REGISTER
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Discovery and influence in college choice have shifted. Prospective students increasingly trust peer voices from online platforms and communities over an institution's own messaging. This creates a growing gap between how institutions want to be perceived and the way students actually perceive them.
Rachel Putman, director of strategic communications at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, and Gabriel Welsch, vice president of marketing and communications at Duquesne University, join Amber L. Sandall, senior director of strategic enrollment consulting at the College Board, for a candid panel conversation about closing that gap.
Panelists will share how their institutions use social intelligence to understand how students authentically describe their campus experience, align messaging and strategy around that insight, and strengthen trust with prospective students and families.
You'll walk away with a clearer picture of where perception and strategy may be misaligned on your own campus, along with practical ways institutions are using these insights to guide messaging, strengthen market position and support enrollment goals.
Can't attend the webinar? You should still register—all registrants will receive a recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.
SPEAKERS
Rachel Putman
Director of Strategic Communications at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith
Rachel oversees the university's public and media relations, print publications, internal, external, and crisis communications, and digital media strategy. As the university’s primary media contact, she handles press inquiries, manages relationships with journalists and oversees the university’s primary social media channels, policy and overall strategy. Before joining UAFS, Rachel was a decorated journalist whose reporting and photography have been viewed across the globe. She has been published in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and dozens of other national, state and local publications, earning multiple press association awards.
Gabriel Welsch
Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Duquesne University
Gabe leads strategy and operations for Duquesne’s media relations, web communications, marketing, advertising, printing, publications and internal communications. Prior to Duquesne, he served in several executive functions at Juniata College. He is past president of the board of directors of CUPRAP and regularly presents at conferences on fundraising and marketing topics. Gabe earned his bachelor's and master of fine arts degrees in English at Penn State and is the author of a collection of short stories and four books of poems. His work appears regularly in national literary periodicals.
MODERATOR
Amber L. Sandall
Senior Director of Strategic Enrollment Consulting at the College Board
Amber’s professional expertise is at the nexus of leadership, strategy, research and operations. She works closely with a variety of leaders, including C-Suite, senior leaders, and operational managers and practitioners to evaluate and chart a clear path through the unknown to bring ambitious visions into reality. Amber holds a master of business administration (with certificates in consulting and entrepreneurship) and a bachelor's in communications and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She was named to the Social Intelligence Insider 50 (2022) for pioneering the future of social intelligence.
