Communications and Marketing
Our Role
We support Hamilton College’s mission and strategic plan by:
- Developing and promoting authentic communications about people and programs that reflect the mission and that set Hamilton apart from other liberal arts institutions
- Using sophisticated tactics to support Hamilton’s reputation – with peers, media, prospective students and families, alumni, and the general public – as one of the country’s finest liberal arts institutions
- Designing marketing campaigns that engage audiences to recruit top students and to foster loyalty by students, alumni, faculty, and staff
Our Approach
The following principles guide our work as we advance the interests of the College and help our colleagues achieve communications objectives:
- We believe in the value and efficacy of Hamilton’s liberal arts mission
- We develop overarching, cohesive messages for the College
- We create communications that are authentic, well written, and skillfully designed
- We focus on projects that reflect institutional themes and priorities
- We tell compelling stories about the people and programs that make Hamilton special
- We stay current with emerging trends in communications
- We monitor perceptions of Hamilton in the world
- We track external issues affecting higher education and anticipate their impact on Hamilton
How We Can Help
- Working with the media
- Consulting on new initiatives
- Promoting an event
- Publicizing research and achievements
- Creating a webpage
- Crafting email communications
- Using social media
- Producing a publication
- Scheduling photography
- Using the campus print shop
How You Can Help
- Share a story idea or a photo
Staff
Melissa Richards
Vice President for Communications and Marketing
Melissa joined in 2019 as the College’s first vice president for communications and marketing, reporting to President David Wippman. She oversees the College’s brand and communications strategy and leads the Communications team, which is responsible for publications, periodicals, media relations, social media, digital communications, visual communications, crisis communications, and community relations.
Eileen Foote
Communications Assistant
Eileen provides office support, particularly for media relations projects, which includes creating and maintaining databases, disseminating media releases, writing and adding stories to the news website, tracking College news coverage, and researching media for targeted pitches.
LaLaina Hula
Communications & Marketing Assistant
LaLaina offers support to Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Director, Marketing and Analytics. Contributes to social media campaigns, from inception, creation, scheduling, management and provides post-launch data analysis.
Editorial
The Editorial team provide concept development, creative direction, writing and editing for a variety of media platforms — from the website to print publications. The teams work with campus colleagues to accommodate each department’s goals.
Vige Barrie
Senior Director, Media Relations
Vige oversees the media relations operations and focuses on identifying, developing, and placing stories about the College in the national and local media.
Holly Foster
Associate Director, Content
Holly generates content for the College’s various communications channels, focusing primarily on the Hamilton news site. She also oversees the work of student writers.
Stacey Himmelberger
Senior Director, Content Strategy
In addition to serving as editor of Hamilton magazine and the Hamilton Headlines enewsletter, Stacey writes and edits key College publications, websites, and news stories. She collaborates with campus colleagues on content and marketing plans, projects, and campaigns.
Meg Keniston
Executive Director of Content Strategy
Meg oversees Hamilton's content strategy. She writes, edits, and proofreads short- and long-form feature stories for the College’s website, Hamilton magazine, and other institutional storytelling platforms.
Marketing and Analytics
Tim O’Keeffe
Senior Director, Marketing and Analytics
Tim is responsible for leading the development of the College’s social media strategy and devising systems to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the College’s website and digital communications.
Visual Communications
The Visual Communications Team oversees the visual presentation of Hamilton’s messages by designing compelling electronic and print communications intended to educate and inspire readers and viewers about the College. The team also oversees the College’s photo library and consistent application of the visual identity.
Mona Dunn
Production Manager
Mona oversees the production and implementation details for College communications projects, ranging from publications to signage to graphic and photo requests. She has many years and a wide range of print and digital expertise.
Esena Jackson
Director, Web and Digital Communications
Esena manages the presentation of content and graphics on the College website and in email communications. She contributes technical and design expertise for new initiatives and upgrades to existing sites and navigation.
Phyllis Jackson
Visual Communications Associate
Phyllis’ primary focus is typesetting College publications and preparing projects for print. She has worked on the Class Notes and Necrology sections of the Hamilton magazine for more than 30 years. She also assists in the maintenance of the photo library.
Brad Lewthwaite
Senior Graphic Designer
Brad designs digital and print communications. He also provides design support for signage and responds to requests for visual and identity assets for use across campus.
Katie Rook
Web Communications Manager
Katie manages content and graphics on the College website and in email communications.
Zack Stanek
Videographer / Photographer
Zack creates videos and photos that support the College's marketing efforts and strategies. The visual assets he develops are used in a variety of outlets, including the College's main social media channels.
Kevin Waldron
Senior Graphic Designer
Kevin supports digital and print communications design. He also provides design support for signage and responds to requests for visual and identity assets for use across campus.
Contact
Contact Name
Communications Marketing
