STRATEGIC STORYTELLING & RESEARCH IMPACT

TURNING COMPLEX WORK INTO STORIES PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND, SEE AND EXPERIENCE

THE CHALLENGE

The KU School of Social Welfare was conducting research, developing programs, and producing work with significant impact on individuals, communities, and the social work profession. But important work does not automatically translate into awareness.

We regularly returned to the same communications challenge: How do we better tell our story?

Rather than relying on individual announcements or traditional news releases, I developed a more intentional storytelling approach designed to make the School's expertise and impact accessible to audiences beyond academia.

FROM INFORMATION TO STORY

For major research developments, new programs, and other significant initiatives, I worked directly with faculty to understand not only what they were doing, but why it mattered.

I interviewed faculty members to uncover the people, purpose, problems, and potential impact behind their work. Those conversations became the foundation for integrated story packages that combined written storytelling, visual design, video, and digital distribution.

Discover

Identified research, programs and ideas with stories worth sharing.

Interview

Worked directly with faculty to uncover the purpose, people and impact behind the work.

Create

Developed visual news features and produced short faculty videos to make complex topics accessible.

Amplify

Extended each story across the website, newsletters, social media and other communications channels.

Experience

Selected stories quarterly for Research Impact Talks that brought faculty and audiences together around the work.

STORYTELLING ACROSS FORMATS

WRITTEN + VISUAL

I wrote and designed feature-style news stories that moved beyond traditional academic announcements. Visual presentation, supporting imagery, key information, and accessible language helped readers quickly understand both the work and its significance.

VIDEO

I developed short-form faculty videos to put a person behind the research.

I shaped the interview questions and conducted the faculty interviews, while professional filming support captured the footage. I then edited the interviews into concise stories focused on the research, its purpose, and its potential impact.

DIGITAL

Rather than publishing a story once and moving on, we extended its reach across multiple channels. Stories were featured on the School's website and incorporated into newsletters and social media, creating multiple opportunities for audiences to encounter and engage with the work.

TAKING THE STORY OFF THE SCREEN

Each quarter, we selected one featured story to expand into a Research Impact Talk.

These events gave faculty an opportunity to discuss their work directly with audiences, answer questions, and connect research with its real-world implications.

I managed the events from concept through execution, including faculty coordination, venue and logistics, communications, promotion, registration, event materials, and on-site management.

The talks transformed storytelling from something audiences could read or watch into something they could participate in.