Over the last four years, Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications Mandy Heil has utilized her role to successfully lead several districtwide initiatives in alignment with Arizona Western College’s mission, vision, and Strategic Plan.
Her work has been recognized by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), which recently selected her as the Communicator of the Year for District 6. This prestigious award is presented annually in each of NCMPR’s seven districts to a member nominated for their leadership and ability in the area of two-year college communications. District 6 encompasses community, technical, and junior colleges in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Territory of Guam. She is now one of seven finalists in the running for the national Communicator of the Year award, which will be presented in March 2023 as part of NCMPR’s National Conference in Orlando, Florida.
As part of her nomination, Heil was lauded for prioritizing professional development and team camaraderie, and seeing her team through many big changes and events, including the following:
- An internal college rebrand
- Establishing a branding advisory committee and an employee brand ambassador program
- Running marketing and promotions for two National Junior College Athletic Association D1 National Softball Tournaments in Yuma, Arizona
- Overseeing and developing the marketing and communications for AWC’s enrollment campaign “Cash in Your Pocket,” which resulted in flat enrollment during COVID, a nearly unheard-of feat
She is the project lead for the college’s Strategic Enrollment Planning committee, which brings together cross-functional departments focused on data, enrollment measurement and processes, communication alignment, and creative solutions to maintain a clear path toward enrollment for prospective and returning students. The committee requires finesse to bridge institutional goals with functional approaches to impact enrollment during fall and spring. Heil is also a member of the Arizona Community College Communicators, which markets Arizona community colleges to statewide elected officials, and recently joined the Education Foundation of Yuma County board. Additionally, she was a member of the Yuma County Joint Information Council for community COVID response.
Heil also frequently donates her time to speak to students as young as third grade through college about branding, marketing, and higher education.
Original source can be found here.
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