Sheri Irwin-Gish is associate vice chancellor for communications, marketing and system relations for the Nebraska State College System in Lincoln, Neb. Previously, she served as director of public relations for the NSCS, which serves 8,500 students through three institutions-Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College. She also worked at Doane College in Crete, Neb., as publications coordinator before becoming assistant director of public relations and sports information director. Irwin-Gish has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Midland Lutheran College and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She can be reached at (402) 471-2505 or sirwin@nscs.edu.

Please talk about the statewide awareness campaign that NSCS undertook in January 2005. Why did the system decide to do this and what were its major components?
We started the campaign after we conducted a comprehensive research study in 2004. The study revealed what we already had suspected: that our colleges were a very well-kept secret.

Starting with small steps, the campaign has continued to expand. My role is as chair of the Admissions and College Relations Council, which generates new ways to increase awareness. The council is comprised of the admission directors and college relations and marketing directors from each college. We constantly learn from each other and brainstorm new ideas. This fall, the three admission directors and I traveled across Nebraska to host 12 events for educational professionals, students and parents, providing information about what our colleges provide for students, our regions and the state.

Also, we have great support from Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and his office. Since 2005, Gov. Heineman has proclaimed October NSCS Month. This year, we are building on that visibility by launching the first-ever NSCS Application Week. In late October, our admissions representatives will travel to 145 high schools to help students complete a system application for one or more of our colleges. High school seniors are also eligible for a $500 bookstore gift certificate if they visit one or more of our colleges anytime during the month.

This summer, the governor also partnered with us to provide a new scholarship-the Governor's Opportunity Award-for students who plan to live and work in Nebraska after they graduate from college.

All of these efforts promote the NSCS, but more importantly, provide students with greater access to college-and that is our overall goal.

Your department overhauled the NSCS Web site in 2006. What were some of the major changes made and why?
Our previous site was all text and totally focused on the board of trustees. The new site has at least three things going for it: it allows visitors direct access to all three of our college sites directly from the main page; it provides prominent links to our new awareness programs, such as NSCS Application Week; and the graphics are clean and inviting.

Through programs and mailings, we direct various audiences-educational professionals, students, parents and others-to the site for more information or to sign up for programs or events. It's a great tool that keeps getting better.

You have been promoted three times. What personal qualities do you attribute to your success?
First of all, I have worked, and currently work for and with, wonderful leaders who see potential in me, continue to expand my knowledge through the addition of new and expanded responsibilities, and encourage me to research, plan, promote and run with my ideas.

I'm very willing to try new ideas and take on new responsibilities. I see each new challenge as a chance to learn and grow, which makes me a better professional, better parent and wife, and better person.

Also, I'm very adaptable. I believe that every problem has a solution, though it may take awhile to find it.

You have been very active in District VI since 1995. How has CASE been instrumental to your success?
CASE and the volunteers I have met through the years have been my best friends, my personal cheerleaders and always my resources for answers about any topic-some having nothing to do with work. They literally have watched me grow up and helped me to do so.

This year, I was asked to chair the District VI conference, which had been a professional and personal goal of mine for 15 years. I was pleased and proud to follow in the footsteps of some fantastic chairs, and I knew those same people would be there to help me if needed. (I also wanted to try something new-and be the first person in District VI to chair a conference while pregnant!)

I am fortunate to have a CASE committee of great volunteers who have taken my vision for our 2009 Exhilarate! Conference and developed something amazing. They have wonderful ideas and endless creativity. I encourage everyone to join us, Jan. 25-27, 2009, at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City.

This article is from the October 2008 issue of BriefCASE.
Please share your questions and comments with Pam Russell via e-mail at russell@case.org or by telephone at +1-202-478-5680.