.eduGuru

This blog is about the pursuit of internet marketing in higher education. Marketing a college or university is a little different than a normal business because it is a non-profit entity. Also college websites were some of the first on the web and the .edu domain is one of the most trusted brands so building value online isn’t the challenge that it is in a normal business. A college website can’t exactly measure ROI by sales because a college sells an education. Because of these unique challenges college markets can’t necessary follow the normal blueprint and must create one of their own. This blog is dedicated to that pursuit.

The Staff

Although this blog was originally created by one person it’s continued growth has warranted the addition of more writers. You can read more about each author on their bio page’s linked below.

• Kyle James - Founder of .eduGuru and Inbound Marketing Consultant at HubSpot (a former College Webmaster)
  

  Kyle is an Inbound Marketing Consultant at HubSpot and  formerly the webmaster at Wofford College. Kyle is an active contributor in the social media spectrum. Although his background is technical, he claims to know a thing or two about marketing, but mostly that revolves around SEO, analytics, blogging, and social media. He has spoken at multiple conferences on topics ranging from e-mail marketing to social media and Web analytics. He's definitely a fairly nice guy.

  Ways to Connect with Kyle

  

• Karlyn Morissette - Director of Marketing Communications at Fire Engine RED
  

  Karlyn Morissette is a thought leader and innovator in higher education. With over 12 years of web experience (half spent working exclusively on higher education web marketing initiatives), she helped pioneer many of the web strategies considered best practice today. Karlyn currently holds three positions: 

  • As the Director of Marketing Communications at Fire Engine RED, she helps admissions offices execute integrated marketing campaigns as a part of student search. 
  • As the President and Principal Consultant of DoJo Web Strategy, she helps universities integrate goal-driven web strategies into their marketing plans.  
  • As Adjunct Faculty for Internet Marketing at Champlain College, she is helping to mold the next generation of web marketers.

  Karlyn is an invited speaker at conferences around the country and publishes regularly on both www.karlynmorissette.com, and as a staff writer on www.doteduguru.com (.eduGuru). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Norwich University.

  To quote a friend of hers: "Karlyn is a super rad ninja marketing genius who will make your target demographic submit to your every whim through sheer willpower. Oh, and she's smarter than you."  We're not sure about the smarter part, but "super rad ninja" is true enough.

  

• Michael Fienen - Web Marketing Manager at Pittsburg State University
  

  Michael joined Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS (NOT Pennsylvania, they spell it wrong anyway) in 2006 as the Web Marketing Manager.  Don't worry, he doesn't know what that means either.  Web development's role as a tool for interpersonal communication is a principle focus of his efforts to improve and enhance higher ed web commodities.  He is an active supporter of the dotCMS community, accessibility advocate, freelance consultant, and general purpose geek who wears many hats.  Read his complete bio.

  

• Rachel Reuben - Director of Web Communication and Strategic Projects at the State University of New York at New Paltz
  

  Rachel Reuben is the Director of Web Communication and Strategic Projects at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she has worked in various Web communication, public relation, and marketing capacities over the last 11 years. Her areas of interest include eRecruiting, the use of social media in higher education for marketing and communication, as well as information architecture and user experience. Read her complete bio.

   

• Nick DeNardis - Associate Director of Web Communications at Wayne State University
  

  Nick is the Associate Director of Web Communications at Wayne State University by day. By night he hosts the video blog EDU Checkup where he reviews higher education web sites live. Nick is an active member of the higher education web community and is an officer of Refresh Detroit, a group of web professionals whose goal is to promote web standards, usability, and accessibility.

  

• Nikki Massaro Kauffman - Technology Training Coordinator for Penn State University
  

  Nikki is a technology training coordinator with the Penn State University Libraries, responsible for technology training offered in the Libraries' 20+ departments and 30+ library locations.

  Prior to coming to University Libraries, she served as an interim associate director of instructional technology and multimedia at the Penn State World Campus.  Over the years, she's been a programmer, a database specialist, a Microsoft Certified Master Instructor, a continuing education instructor for seniors and adults with disabilities, and a high school English and communications technology teacher.  Her interests are in the areas where technology, training, and communication intersect.  She holds degrees in both computer science and in education.

  Disclaimer: Nikki's views are not necessarily that of her employer's.  Nikki cannot be contained.