Jaime speaks with Eddie Francis, founder of Edify Ventures, to explore how higher education leaders can navigate sensitive policy changes without triggering public backlash. Eddie shares actionable strategies for framing announcements within a unified vision, adopting inclusive language, and engaging student leadership early. They also discuss choosing effective channels beyond mass email, gauging internal campus sentiment against social media noise, and overcoming critical higher ed hiring challenges.
Jaime speaks with Eddie Francis, founder of Edify Ventures, to explore how higher education leaders can navigate sensitive policy changes without triggering public backlash. Eddie shares actionable strategies for framing announcements within a unified vision, adopting inclusive language, and engaging student leadership early. They also discuss choosing effective channels beyond mass email, gauging internal campus sentiment against social media noise, and overcoming critical higher ed hiring challenges.
Guest Name: Eddie Francis, Strategic Communications Fractional Leader, Trainer, Speaker and Public Speaking Coach
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiefrancis/
Guest Bio: Eddie Francis is a marketing and communications consultant who led marcomm at four institutions. He has been featured in multiple publications, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Volt, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and Careers in Government. Although Eddie launched his career in radio, he found his voice in higher ed. He led public relations at Southern University at New Orleans, where he developed the university’s branding and redesigned the university’s website. Eddie moved on to Paul Quinn College, where he helped spark an enrollment increase amid a PR crisis. At Dillard University, Eddie led the “Write Your Legacy” brand refresh, expanded the university’s licensed merchandise offerings, and led the redesign of the website. Eddie also has a background in talent acquisition. He recruited for award-winning global recruitment firm Cielo and for such brands as Quest Diagnostics, Staples, Lowe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Tyco SimplexGrinnell. Among Eddie’s honors are New Orleans Magazine’s “30 People to Watch,” the Press Club of New Orleans’ Best Radio Entertainment Feature Award, and two nominations for the AMA Foundation’s Higher Education Marketer of the Year. Eddie is a member of the American Marketing Association, where he served on the planning committee for the Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education. He is also a member of the International Leadership Association, the Press Club of New Orleans, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Eddie earned his master’s degree in strategic leadership from Tennessee State University and his bachelor’s in mass communication from Loyola University New Orleans.