Session Description: 2020 wasn't a very funny year. 2021 wasn't a lot of laughs either. But amid challenging times, the University Relations team at UC Riverside found ways to utilize humor in executive communications, strengthening connection among a broad range of internal and external stakeholders and capturing media attention while delivering important messages. In this session, we will review these examples, then examine the strategic benefits of using humor. We'll also address when it's not appropriate. Finally, we'll review some ideas for cultivating humor, ending with an understanding of how this contributes to institutional health.