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2024 Strategic Communications Seminar

Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Date: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024
Place: Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom (third floor)

The eighth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for WSU faculty and staff will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Jan. 25 in the Rhatigan Student Center. Attendees may choose to attend up to two sessions. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts.


Session Capsules

All breakout sessions other than the Opening Session will be offered twice. You'll be able to attend one session each round. 

Opening Session

(10-10:30 a.m.)

WSU's Chief Marketing Officer Shelly Coleman-Martins discusses new and continuing university marketing initiatives, including academic program marketing. 

  • Shelly Coleman-Martins, vice president, Strategic Communications

Breakout Sessions

(10:35 a.m.-11:05 a.m. and 11:10-11:40 a.m.)

CREATIVE: Black and Yellow: Take a deep dive into how we build on the Wichita State brand

The creative team will cover recent campus branding projects — including murals, signs, and the campaign to promote the upcoming visit by Nora O'Donnell as part of the next Barton Series Speaker.

  • Brand resources: Learn about recent additions to the photobank and toolkits, including the new Innovation Campus 10-year celebration toolkit.
  • Cool new tips and tricks: We'll cover PhotoRoom and AI-generative fill.
    • Amy Easum, director of creative services, Strategic Communications
    • Annelise Muret, senior designer, Strategic Communications
    • Jaci Ignudo, senior digital specialist, Strategic Communications
    • Quinn Hall, assistant director of web and digital strategy, Strategic Communications

WEB: Design Refresh and Other Web Updates

The paper has been moved and we're on the cusp of beginning our design refresh of the wichita.edu website. We'll walk through the vendor timeline; answer questions and talk about how you can get involved. Plus we'll examine a few new and overlooked features of Omni CMS!

    • Tim Hart, director of web and digital strategy, Strategic Communications

MARKETING: Academic Program Marketing

Learn about our revamped approach to marketing support for academic programs. We’ll explore the ins and outs of our new proactive model, and how we’ll be working directly with academic programs to understand current marketing strategies and ways in which we can support their efforts. 

    • Trish Gandu, director of marketing and advertising, Strategic Communications
    • Fili Medina, marketing coordinator, Strategic Communications

EVENT REAL ESTATE: Innovation Campus and Academic Buildings

University Event & Meeting Services has evolved! Join us for an update and overview of resources, spaces, and places in academic buildings and on Innovation Campus for your WSU event.

    • Carmen Hytche, director of special events and community relations, Strategic Communications
    • James Brewster, associate director, Workforce, Professional and Community Education
    • Connie Clark, events coordinator, University Event and Meeting Services
    • Sofia Polanco, events coordinator, University Event and Meeting Services
    • James Sublett, events coordinator, University Event and Meeting Services

PUBLIC RELATIONS: MANAGING YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWSLETTERS

Join us in this two-part session. First we'll discuss community management on social media and review Wichita State’s new social media community guidelines. Learn effective strategies for comment moderation, addressing negativity and navigating tricky situations to maintain a positive online environment. Then we'll go over tips to start publishing your own newsletter — whether it’s to promote your department’s initiatives or to build engagement and advocacy — in six simple questions to ask yourself.

    • Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, director of news and media relations, Strategic Communications
    • Kayla Pennick, Social Media Manager
    • Sara Tank-Ornelas, speechwriting and copywriting manager, Strategic Communications
    • Paul Suellentrop, senior communicator, Strategic Communications
    • Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor, Strategic Communications