Associations, here’s your reminder: growth isn’t just about more sign-ups. The real work is creating connection that keeps members engaged long-term.
Check out the latest Engaged Association blog:
The future of higher ed is being written: one letter, one hope, one voice at a time. 📬
Some have voiced that these letters should in classrooms and offices, even framed as daily reminders of why this work matters.
Add your own hope to the mix: www.josieahlquist.com/letters-to-t...
I’ve been a fan of the "Hello FSU!" campaign for a while — and Alice Maxwell and her team at FSU continue to raise the bar for student success communications.
It’s smart, strategic, & built to belong.
Check it out: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/D7MVE...
Group of individuals posing for a photo at the NASPA Western Regional Conference 2025 planning retreat, outdoors with a pergola and palm trees in the background.
Promotional poster for NASPA Western Regional Conference in Palm Springs, dated November 15-18, 2025, featuring stylized palm trees and mountains against a teal background.
4 months to go until NASPA WRC in Palm Springs!!
As conference chair, I’ve seen this gathering take shape with so much thought and care — not just about what we do there, but how we’ll feel while we’re together.
This is going to be special. naspa201.azurewebsites.net/events/2025-...
Graphic with the title "Letters to the Future: Hopes for Higher Ed." Below is an envelope icon with a heart, and the question: "What would you say to the next generation of higher ed leaders?" On the right, Dr. Josie Ahlquist is pictured with her hand over her heart, wearing a pastel-colored dress, set against a blue-to-beige gradient background with decorative dot patterns.
Letters to the Future. 💌 What do you want the next generation of higher ed leaders to know? Submit a short letter of encouragement here: forms.gle/T2PhZyras7wu...
Associations, turn your next event into a social media moment:
📸 Make it shareable with bold photo ops
📣 Add hashtags + handles where people can find them
💬 Repost attendee content in real time
🧰 Give speakers + sponsors a social media toolkit
Read the latest:
Promotional poster for a leadership and financial strategy session featuring Dr. Josie Ahlquist, titled 'Leadership and Financial Strategy for Student Success', scheduled for September 25, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Eastern, 12:00-4:00 PM Pacific. Includes logos for NASPA IV-West and Flows 2025 NASPA IV-W. More panelists to be announced.
I’m excited to emcee the September session of NASPA IV-West’s FLOWS Series — but before that, we’re kicking things off with a powerhouse panel of VPSAs and college presidents for Session 1 on July 8.
You won’t want to miss it.
Register here: lincolnu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Check out the latest from Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, @drmikemunoz.bsky.social, and myself in NASPA Leadership Exchange! A practical, purpose-driven guide for authentic & impactful leadership.
Grateful to collaborate with such thoughtful change-makers. www.leadershipexchange-digital.com/leadershipex...
Now that summer’s here, take a sec to reset your digital strategy (and catch your breath).
Quick tips to refine your goals, plan content, and recharge before fall: josieahlquist.com/soak-up-the-strategy-tips-to-recharge-your-higher-ed-digital-marketing-this-summer
May was Mental Health Awareness Month, but the need for care and reflection doesn’t end there.
I asked friends and colleagues to share how they care for themselves and their teams during stressful seasons, and their answers were full of heart and soul:
When it comes to social strategy, guessing only gets you so far.
Sprout Social just released a Social Media Benchmarking Toolkit that’s full of data, templates, and insights to help you plan better and lead smarter.
Person smiling and holding a book titled "The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After The Caring Resignation.
A book titled "The Caring University" by Kevin R. McClure, laid on a textured, multi-colored rug. The book cover features bold, geometric shapes in shades of blue, orange, and yellow.
A small dog is resting on a plush white mat in a cozy room filled with books. In the foreground, a book titled "The Caring University" by Kevin R. McClure is prominently displayed.
Huge thanks to @drkevinrmcclure.com for sending me a copy of The Caring University.
Even just the title stopped me in my tracks. I've long been a fan of Kevin’s work — thoughtful, clear-eyed, and deeply grounded in care.
Luna and I are ready to dive in! 🐾📘
Nominate a colleague or program for a NASPA Region V or VI Award! Submissions due June 20 at 11:59 PM PT. Awards will be presented at the 2025 Western Regional Conference in Palm Springs. naspa201.azurewebsites.net/events/2025-...
Want to deepen engagement in your association? Start with stories.
I’m sharing 5 ways member storytelling can build connection and community.
Read more:
Higher ed marcomm pros — this one’s worth your attention.
NACADA is hiring a Director of Marketing and Communications, and I’ve had the honor of working alongside their incredible team.
📍 Manhattan, KS (remote/hybrid possible)
📅 Deadline: June 13
🔗
This time of year, I always try to slow down and ask: What’s actually working? What needs space? What kind of leader do I want to be online?
If you’re asking yourself similar questions, I put together 6 ways to recharge your strategy this summer: www.josieahlquist.com/soak-up-the-...
Promotional image featuring Danielle Sewell, Senior Digital Strategist at Dr. Josie Ahlquist, Inc., for the Higher Ed Social Media Coaching, Summer of Social Strategy Coaching Program. The image shows a smiling individual in a park setting with text detailing the coaching program.
Meet @daniellesewell.bsky.social — a strategist helping higher ed pros build purpose-driven digital strategies — and she's ready to help you this summer!
Danielle meets you where you are and helps you move forward with clarity and care.
Learn more ➡️ www.josieahlquist.com/higher-ed-so...
Graphic for Mental Health Awareness Month titled 'Everyday Practices That Support Mental Health,' featuring portraits of eight higher education leaders. Each leader is associated with a different academic institution and shares a personal mental health practice.
The little things matter. 🌿
This week we’re spotlighting the small-but-powerful rituals that higher ed leaders use to protect their mental health. www.josieahlquist.com/mental-healt...
Calm app sleep stories.
Midday walks.
Taylor Swift scream sessions.
What’s one thing grounding you right now?
A graphic promoting a program titled “Higher Ed Social Media Coaching.” The main text is displayed in bold white font on a coral pink background. Below it, a white banner reads “Summer of Social Strategy Coaching Program” in dark blue text. In the bottom right corner is the logo for Dr. Josie Ahlquist. The background includes geometric shapes in shades of pink and a vertical row of upward arrows along the right edge.
Enhance your social media skills this summer!
The Higher Ed Social Media Coaching: Summer of Social Strategy Program offers higher ed professionals personalized coaching to elevate digital engagement.
🔗 www.josieahlquist.com/higher-ed-so...
Higher ed associations: What if your social media was more than a megaphone? Our new post shows how to shift from transactional content to transformational connection. 💡 www.josieahlquist.com/from-transac...
Promotional image for Mental Health Awareness Month titled 'Mental Health is a Leadership Practice'. Features Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, Dr. Job Duraj, Myla Edmond, Dr. Yvonne Hernandez Friedman, Maria Kuntz, and Dr. Eddie Martinez. Includes text about real leaders building mental health into their culture.
Mental health isn’t just personal—it’s institutional. Leaders across higher ed are modeling what real support looks like, one intentional practice at a time. 🌱
Read more: www.josieahlquist.com/mental-healt...
Promotional poster for "The Engaged Association" featuring Dr. Josie Ahlquist. The poster includes a logo with a heart and hands, and text highlighting the mission of helping higher education communities with purpose and building up their marketing. Dr. Ahlquist is smiling and seated, dressed in a blue floral dress, against a light blue background decorated with red dotted patterns.
Introducing The Engaged Association — a new offering to help higher ed associations connect with purpose across digital platforms.
Learn more: josieahlquist.com/marketing-for-higher-education-associations
Building a clearer, stronger LinkedIn presence? Andréa Jones shares thoughtful takeaways from 10 real audits. Worth the listen! 🎧
Promotional graphic stating 'Now Open! Call for Programs' with submissions accepted through June 6. The design features stylized desert scenery with cacti under a night sky and a full moon.
One month left to submit your NASPA WRC proposal! ⏳ Pre-cons, SA Speaks, sessions —your voice belongs in the room.
Learn more & submit: naspa.org/events/2025-...
AI can make your voice feel more like you.
New blog on using AI personas to support exec presence + campus branding—with prompts, tips, and heart.✨
Not every request is strategic, accessible, or worth the ROI. This article is full of scripts to say no with clarity, care, and kindness. 🖇️
Ed Cabellon & @mallorywillsea.bsky.social's convo on AI as a teammate in higher ed is grounded, thoughtful, and honest. Real questions about culture, capacity, and care.
AI is already reshaping teams. But what I love about this episode is how human it still feels. www.enrollify.org/episodes/epi...
“My job is to help people see beyond what they can see for themselves.”
A great feature on past client, M State President Dr. Carrie Brimhall—on purpose, pivots, and people-centered leadership.
📰 fargomonthly.com/how-m-state-...
