National Faculty Recruitment Receptions

NATIONAL FACULTY RECRUITMENT RECEPTIONS

BRINGING KANSAS TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE

Each year, the two major national social work conferences brought together faculty, researchers, practitioners, and prospective faculty from across the country. Rather than simply attending, we used the opportunity to create an experience that could strengthen relationships, support faculty recruitment, and introduce guests to what made KU and Lawrence, Kansas distinctive.

I led the planning and execution of faculty receptions in two different cities each year, transforming traditional conference receptions into intentional brand experiences designed to tell the story of KU, the School of Social Welfare, and Kansas.

22

CITIES ACROSS THE U.S.

2

NATIONAL CONFERENCES ANNUALLY

55+

FACULTY CANDIDATES ENGAGED

THE APPROACH

CREATE AN EXPERIENCE WITH A PURPOSE

The receptions were designed around more than networking. With faculty recruitment as an important objective, I considered what prospective faculty would want to understand about KU—not only the academic opportunity, but also the place and community they could potentially call home.

The goal was to give guests a memorable introduction to KU, Lawrence, and Kansas without ever leaving the conference city.

TELL THE STORY THROUGH THE DETAILS

I incorporated Kansas and KU into elements throughout the experience, creating subtle opportunities for storytelling and conversation.

Menus incorporated foods with connections to Kansas—such as wheat, corn, barbecue, sunflower seeds, and apples—with custom cards explaining their significance. Specialty cocktails reflected KU's signature royal blue, while décor, event materials, and annual take-home gifts extended the experience and reinforced the connection to KU.

Rather than relying solely on signage or promotional materials, the experience itself became part of the story.

MANAGE THE EXPERIENCE FROM START TO FINISH

I oversaw the complete planning and execution of each reception, coordinating remotely with hotels and venues in different cities and then managing the event on site.

Responsibilities included:

Venue and hotel coordination

Catering and menu development

Décor and environmental details

Branded materials and storytelling elements

Specialty beverage planning

Annual guest gifts

Shipping and receiving of event materials

Vendor billing and reconciliation

On-site setup

Event execution and troubleshooting

Careful advance planning ensured that everything needed for the reception arrived in the conference city and could be transformed into a polished experience once on site.

Results