Crisis Communications
YAF Rapid Response
How earned “Fact Check” media, 24/7 customer service, proactive communications, and social and search maintenance helped Ripon College combat a national “Liberal Bias on College Campus” attack and stop the spread of “fake news” and trolls.
Responding to severe financial and reputational crisis with an inclusive plan, supported by radical transparency
In Fall 2023, Albion College faced an estimated $16 million structural deficit that was compounded by fractured relations among constituents following four years of reputational crisis as a result of unstable and disconnected leadership, communication and shared governance issues, town-gown strain, and failed stewardship.
We responded with a multi-year plan dubbed “The Pathway Forward” to reach financial equilibrium. This plan was workshopped through shared governance processes, communicated via dozens of town halls, a shared drive that made all our work accessible to employees at any time, and regular email updates. We produced an initial Pathway Forward document signed by the alumni leaders of our Board of Trustees and Alumni Board, and have produced annual updates on our progress each fall.
COVID-19 Communications, Signage, Email and Social Management.
I worked alongside our president to establish COVID-19 communications tools, protocols, signage, messaging and more to ensure important updates and policies were readily available to all constituents of The College of Wooster. I also managed the COVID-19 email account and Parent’s Facebook page throughout the pandemic.
Multi-Year Embezzlement Case
I served as spokesperson and managed all related internal and external communications, as well as statements to the court, throughout the course of the investigation, trial and sentencing of a former Ripon College IT director who was found guilty of a multi-year embezzlement totaling more than $400,000.
Preparing Constituents for Change
In response to the news in 2015 that Sweet Briar College’s board would move to close the college due to insurmountable financial challenges, I led Ripon College’s efforts to proactively connect with constituents to share its current financial stance, the measures underway to secure its future, what that future might look like, and share opportunities for support.