Beth Elzer has more than 25 years of experience in the higher ed and non-profit sectors. Beth is a design nomad at Elzer Design Lab doing freelance consulting work for higher education clients in Europe, Asia, and North America. Previously, she spent a decade as the creative director for Imperial College London, a research university in the U.K. specializing in STEM. Prior to her appointment at Imperial, she has worked at the following institutions: the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C., the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Purdue University in her home state of Indiana. During her career, she has been the recipient of over 90 industry awards including UCDA Awards, CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, as well as appearing in HOW Magazine and Communications Arts. She also once won a Frisbee contest when she was eight — a fact of which she is still quite proud.

Brian Waddle leads the communications efforts for the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services at the University of Houston. With 29 departments, from Campus Recreation to Residence Life and Bruce Religion Center to the Center for Student Involvement, the division reaches all 47,000 UH students every day. Brian also served as communications and marketing director for the UH Office of the Provost, as well as director of brand management for Houston Community College System, one of the largest two-year institutions in the nation. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
 

Mary Ann Fong is part of a creative strategy team that uses data-driven approaches to elevate the university’s reputation, increase participation of critical audiences, and enroll a strong student body. She has managed marketing communications projects for two decades and has spoken at several national conferences on sustainability in print. Mary Ann judges the Neographics and Gold Ink print awards yearly and has also served on the board of directors of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership.

Samantha Krotzer is a seasoned marketing and communications professional based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A 2011 graduate of Temple University, Samantha brings a wealth of institutional knowledge, both as an alumna and a content manager, to the university's strategic marketing and communications team. Her creative approach to content development spans across the division's deliverables, and she has a knack for collaborating with colleagues in design, multimedia, and research to elevate Temple's presence in the marketplace.

 ​​Mindy is director of creative services and a member of Missouri S&T's marketing and communications team. She spent five years as a writer for both print and web at S&T before transitioning into leading the photography, graphic design, and videography team in 2008. She has a bachelor of science degree in mass media from Missouri State University and a master of arts degree in communications from the University of Central Missouri.

Alexandra Loizzo-Desai is an associate editor for Fordham University's Office of Marketing and Communications and the university’s alumni magazine. She came to Fordham from Northeastern University in Boston, where she was a staff writer for the enrollment management and student affairs group. She was previously an admissions representative at Newbury College in Brookline, Mass. At Fordham, she writes and edits for the undergraduate admissions, alumni affairs and development teams.
 

Renée Olson has extensive experience as an editor for print and digital projects. Her magazine work has been recognized for its “winning blend of whimsy and gravity, visual panache, and quality writing.” Her team at The College of New Jersey won the 2017 Sibley Magazine of the Year Award from the D.C.–based Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. She is also the owner of Squint, a firm specializing in magazine making, copywriting, and infographics. At Princeton Theological Seminary, Squint helped it launch a digital magazine, named a 2018 Eddie Award finalist by Folio, the Manhattan-based magazine industry association.
 

Gina Poulos is a storytelling professional and video strategist, specializing in producing compelling audiovisual narratives that support brand initiatives in the nonprofit and higher education sectors. Since 2011, she has built Temple University’s online video presence with authentic and unique content that is tailored to resonate strongly with target demographic audiences. She believes in a multifaceted storytelling approach: one that is thoughtful and focused on assessing how one story can be reimagined through multiple vehicles to reach a variety of audiences, shaping the way viewers ultimately think and feel about a brand.

Lael Troupe has been helping brands tell their stories for more than 15 years. She is passionate about building thoughtful, engaging experiences through innovative concepts and solutions. She thrives in a collaborative environment and works closely with creative designers, strategizing to push boundaries and find unique and sophisticated ways to build a visual narrative. Her goal at Temple University is to encourage new and exciting approaches to elevate the university’s brand.
 

Logan West is an assistant director of marketing and communications at Fordham University. Logan joined Fordham after working with the University of Minnesota Duluth as their web manager and multimedia designer. During his time in higher education, Logan has focused on two university-wide redesigns, playing an active role as a designer and brand manager.