Good communication is what you say, to whom, how, and when. But mostly, it’s why you say it and whether it sticks.

Services for our clients have included:

Complete re-brands, including strategies, messaging, taglines, websites, design, and publications
Institutional communications strategies
Interim Head of Communications and Marketing
Campaign communications strategies and messaging
Campaign case statements, microsites, and videos
Training in storytelling for fundraising teams
Admissions messaging and viewbooks
Staffing and organizational audits for communications and development teams
Crisis communications strategies and tabletop trainings
Media relations strategies and related training for faculty and administrators
Thought-leadership pieces (published in places like The Atlantic, USA Today, Politico, Harvard Business Review, The Hill, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Inside Higher Ed)
Comprehensive, multi-media announcements of new leadership
Presidential communications
Executive coaching
New websites and marketing literature
Videography

Communications Strategy

Every aspirational institution, like every leader, has a distinct mission to express—and obstacles that must be overcome. Sometimes an outside voice, especially one experienced with similar challenges, can help clarify the path to success.

Institutional Strategies

Meaningful, effective communications strategies are grounded in a deep understanding of audiences. Drawing upon in-depth focus groups, interviews with critical constituents, and other research, we will build a comprehensive strategic communication plan tailored to connect your audience with your institution.

Leadership Counsel

Having led communications at numerous colleges, universities, and educational nonprofits, our team has confronted many of the toughest issues that institutional leaders eventually face. Whether it’s crisis management, leadership transitions, communications challenges, or rolling out major news, we can provide perspective, planning, and start-to-finish support.

Strategic Messaging

Reaching key audiences with messages that inspire action can make all the difference.

Campaign Communications

Strong campaigns advance institutional missions, build upon strengths, and foster enduring connections with constituents. Drawing on our experience with numerous campaigns ranging from $40 million to $2 billion, we will work with you to develop the campaign communications strategy, messages, media, and materials—from case statements and pitch decks to videos and social media content—that will resonate deeply with the constituents who know your institution best and can help it the most.

Admissions Communications

In today’s higher education landscape, admissions communications must be memorable, influential, and helpful while showing vividly how all aspects of the school fit together. We have extensive experience developing the entire suite of admissions materials—from viewbooks and videos to websites, social media content, and email messaging. We can help communicate your school’s distinct story and achieve your admissions goals.

Operational Audits

Vision and strategy are only as promising as the focus and preparedness of the team and their practices.

Staffing Audits

Aligning the goals, staffing, and direction of the communications team is critical to making the most of talent. Having built, led, and guided numerous teams, we can help you identify core needs, assess performance, choose structures, define job portfolios, and build practices that will turn the skills and passion of your team into a potent strategic ally.

Communications Audits

Are the digital and print media that you’re producing strategically focused on clear brand markers and messages? Are they integrated for strongest influence across each constituency’s cycle of engagement? Are investments efficiently deployed? We help communications leaders assess how they are doing and how they can produce maximum bang for the buck.

Interim Leadership

We guide teams, address challenges, and build interim strategic practices and approaches.

Melanie Moran
Vice President & Senior Strategist

Melanie Moran joined Mackey Strategies after serving as associate vice chancellor for university relations at Vanderbilt University, where her portfolio included the university's leadership communications, institutional statements and messaging, crisis management, and more. As a consultant, she has served as interim head of communications overseeing the day to day operations of the communications office, spearheading high-level projects, and providing communications counsel.

Read Melanie’s bio.

Pete Mackey, Ph.D.
President & Executive Strategist

Pete Mackey, Ph.D., served as the senior communications officer at five different institutions before founding Mackey Strategies, and has since served as interim head of communications at seven institutions, including liberal arts colleges and research universities. During this interim work, he has evaluated and restructured communications staffs, directed the redesign of new websites, managed communications during crises, developed new communications strategies, and more.

Read Pete’s bio.

Crisis Communications

If these times have shown us anything, it’s the value of preparedness.

Crisis Communications Strategies

The risks of a badly handled crisis demand preparation and objectivity on every campus. We help clients assess their plans and build customized crisis communications strategies, including tailored protocols, checklists, and assignment trees. We build these guides for actionable decision-making and quick and attentive communications management from the time a crisis begins until the matter is resolved.

Crisis Communications Training

A well-built crisis communications plan is crucial in today’s culture. It is equally imperative that those responsible for implementing the plan know how to use it. We provide customized crisis preparation and training, including best practices and tabletops around real scenarios, to help ensure that those responsible for managing crises are confident and well prepared when the need arises.

Leadership Development

We take special pride in helping communications leaders reach their full potential.

Public Speaking & Presentations

Words, and how they’re delivered, can transform reputations. Whether you are a leader looking to hone your skills, or a rising star who wants to strengthen your speaking abilities and confidence, we can help. We have trained a wide variety of professionals—from college presidents to pastors. We provide personalized guidance and tools that will strengthen your confidence in sharing ideas and gaining influence.

The Future Sessions Boot Camp

Twice a year, we offer an action-oriented program built to serve communications leaders and emerging leaders who desire to focus intensively on strategic communications, leadership, and goal-setting in a way that no other program does. Through a step-by-step process, we explore critical issues related to strategic success and guide you in drafting a custom communications strategy built for your specific needs.

Executive Coaching

Support from a professional coach is a powerful tool for executives determined to make a lasting impact—for their careers and the teams and institutions they serve.

Elise Partin
Senior Counsel, Executive Communications Coaching

Elise Partin—five-time elected mayor, TEDx speaker, and Mackey Strategies’ senior counsel in executive communications coaching—provides confidential, personalized support that helps leaders thrive where they are or take their careers to the next level. Tailored to support each person’s individual goals, her one-on-one executive coaching services build on decades of experience helping leaders enhance their communication skills, strengthen their management abilities, and tackle the toughest challenges with confidence and poise.

Learn more and schedule an intro session.

We tailor our services to produce the work that moves your mission forward.

Let us know how we might help you and your organization.