University of Iowa Health & Human Physiology

The University of Iowa Department of Health & Human Physiology

Timeline: 6 months

Challenge: The Health and Human Physiology Department needed to modernize their marketing and communications materials to better attract prospective students, engage current students and faculty, and increase visibility for departmental initiatives. Their existing materials lacked cohesion and didn't effectively communicate the department's strengths, research opportunities, and community impact. Additionally, they needed strategic support for their One Day for Iowa fundraising campaign to maximize donor engagement and contributions.

My Role & Approach

As the student marketing specialist for the department, I served as the primary strategist and content creator, working closely with faculty, staff, and university advancement teams to elevate the department's brand and support their fundraising goals.

• Communications Audit: Evaluated existing marketing materials, website content, and communication channels to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement

• Brand Messaging Development: Crafted compelling messaging that highlighted the department's unique strengths, including cutting-edge research, student success stories, and career outcomes

• Marketing Collateral Creation: Designed and wrote a suite of marketing materials including brochures, fact sheets, program overviews, and digital content for prospective students and donors, adhering to University of Iowa brand guidelines

• One Day for Iowa Campaign Strategy: Developed a comprehensive campaign strategy for the university's annual giving day, including messaging, content calendar, donor communications, and social media strategy

• Content Creation: Produced engaging content including email campaigns, social media posts, and impact stories that showcased student and faculty achievements

• Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborated with multiple departments and faculty including admissions, advancement, and university communications to ensure consistent messaging and maximize campaign reach

Key Results

• One Day for Iowa Campaign Success: Exceeded fundraising goals with 300% increased donor participation and total contributions compared to previous years

• Student Recruitment: Communications materials contributed to increased inquiries from prospective students and improved conversion rates

• Donor Engagement: Enhanced donor communications resulted in higher engagement rates and strengthened relationships with departmental supporters

• Social Media Impact: Campaign content generated significant engagement across platforms, expanding the department's reach and visibility

• Faculty Recognition: Marketing initiatives highlighted faculty research and achievements, leading to increased recognition and collaboration opportunities

Deliverables

• Comprehensive brochure for prospective undergraduate and graduate students

• One Day for Iowa campaign materials including email series, social media content, and donor communications

• Department fact sheets and program overview documents

• Social media content strategy and branded templates

• Impact stories and testimonials from students, alumni, and faculty

• Donor stewardship materials and thank you communications

• Updated website content and messaging framework

Outcome: The refreshed marketing and communications materials successfully elevated the Health and Human Physiology Department's profile within the university and beyond. The strategic approach to the One Day for Iowa campaign not only met fundraising objectives but also strengthened relationships with donors and increased awareness of the department's impact. The cohesive brand identity and compelling storytelling continue to support recruitment efforts, donor engagement, and the department's overall mission to advance health and human physiology education and research.