My work with the TVP Communications team on thought leadership placements in August aligned with my superstition that good luck comes in threes.
First, in an entry on Inside Higher Ed’s Call to Action blog, I noted that communications critiques are a proxy for displeasure with leadership decisions and often anger about these decisions is aimed at communicators. With rising stress associated with the start of a largely in-person semester, I asked that internal and external audiences extend graciousness with campus communicators as they do their jobs.
Then I shared a very personal opinion piece with the readers of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. I’ve begun my second year of my doctoral program at Southern Methodist University and I discussed what I learned during a largely remote first year. In addition to noting my appreciation for my daughter and my thoughts on Canvas confetti, Zotero and student discounts, I closed by saying, “I’ve gained confidence in asking questions of my professors and technical advice from my daughter. And most importantly, with a few years before my 50th birthday, I’ve reconnected with my love of higher education and learning.”
Finally, the month ended with a piece co-authored by Erin Hennessy for Higher Ed Dive in which we shared our counsel on communicating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and noted, “[f]or us to help you report that you take DEI seriously and have moved the needle on campus climate, you need to have done something and have some indicators that show it’s working.” It is always an honor to partner with Erin to write honest pieces that include phrases like “bringing a communications consultant in to address climate and diversity issues on campus only works if the problem is communications.”
While luck may come in threes, my luck with thought leadership placements comes from a tremendous team. Our director of thought leadership, Ali Lincoln, is the best at brainstorming and editing so that our polished pieces are ready to be pitched by Kristine Maloney, Cristal Steuer and Kylie Kinnaman. And I am always thankful for Erin’s willingness to brainstorm and write with me on topics of importance in our field. And she humors me when I share for the millionth time how much I adore Canvas confetti (because I adore Canvas confetti).