The University of Mississippi

UM C3 Summit

2024 Agenda

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
Jackson Avenue Center

Agenda

8:00 a.m. – Check-in

8:30 a.m. – Opening Remarks
Noel Wilkin, Provost
Jim Zook, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

8:45 a.m. – Let’s Get Social Panel Session
This panel session features top-notch social media managers who will unravel the secrets behind their success. Get ready for insights, trends and inspiration to elevate your online presence. Panelists include: Hanna Teevan, digital content manager for Visit Oxford, Breck Jones, public information officer for the Oxford Police Department and Paul Katool, deputy director of public affairs for the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

9:45 a.m. – Lightning Rounds 1 & 2

10:00 a.m. – Opening Keynote: Building Your Personal Brand
Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Head Coach, Ole Miss Women’s Basketball

10:45 a.m. – Break

11:00 a.m. – Marketing in the Gen Z Era Panel Session
Join us for a current snapshot of the market followed by a panel discussion featuring Ole Miss students who will share their unique insights on effective ways to market to Gen Z. Learn firsthand what resonates with a key demographic, from authenticity to brand innovation. The panel includes Ryan Augustine (Class of 2026, Allied Health Studies), Sarah Nash (Class of 2025, Public Health and Health Science), Erin Prince (Class of 2024, Integrated Marketing Communications) and Hudson Thompson (Class of 2025, Integrated Marketing Communications).

11:45 a.m. – Lightning Rounds 3 & 4

Noon – Lunch

12:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony/Break

1:15 p.m. – Breakout Sessions (see full descriptions below)

  • Media Panel, Discussion / Smart Brevity / Inclusive Language

2:05 p.m. – Breakout Sessions (see full descriptions below)

  • Artificial Intelligence / Photo & Video Best Practices/ Inclusive Language

2:50 p.m. – Break

3:00 p.m. – Lightning Rounds 5 & 6

3:15 p.m. – Closing Keynote: The Landscape of Higher Education
Terry Flannery, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Council for Advancement and Support of Education

4:00 p.m. – Closing Remarks, Survey, Feedback, Prizes

4:30 p.m. – Adjourn

 

Breakout Sessions

  • This Presentation Wasn’t Generated by AI – But It Could Have Been
    University Marketing & Communications staff give an overview of AI and its implications for communicators on campus. Through expert tips and an interactive exercise in prompt writing, participants will leave the session feeling confident about best practices for AI implementation.
  • The Magnolia State of News
    Mississippi journalists will share their insights on the current state of journalism and offer constructive feedback on story ideas to help you craft compelling narratives that resonate. Panelists include:
    – Mark Konradi, executive editor, Clarion Ledger
    – Michael McEwen, reporter, Mississippi Public Broadcasting
    – Daniella Oropeza, anchor, WTVA
    – Lyndy Berryhill, executive editor, Stone County Enterprise
  • Capture It: Best Practices for Photo & Video
    University Marketing & Communications staff share their photo and video knowledge, insights and pro tips to assist in visually packaging content for publication. The session aims to provide adaptable best practices for visual content to ensure it is engaging and appealing, and it effectively communicates the brand.
  • Smart Brevity: Creating More Impactful Communications by Saying More With Less
    Based on the book Smart Brevity, co-authored by the Axios founders, this interactive workshop will empower communications professionals to think more strategically about crafting their messages across all platforms and to put the needs of their audiences first. Learning the art of brevity, whether you’re writing emails, speeches, stories, presentations, tweets or posts can create memorability and meaning, leading others to respond to your calls-to-action. You will learn the principles of Smart Brevity (in a nutshell) and then put them into practice in real time. The workshop is based on the Smart Brevity premise: “Brevity is confidence. Length is fear.”
  • Words Matter: The Power of Inclusive Language
    How can universities and higher education professionals remain cognizant of the needs of the ever-changing and increasingly diverse audiences they serve? In this session, you’ll learn the history and nuances of inclusive language and how you can better implement it every day to create a more equitable campus environment. Through learning sessions surrounding trends like AI and “Smart Brevity” communications, trivia and interactive activities, you will leave this session feeling better equipped to speak inclusively.

Lightning Round Presentations

9:45 a.m.

Round 1: “Leaving Creative Fatigue in 2023” — Logan Curtis, Enrollment Management, will discuss how consistent creativity is essential to the strength of a brand. This presentation will share three points to improve creativity and overcome creative fatigue when you are feeling stuck creating the same product over and over again.

Round 2: “From the Classroom to the Stadium: Sharing the Academic Mission with an Athletic Audience” — Evan Sinclair, Manager of Business Development, Ole Miss Sports Properties, will share how Learfield IMG College serves as a link between academic marketers and communicators and the collegiate athletics world. Hear how academic institutions have effectively engaged with sports audiences on college campuses through multimedia rights management, marketing and sponsorship opportunities.

11:45 a.m.

Round 3/4: “Where Legends Are Made: Brand Longevity” — Meagan Bennett, University of Alabama, will share the eras of the Where Legends Are Made campaign and how Alabama has transitioned from featuring notable alumni to current student stories.

3:00 p.m.

Round 5: “Giving Day 2024: Elevating Fundraising Through Collaborative Marketing Efforts” — Maura Langhart, Development, will share plans about how the collaboration with University Marketing & Communications has elevated marketing efforts for Giving Day, going into its fifth year, in hopes of breaking a new giving record.

Round 6: “Shopping for a Major: Developing New Recruitment and PR Materials” — Annabelle Harris, College of Liberal Arts, will highlight the creation and goals of new recruitment materials for prospective students including spinning greeting cardholders, which allow students to, quite literally, shop for a major or minor.