Brain Waves Blog Authors

Kelli Anderson is the founder of KAC, where she helps organizations develop and execute a content marketing strategy. As a former higher education sales leader and high school teacher, she believes that communicating your story effectively and authentically will have a positive impact on revenue. Kelli is also the creator of the ConnectUs Content Marketing Program. She lives in Cincinnati, OH, with her husband and son and works with clients around the world.  

Kelli's Blog Posts

Andrew Cassel has been managing social media channels for the University of Alaska Fairbanks since 2011. He is a four-time winner of Aurora Awards of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America—Alaska. Andrew has also presented about social media best practices to Alaska CHARR, Alaska Democrats, AlasConnect, Perseverance Theatre, as part of the Transportation Communicators webinar series and at the 2017 HighEdWeb annual conference where he won the coveted Red Stapler as a best-in-track presenter. 

Andrew's Blog Posts

Aliyah Harith recently earned her Master of Arts in Public Relations at Hofstra University, where she currently works as a public relations professional sharing her expertise in digital communications. Aliyah has worked in communications at four higher education institutions, both public and private, and has experience doing public relations and marketing in other sectors including fashion, luxury lifestyle, health and wellness, government, and nonprofit.
Photo credit: Hofstra University.

Aliyah's Blog Posts

Jon Horowitz has been driving digital strategy at Princeton University and Rutgers University for 13 years. His experience at the intersection of communications, technology, and engagement propelled him into his current role as an independent strategic consultant for higher education institutions. Follow Jon on Twitter and check out horowitzstrategy.com for more on Jon and his work.

Jon's Blog Posts

Genna Welsh Kasun is director of content coordination and social media at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. She leads content creation and manages its deployment across a variety of media from social media and news to an enrollment microsite, enrollment print materials, and Juniata College’s alumni magazine. Her content marketing strategies are inspired by influencers every day and her collaboration with them has helped her spread marketing strategy tactics and tools at various conferences and in a peer-reviewed journal article. 

Genna's Blog Posts

Susie Kirk is a library technician at her alma mater's university library—Huie Library. She uses her passion for reading, customer service, and student success to grow a social media presence for her small academic library. Susie prides herself in being the social listener-in-chief at the library. She got her BFA in Fine Arts at Henderson State University. 

Susie's Blog Posts

Dr. Jay Le Roux Dillon is a social scientist and higher education consultant with 14 years of progressive leadership experience in advancement. Jay’s research and consulting practice focuses on broadening and measuring institutional value and impact among college and university alumni. He has served as Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of San Francisco and as Executive Director of Alumni Strategic Initiatives at UCLA. Jay is dedicated to improving philanthropy through data science in order to bring social justice and equity to education. 

Jay's Blog Posts

Nicholas Love is a highly-accomplished communications and marketing strategist currently serving as the Director of the Social Media Strategy Hub at NC State. A graduate of Grambling State University, Nicholas has more than 10 years of successful experience developing innovative communications solutions utilizing digital and traditional marketing strategies and tactics. He previously led the social media charge at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and The Ohio State University while serving as on-air talent with ESPN. 

Nick's Blog Posts

Gail Martineau serves as Senior Social Media Manager at The Ohio State University, where she oversees President Michael V. Drake’s social presence. She works across the university and with partner organizations to ensure Ohio State’s strategic messages are reaching the right audiences through the appropriate channels. Martineau previously served as head of communications in local government and managed web and social for WBNS-10TV News, Columbus, Ohio’s CBS affiliate. Martineau earned her master’s degree in digital communications from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and her bachelor’s degree from Denison University.

Gail's Blog Posts

Carly McCarthy is a digital media specialist with expertise in content creation, execution, and influencer strategy in higher education, working to increase communications and engage with target audiences. She currently serves as the Social Media Manager at the University of Central Florida, home to the 2017 National Champions, where she leads the institution’s social media strategy and manages the university’s main social channels. As a UCF alumna and Orlando resident, she has a deep passion and love for all things UCF.

Carly's Blog Posts

Mike Nagel is the Manager of Customer and Product Marketing for EverTrue. He helps free advancement teams from the pain of bad technology so they can do their best work. Prior to EverTrue, Mike learned the ropes of fundraising and engagement at Phillips Exeter Academy as the Associate Director of Digital Communications. He lives in NH with his wife, Sonja, and their three kids and two cats. He’s a proud graduate of both Ithaca College and Emerson College.

Mike's Blog Posts

Erin Supinka is a digital strategist with nearly seven years of experience assisting higher education institutions communicate with and engage their target audiences. She currently serves as the assistant director of digital engagement at Dartmouth College where she leads the institution’s social media strategy and manages the college’s main social channels. She's also fluent in doggo and is a budding brand manager for Fern and Cedar, her two rescue dogs. Connect with her on Twitter.

Erin's Blog Posts

Donna Talarico is an independent content writer and journalist focusing on higher education and publishing. A former director of communications at a small liberal arts college, she’s been published in The Writer, mental_floss, Wiley’s Recruiting and Retaining Adults Learners, CASE Currents, Guardian Higher Education, and a number of alumni magazines. Donna lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is founder and publisher of Hippocampus Magazine.

Donna's Blog Posts

Emily Truax is the Assistant Director of Social Media at Boston University, where she oversees the institution’s main social networks and guides digital strategy. Emily has launched initiatives related to brand reputation, community building, content marketing, as well as program recruitment. She received her bachelor's degree in public relations from Boston University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration at the University's Questrom School of Business. Connect with her on Twitter. 

Emily's Blog Posts

Dave Tyler is the Social Media Director at Rochester Institute of Technology and the publisher of The Journal of Higher Education Web Professionals. He lives in Rochester, NY, with his wife and two children and a husky. The winner of the 1996 Heisman Trophy and a two-time Grammy recipient, he likes to throw ridiculously untrue statements in near the end of these bios to find out if anyone actually reads them.

Dave's Blog Posts

Jackie Vetrano is the Online Marketing and Social Media Manager at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is responsible for data-crunching, chart-making, social listening, digital advertising, and developing digital strategy for the University Communications team. She is the co-host of the Higher Ed Social Podcast and founder of the ConnectEDU Podcast Network. Vetrano often presents on topics including podcasting, social media, and leadership development. In her free time, she can be found trying new foods, petting her cat, watching reality television, listening to comedy podcasts, and running so that she won’t die first in the zombie apocalypse. 

Jackie's Blog Posts