses why DEI is everyone's job on campus, how to work with employees who don't want to take on the task -- and why it was so great for students when Kendrick Lamar popped up at this year's graduation ceremony.
2024-07-1843 minCan You Make It Pretty?Multitasking, Project Management & Getting a Seat at the Leadership Table
Lisé Freking oversees the marcom staffs at two different Minnesota colleges: Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College. She's also NCMPR's 2024 national Rising Star of the Year. Lisé shares project management and multitasking tips, and how to get a seat at your college's leadership table. We also meet the new cohost of "Can You Make It Pretty?", Emily Ray, with Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky.
2024-06-2039 min
The Hidden GemEp. 10: From Data to Advocacy: Shaping the Future of Community Colleges NationwideIn this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Martha Parham, the Senior VP of Public Relations for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), to discuss the pivotal role community colleges play in the higher education landscape. Martha provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing community colleges across the United States, emphasizing the critical support AACC provides through leadership, advocacy, and advancement. From navigating policy changes in Washington D.C. to leveraging data-driven marketing strategies, this episode sheds light on how community colleges can enhance their impact on students and communities nationwide.Key Takeaways:...
2024-06-1740 minCan You Make It Pretty?Crisis Communications Tips from an 18-Year VeteranSt. Philip's College in Texas is the nation's only Historically Black College and Hispanic-Serving Institute. Adrian Jackson, St. Philip's director of marketing and strategic communications, shares how the college stays prepared to deal with a crisis – and how it jumped into action when it received a racially motivated bomb threat last year.
2024-05-2040 min
Education Marketing Leader with Chris RapozoHow To Create Marketing Messages That Drive Action - A Conversation With Jeff EbbingThis week's Education Marketing Leader podcast episode concludes our community college series hosted in honor of Community College Month.I'm excited to share my conversation with Jeff Ebbing, Director of Marketing and Communications at Southeastern Community College and former National Council for Marketing & Public Relations president.I first met Jeff at NCMPR's National Conference in Orlando last year and got to know him better during a fun run through the streets of Seattle at this year's conference. Our conversation centered around practical strategies for higher-ed marketers.
2024-05-0239 minCan You Make It Pretty?Self-Proclaimed Pop Culture Nerd & Former McDonald's Mascot: Meet NCMPR's 2024-25 PresidentVirginia Moreland has been with Tennessee Board of Regents – The College System of Tennessee since 2012, and she attended her first NCMPR national conference the following year, in New Orleans. In 2025, the conference will return to New Orleans, for NCMPR's 50th anniversary – with Virginia as NCMPR president. In this Meet the President episode, Virginia shares why she's focused on getting new members involved, her love of pop culture ... and that time she was a McDonald's mascot.
2024-04-1833 min
Education Marketing Leader with Chris RapozoHow To Craft Memorable Messages For Your Institution - A Conversation With Jason HoulihanIn the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Houlihan, MBA, the Executive Director of Marketing and Events at Del Mar College. 🎓I heard Jason speak at the 2024 NCMPR National Conference in Seattle last month and was so inspired by his talk that I invited him on the show. 🎙We focused the episode on how to craft memorable marketing messages in higher education.Here are the key takeaways:𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭Jason emphasizes the power of digital marketing, especially in engaging today's tech-savvy...
2024-04-1833 minThe Hidden GemEp. 5: Business-Savvy Approach to Transforming Marketing and Enrollment StrategiesIn this episode, we delve into a County College of Morris journey to transform its marketing and enrollment management strategies. The discussion offers an insider's look at the bold decision to hire from outside the traditional higher ed path, which sparked a significant turnaround in student enrollment and community engagement. The episode highlights the importance of understanding brand perception, targeting the right audience, and the benefits of integrating marketing and enrollment under one leadership. It also explores the positive impact of fostering strong, collaborative teams, adopting a business-like approach to operations, and the pivotal role of responsive, data-driven decision-making...
2024-04-0840 minHigher Ed ConversationsSupporting Your School with Servant LeadershipSend us a textAs higher education continues to evolve and expand, the presidency of its institutions has become an increasingly demanding role. GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Jeff Julian, Chief of Staff at Harper College and President of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations, to discuss the shifting landscape of higher ed leadership.In this episode, Julian shares insights from his extensive background in communications, public awareness, and PR, and discusses the catch-all yet crucial function of the Chief of Staff role. While the structure and delegation of duties vary across...
2024-03-0135 minCan You Make It Pretty?Boosting Employee Morale Through ... an Annual Report?One way Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) in New Jersey is keeping employees engaged and boosting morale is through its annual report. It’s an important document, but not always the snazziest. Greg Volpe—RCBC’s executive director of strategic marketing and communications—discusses why the college has turned its annual report into a puzzle ... and tarot cards ... a calendar ... a cassette tape ...
2024-02-1534 minCan You Make It Pretty?Finding Student Stories & Telling Them RespectfullyCommunity colleges are full of great stories that represent a diverse student body. How can the college's marcom team find those stories? How can they tell those stories without falling back on tokenism, tropes or stereotypes? Sally Cameron, an NCMPR president emeriti and former vice president of college communications at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts, and Liz Cooper, associate director of public relations at MassBay Community College in Massachusetts, share how they do it. They'll also present on this topic at NCMPR's national conference in Seattle this March.
2024-01-2637 minCan You Make It Pretty?The One-Woman Marketing StaffChelsea Hayes is the marketing communication specialist at New Mexico State University Alamogordo, and she's a staff of one. She shares her tips for small teams, including how to set boundaries and advocate for more help.
2023-12-2136 minCan You Make It Pretty?Boring Meetings, "Everyone's a Marketer," and Creative Burnout: Tips to Make Your Lives a Little EasierThree topics that come up A LOT in marketing, especially at community colleges:
Too many boring meetings.
Dealing with clients who think they're marketers.
How to handle creative burnout.
Chris and Jenny Schell are the co-founders of Design Rangers, a Colorado Springs design firm that specialize in camps (not meetings), asserting your expertise in marketing, and tips to keep yourself engaged when the burnout is lurking. They chatted with Can You Make It Pretty? live at the District 4 conference in Colorado Springs on Oct. 13, 2023.
2023-11-1628 minCan You Make It Pretty?Staying Excited & Inspired at Your Two-Year College Marketing JobFour NCMPR president emeriti, who have a combined 103 years of marketing and communications experience at community colleges, discuss how they stay excited about the job, how to beat imposture syndrome, how marketing can get a say at the college president's table and a whole lot more. NCMPR's 2023-24 president Jeff Julian guest hosts this episode, which was recorded live in St. Charles, Missouri, at the joint District 3/5 conference Oct. 6, 2023.
Panelists:
Jeff Ebbing, from Southeastern Community College in Iowa, who was NCMPR president in 2022-23
Lynn Whalen, from Lincoln Land Community College in Illinois, who was NCMPR...
2023-10-1939 minCan You Make It Pretty?Launching a Successful, Targeted Digital Marketing CampaignSaddleback College wanted to launch a targeted digital marketing campaign, and it wanted to ensure it got the details and audience right. As an HSI – Hispanic-Serving Institution – the California college needed to speak its audience's language, both literally and figuratively. Jennie McCue, Saddleback's executive director of marketing and communications, talks through how it selected its vendor, the research conducted, and the (successful!) results of the campaign.
2023-09-2126 minCan You Make It Pretty?Building a Vendor/College Marketing RelationshipHow can you get the most bang for your budgeting buck with your vendors? And build the best relationship so you're not stuck in the awkward position of having to break ties with your vendor? With experience on both sides of the college/vendor relationship, Cheryl Broom – CEO of GradComm and former community college marketer – shares some tips for community colleges to ensure a fulfilling, fruitful relationship with their vendors. Plus, co-hosts Stephanie and Matt start with a bit about how their colleges use AI for their communications.
2023-08-1743 minCan You Make It Pretty?Marketing + Government Relations, and Creating a Personal Brand: Chatting with the 2023 Communicator of the YearIn college, Fiona Lytle thought she was going to be a dentist. Like so many community college marketers, though, her path changed. Today, Lytle is the chief communications officer and legislative liaison at the Colorado Community College System. She's also NCMPR's 2023 Communicator of the Year. Fiona shares how she got into her current job role, some tips for marketers on working with government officials and the importance of creating a personal brand.
2023-07-2035 minCan You Make It Pretty?How to ID and Address Unconscious Bias in MarketingIdentifying something that is unconscious can be tricky. How can we even pick out a problem if we don't realize it's happening? TaChelle Lawson – president of FIG Strategy & Consulting out of Las Vegas and a diversity, equity and inclusion trainer – discusses unconscious bias: What is it? How does it affect our relationships and our marketing? And how can we address it? Here's a hint: It may not ever become a comfortable topic, but it does it easier.
2023-06-1545 minCan You Make It Pretty?The Winding Path to Community College Marketing: A Chat with NCMPR's 2023-24 PresidentBefore he found himself as Harper College's chief of staff, NCMPR's 2023-24 president worked in marketing, yes. He also worked in construction, in radio, for the American Library Association, and filing taxes in a cat-filled basement. Jeff Julian, whose résumé also includes "former co-host of Can You Make It Pretty?," chats about how NCMPR continues to help him do his job better (even though it's not technically under "marketing"), how he builds off his predecessors' goals as the org's president, and lunching with Snoopy's PR rep. Also: Stephanie has a new co-host! Meet Matt Radcliffe, digital marketing strategist at...
2023-05-1938 minCan You Make It Pretty?In Leadership Training, Growth is as Much Personal as ProfessionalTo maximize professional leadership potential, it's about personal growth. You can't succeed without a team whose strengths complement yours. It also helps to have a support network who's got your back. These are some of the takeaways of the 2022-23 cohort of NCMPR's Leadership Institute. A trio of new graduates--Laura Inlow, marketing and public relations manager at Lewis & Clark Community College in Illinois; Jennifer Pue, strategic communications planning manager at Alamo Colleges District in Texas; and Joe Vinduska, public relations and social media specialist at Barton Community College in Kansas--share why they signed up for the Leadership Institute, what...
2023-04-2024 min
Can You Make It Pretty?Bringing Admissions and Enrollment into Your Marketing StrategyWe’ve heard it a lot: Areas outside marketing don’t really know what we do. One way they get around that at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts is to approach areas like admissions and enrollment and say, “You tell us the stats.” By brainstorming with Student Services, marketing ensures the message focuses on the right students – and what they care about. Our guests are Patrick Stone, Cape Cod’s director of strategic communication and marketing, and the college’s digital marketing specialist, Jonathan Fonseca. Plus, it’s Jeff’s final episode co-hosting with Stephanie … so things get just a little off th
2023-03-1641 minCan You Make It Pretty?Meet Zaria Parvez, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Winner and Closing Keynote Speaker at NCMPR Under the SunS4, E2: In September 2021, Duolingo, the world’s most popular language-learning platform, had 50,000 TikTok followers. As of late January of this year, it had 5.7 million. That increase is due in large part to Zaria Parvez, Duolingo’s global social media manager and one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in social media last year. Zaria is this year's closing keynote at NCMPR Under the Sun. She shares how she achieved that monumental goal. Hint: You can't achieve it if you don't trust your audience. And it doesn't hurt if the face of your brand is an unhinged owl.
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2023-02-1626 minCan You Make It Pretty?Getting to Know NCMPR: If You're a Member or Want to Be, Here's the ScoopS4, E1: For the first time in three full seasons, we're talking exclusively about ourselves. Natalie Daggett, NCMPR's associate director of district operations, details the ins and outs of the org: the best ways to get involved, how the board of directors works, and what keeps members coming back year after year. Plus, she and co-hosts Jeff Julian and Stephanie Reyna share how they got involved in the first place (in at least one instance, it might date back to the hospital nursery). Welcome to season 4!
2023-01-1936 minCan You Make It Pretty?How to Improve Your College's Resources for LGBTQ+ StudentsS3, E12: The LGBT+ Club at Inver Hills Community College in Minnesota wrote a letter to the administration with four requests to improve the LGBTQ+ resources on campus. Club sponsor, Dr. Amy Zsohar, made it her personal mission to ensure all four asks were granted. It took four years, but she succeeded. Zsohar shares the importance of persistence -- and identifying the right people on campus who can help -- in achieving a goal that requires change on such a systems level.
2022-12-1536 minCan You Make It Pretty?Producing A Successful Radio Ad, in English and Spanish: A Live Peer and Simple Interview in HoustonS3, E11: More than 95% of the population in Laredo, Texas, is of Mexican descent, and Spanish is the dominant language. Obed Guerrero, the community and media relations director at Laredo College and former radio DJ, chatted with Peer and Simple cohost Stephanie Reyna – live at NCMPR's District 4 conference in Houston – about how to produce a successful radio spot in Spanish and in English.
+ Listen to Laredo College's 2021 bronze Paragon-winning radio spot in English and in Spanish.
2022-11-1722 minCan You Make It Pretty?Self Care at Work Beyond the Pandemic: A Live Peer and Simple Interview in ChicagoS3, E10: Mike Barzacchini, the director of marketing services at Harper College in Illinois, learned a lesson during the heart of the pandemic, and it's something he brings to his team daily: The importance of self-care at work. At NCMPR's District 3 conference in Chicago, Mike chatted with Peer and Simple co-host Jeff Julian –who's also a longtime friend – about how he prioritizes his employees' well-being. They cover how administrators can better connect with employees, the necessity of generosity in leadership, and that time Mike had eight dogs in the house at once.
2022-10-1930 minCan You Make It Pretty?TikTok for Community Colleges and Making It In Marketing When Your Background Is Not: A Chat with NCMPR's 2022 National Rising StarS3, E9: Elissa Kojzarek, the communications and social media manager at Elgin Community College in Illinois, never thought she'd find herself in social media: She rarely got on Facebook and used Instagram only sometimes. Now, she's leading breakout sessions on TikTok for her peers and has her eye set on hitting 1,000 followers for Elgin's account. Elissa, who is this year's NCMPR national Rising Star, talks about how she found herself in community college marketing (spoiler: the path took her through Jakarta, Indonesia) and what the future of social media just might look like.
+ Read along with Elissa...
2022-09-1544 minCan You Make It Pretty?Introducing a New College President to Campus and Community MembersS3, E8: The new president at Langara College in British Columbia, Canada, began on June 6, but the marketing office started prepping for Dr. Paula Burns' arrival back in January. Langara's public affairs manager Mark Dawson shares why preparations kicked off so early, plus the steps they've taken to ensure employees, students, the community and key stakeholders get to know their new leader. He also points out the most vital to-dos, specifically for smaller marketing staffs ... just in case you don't have the resources to tackle every single one of those steps.
2022-08-1843 minCan You Make It Pretty?Data Dig 2022: What Issues Do Community College Marketers Face Today?S3, E7: Data Dig 2022 reveals the issues we face in the field, the racial and ethnic makeup of NCMPR membership, and the staffing areas most lacking on our teams. NCMPR worked with Graduate Communications to conduct this first-of-its-kind survey of community college marketers. Cheryl Broom, its CEO, chats about some of the survey's findings and shares ideas about how NCMPR can best help our members moving forward. Plus, in the newly named Chit Chat, Peer and Simple hosts Jeff Julian and Stephanie Reyna share their tips for naming projects – everything from marketing campaigns to bands.
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2022-07-2145 min
Can You Make It Pretty?How To Successfully Promote Your College to AAPI and Other Minority StudentsS3, E6: Oakton Community College in Illinois recently received a $1.5 million grant to help support its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, who make up about 23% of Oakton's student population. Dear Aunaetitrakul, the grant's senior program manager, shares how Oakton promotes the grant and supports Oakton's large AAPI population – including some thoughts about why it might be time to start a subject-specific podcast at your own institution.
2022-06-1640 minCan You Make It Pretty?When its Audience was Sick of Hearing About COVID, This College Turned to Interpretive DanceS3, E5: COVID-19 information fatigue is real, but Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts was determined to inform their employees and students about the college's coronavirus safety measures. When presented with a budget to make a video, Allison Dolan-Wilson, vice president of institutional advancement, and creative director Trevor Stair knew they had to do something memorable. They share how they crafted the perfect irreverent tone to ensure their audience would listen up. Watch their bronze Paragon Award-winning project, in Promotional Video-Short Form, on YouTube. Plus, hosts Jeff and Stephanie discuss the benefits of a little um'ing. (For all you...
2022-05-2036 minCan You Make It Pretty?Karaoke King, One-Person Marketing Staff Cheerleader, U2 Lover: Meet Your NCMPR 2022-23 PresidentS3, E4: NCMPR's new president takes the reins each March at its national conference. Meet the org's new leader, Jeff Ebbing, who chats about visiting THE Joshua tree, mediocre sushi and how he went from NCMPR blogger to 2022-23 president of the board (and how you can do the same). Plus, host Jeff Julian welcomes cohost Stephanie Reyna, a long-time NCMPR member, recent Leadership Institute graduate — and honorary Jeff.
2022-04-2835 minCan You Make It Pretty?Whether or Not You're a Manager, You Are 100% a LeaderS3, E3: The first cohort of NCMPR's 10-month Leadership Institute graduated in March. Three graduates discuss what they learned, how the Institute is helping them do their jobs better, and why you should be a part of the 2022-23 cohort. This episode's guests are Leslie Ouellette, associate director of integrated marketing and communications at Bunker Hill Community College in Massachusetts; David Barnhardt, director of communications and student recruitment at West Virginia Northern Community College; and Stephanie Reyna, new media and marketing specialist at Saddleback College in California.
2022-04-0433 minCan You Make It Pretty?How Your Marketing Team Can Support Ukrainian StudentsS3, E2: At Norwalk Community College in Connecticut, 7% of the student population was born in Ukraine. To craft NCC's response to the conflict in Ukraine, marketing and the diversity and inclusion committee are working together. Committee chair Pracilya Titus and Mario Haimindra, the marketing and PR associate, chat with Peer and Simple about NCC's programming so far, the importance of both active and passive marketing and how to determine which world topics receive this kind of attention.
2022-03-1728 minCan You Make It Pretty?How to Successfully Prioritize DEI at Your Two-Year CollegeS3, E1: Season 3 of NCMPR's Peer and Simple podcast kicks off with Dr. Kevin Christian, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, D.C. Community colleges started to contact him about their chief diversity officer positions back in 2017, but the push grew after George Floyd's murder. Christian discusses the importance of a DEI team (in lieu of just one person), good data and a meaningful budget.
2022-02-1730 minCan You Make It Pretty?How Arsenio Hall Changed the Career Path for One NCMPR MemberS2, E12: "What happens when you go to Washington is, you get recruited." After serving as a press secretary under President Bill Clinton, Kerri Glover was recruited by a PR firm repping "pretty much every education association you have ever heard of." Then she worked for a tech firm. And Ogilvy. And the Sierra Club. Glover shares how that resume informs her decisions and work as Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College's community relations and marketing director.
2021-12-1632 minCan You Make It Pretty?Need Some Motivation? Dr. J Can HelpS2, E11: Dr. Joshua Fredenburg – or Dr. J, as he likes to be called – is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, TEDx speaker and leadership and diversity consultant, as well as the president/founder of the Circle of Change Leadership Experience for students. A keynote at NCMPR's District 1 conference in October, Dr. J shares some leadership tips, how he gets motivated when he's just not feeling it ... and why his youthful dream job included "FBI agent." This episode was taped live at District 1's conference on Oct. 26, 2021, in Long Branch, New Jersey.
2021-12-0224 minCan You Make It Pretty?A Meet & Greet with District 4's Rising Star and Communicator of the YearS2, E10: Katie Norris' path to Ozarka College in Arkansas, where she serves as director of public relations & marketing, started when she enrolled as an Ozarka student. And Kim Lessner came to her role as vice president and chief operations officer at Tyler Junior College in Texas after she retired. As District 4's Rising Star and Communicator of the Year, respectively, Norris and Lessner chat with Peer and Simple guest host Matt Radcliffe, the District 4 director and digital strategist at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, at their district conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on Oct. 23. Norris shares...
2021-11-1820 minCan You Make It Pretty?Lessons From a 21-Year Industry Veteran: 'Find Some Outlets to Get Creative and Refresh Yourself'S2, E9: What lessons from journalism inform community college marketing? How can young professionals assure they have staying power at a new gig? North Dakota vs. South Dakota? Erin Wood, director of college relations at Lake Region State College in North Dakota, chats live at District 5's conference in Omaha, Nebraska, on Oct. 11, 2021, in this special episode of Peer and Simple. Wood shares insight into this year's NCMPR Leadership Institute cohort – the first! – and a bit about her state's history.
2021-10-2816 minCan You Make It Pretty?Let's Talk about PhotographyS2, E8: Steve Jessmore and Mark Carriveau have a combined 55+ years of photography experience. Jessmore, a Michigan-based freelance photographer, and Carriveau, who shoots for Elgin Community College in Illinois, discuss their careers, what community college marketers can learn from photographers and easy-to-follow tips for non-photographers to capture great art. This episode of Peer and Simple was recorded live on Oct. 5, 2021, at NCMPR's District 3 conference in Grand Rapids Michigan.
2021-10-2133 minCan You Make It Pretty?The Importance of Music in College BrandingS2, E7: Finding the right music for your video promotions or commercials can be tricky. How can you find a tune that fits with your college's branding? Where can you find a clip that's affordable? Bret Figura, graphic designer at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois, is also a drummer, and he talks about the importance of your institution's audio brand and how he wrote and performed the score for a Moraine campaign last year.
Episode links:
Trinity Christian College commercial that inspired Figura
Moraine's commercial, with music composed by Figura
2021-09-1628 minCan You Make It Pretty?Marketing Fails: From Typos to Double EntendresS2, E6 – Marketing fails: We've all faced them. Sometimes, no matter how many eyes study a project, a typo or an unfortunate photo still gets through. Or no matter how many times you host an event, you miss how much a factor like the weather can affect turnout. Four marketing professionals share some of their biggest marketing fails in this special video episode of Peer and Simple. View some of the marketing fails in the links below, or watch this episode on YouTube.
NCMPR's special guest host is Jeff Ebbing, director of marketing and communications at Southeastern Co...
2021-08-1941 minCan You Make It Pretty?TEDx Speeches, Vulnerability and MicroaggressionsS2, E5 – Dr. Toya Webb is a life coach, a TEDx and motivational speaker, and NCMPR's district 3 director. She discusses the importance of vulnerability in the workplace, plus some findings from her doctoral research, about the impact of microaggressions on Black women in leadership. This is Peer and Simple's first podcast recorded in-person – at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, site of NCMPR's 2022 national conference.
2021-07-1520 minCan You Make It Pretty?'It's the Way You Get the Most out of People'S2, E4 – Sally Chapman Cameron spent more than three decades at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts. Though she's retired from the college, she's still active in NCMPR, presenting at conferences, writing for Counsel magazine and dropping in for a Peer and Simple interview. Chapman Cameron is 2021's Petrizzo Award winner, which recognizes a career of accomplishments. In this episode, she talks about the early days of marketing, how she got the most out of her team and why she just can't leave two-year colleges behind.
Find Chapman Cameron's Petrizzo acceptance video, which starts at 17:49, on NCMPR's YouTube pa...
2021-06-1735 minCan You Make It Pretty?Minneapolis College and George FloydS2, E3 – Minneapolis College is just down the street from the spot where George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020. As the community responded and the city became a center of the nation's social justice movement, the college had to figure out the best way to craft its messaging to the campus and larger community. Deanna Sheely, the college's vice president of advancement and marketing communications, and Patrick Troup, its vice president of student affairs and interim diversity officer, discuss how they worked together to ensure communications stressed the necessary heart and emotion while maintaining the college's voice.
2021-05-2039 minCan You Make It Pretty?Getting to Know You, with NCMPR’s 2021-22 PresidentS2, E2 – Meet Debra McGaughey, NCMPR's 2021-22 president. She chats with host Jeff Julian about how she got involved with NCMPR, why she wanted to move up to the executive board and her experience so far on the council's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. Plus, she shares her experiences as a professional journalist and gives a peek into the memoir she's writing.
2021-04-2226 minCan You Make It Pretty?The Coronavirus: A Year LaterS2, E1 – Three community college marketers who are still working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic chat with host Jeff Julian about how their year has been going, what they miss about working in an office, and how they've stayed connected to colleagues. Guests are Greg Harris from Portland Community College in Oregon, Lisa Brosky from Pima Community College in Arizona and Shannon Rooney from Community College of Philadelphia.
2021-03-2634 minCan You Make It Pretty?Writing it RightS1, Episode 12 – In 2020, both NCMPR gold Paragon awards for writing went to Seattle Central College: AK Sterling, partnership services manager, for short form, and Roberto Bonaccorso, director of communications, for long form. The two discuss their favorite writing tips and what makes a memorable, award-winning story.
2021-03-0117 minCan You Make It Pretty?'It Goes Back to How I Got Involved'S1, Episode 11 – Host Jeff Julian chats candidly with friend, colleague and new NCMPR Executive Director James Walters. The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges. NCMPR is the organization two-year college communicators turn to, first and foremost, and Walters shares why he's so excited to take on this role at its helm.
2021-02-1922 minCan You Make It Pretty?Step it UpS1, Episode 10 – A virtual sit-down with Juan Gutierrez, 2020-21 president of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations, who tells how he found himself in a leadership position within NCMPR, how it has benefitted him professionally and personally, and how members can get more involved and take on leadership roles within the organization. Gutierrez, director of marketing and public relations at Orange Coast College in California, has been involved in community college marketing since 2002. His specialties include leadership and team development, community outreach, and branding and promotion. He joined NCMPR in 2010.
2021-01-0618 minCan You Make It Pretty?In Good Hands – Growing Social Engagement With Student AssistanceS1 Episode 9 – The University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville doesn't have a paid social media specialist, but that hasn't slowed down their marketing efforts. Hannah Keller Flanery, the college’s communications and marketing coordinator and sole marketing staff member, got the idea for a student-driven social media program from a past NCMPR conference. "I’m a one-person marketing office, so I need help," she said. The help she has gotten has turned into a win-win for everyone.
2020-12-1618 minCan You Make It Pretty?Picking Up the Pieces from a Website Redesign Gone HaywireS1 Episode 8 – How in the world do you roll out 16 website redesigns in five weeks? Just ask NCMPR's 2020 national Rising Star Jackie Watson, director of web strategy for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Watson is a certified content marketing specialist with more than 12 years of digital marketing and content writing experience, and she's spent the last four-plus years developing and managing digital and social media content, ensuring its relevance for KCTCS’s target audiences.
2020-11-2420 minCan You Make It Pretty?A Date With DataS1 Episode 7 – Daniel Ramirez, director of public relations and marketing at South Texas College, describes himself as a “data nerd” and unashamedly puts his mathematical mind to work to embrace a data-focused approach to marketing that’s positively impacting enrollment. He answers the question, "If you had one piece of data to help with enrollment, what would it be?"
2020-10-3020 minCan You Make It Pretty?Consistently Promoting Brand Consistency
S1 Episode 6 – Barb Dreger, director of marketing at Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin, is a steadfast proponent of brand consistency. Listen as she shares how to effectively manage marketing projects while protecting the community college's brand.
2020-09-0319 minCan You Make It Pretty?Winning the GoldS1 Episode 5 – In the most recent NCMPR Paragon awards, Kellogg Community College in Michigan took home three golds and the best in show. Eric Greene, the college’s chief communications officer, gives an inside look into what makes a gold-winning entry.
2020-07-2723 minCan You Make It Pretty?A Topical MedleyS1 Episode 4 – In this “topical medley,” longtime NCMPR members Terri Giltner from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and Heather McDorman from St. Charles Community College in Missouri share their expertise about a variety of topics related to community college marketing and PR.
2020-06-2219 minCan You Make It Pretty?The Secrets of Long-Term Success in the BusinessS1 Episode 3 – The marketing department at Leeward Community College (Hawaii) didn’t exist until the college asked Kathleen Cabral to start it. That was nearly 20 years ago. Now listen as Kathleen, Leeward's director of marketing and communications as well as the 2020 NCMPR national Communicator of the Year, recounts tales of her 30 years in the industry – and how she stays open to discovering new and better ways of telling the LCC story.
2020-05-2618 minCan You Make It Pretty?A Podcast About PodcastsS1 Episode 2 – With the highly successful "Redefine U" podcast to their credit, the marketing team from Anne Arundel Community College (Maryland) knows a thing or two about digital storytelling. Listen as Dan Baum, executive director of strategic communications at AACC, talks podcast creation in this month's episode of "Peer and Simple." Get a sense of what they're doing at AACC – and how to replicate their success at your college.
2020-04-2718 minCan You Make It Pretty?COVID-19: Crisis Communication Like We've Never SeenS1 Episode 1 – Lynn Whalen, Juan Gutierrez and James Walters, members from NCMPR’s executive committee, discuss the changes their community colleges are making to adapt to closed buildings, cancelled graduations and no end in sight. Whalen, executive director for public relations and marketing at Lincoln Land Community College in Illinois, was NCMPR president for 2019-20; Gutierrez, director of marketing and public relations at Orange Coast College in California, is president for this 2020-21 year; and Walters is director of marketing and communications at Skagit Valley College in Washington and NCMPR’s secretary/treasurer.
2020-03-2334 min