Stein news: January 2008
by Jenny Brower, Stein | January 30th, 2008Belmont University assists in a nation’s decision
The Commission on Presidential Debates has chosen our friends at Belmont University, along with the University of Mississippi, Washington University, and Hofstra University, as presidential debate sites for 2008. Congratulations to you all on this amazing honor and opportunity.
Davidson College and a higher calling: a project filled with trust
In March 2007, Davidson College became the first liberal arts college in the country to replace loans with grants in all of its financial aid packages. This fall, we at Stein were retained by the college to partner in the mission of finding a suitable name for this historic action, somewhat like the branding terms used by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with its Carolina Covenant or the State of Georgia with its Hope Scholarship.
Collectively, we may have been searching merely for a marketing term, a branding device, but in the end, the college’s challenge to us transcended into much more. Our focus groups and web research on their behalf gave us tremendous insight into the values of the high school student and the American family in their selection criteria as they approach college choice. It also confirmed the great respect that Davidson’s alumni feel for their alma mater not only for their superb education but also for the values they received during their college years. The response to our on-site questions, off-site focus groups, and online surveys from high school students, Davidson students, parents, alumni, and high school counselors was enthusiastic and filled with imaginative suggestions.
Through both qualitative and quantitative research, we plotted and tested nearly a dozen branding terms, and The Davidson Trust rose to the top. How appropriate, as the term trust builds on a core value of the college, the college’s Honor Code, and that a Davidson education should be available and affordable to all qualified students regardless of means. This was indeed a project of a higher calling — a project filled with trust.
We welcome our new projects
We are pleased to announce new projects at the following institutions:
Cornell University (NY)
Davidson College (NC)
Hampton Roads Academy (VA)
LaGrange College (GA)
Sewanee: University of the South (TN)
Ursuline College (OH)
Stein’s latest addition
We’re excited to welcome our latest account executive, Kathryn Spruill. Before joining the Stein consulting team, Kathryn began her career in college admissions in 2002 when she rose through the ranks of student tour guides to a coveted internship in Tulane’s admission office. After graduating with a double major in Spanish and international development, she joined the admission staff full time. Hurricane Katrina brought her biggest challenge as she helped prospective students and parents overcome their fears and misconceptions about the post-Katrina city and university.
Kathryn also received her MBA at Tulane’s Freeman School of Business. The crowning achievement of her studies is the pending development of a splash park in New Orleans. She, along with three peers, completed a comprehensive study regarding the feasibility of building the park as well as its potential in generating additional revenues for City Park.
Aside from her post at Stein, Kathryn stays busy solving sudoku puzzles, working to improve her tennis skills on the Nintendo Wii, and training for the ING half marathon to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Seeking qualified candidates for sales position
Stein is seeking qualified candidates for a sales/consulting position. If you are interested in learning more about the position, please contact Jenny Brower at 404.494.4393 or jbrower@steincommunications.com.
