糖心传媒

By Nicole Cooke, August 14, 2024

 

 

 

Kelly Waldram Cramer, right, associate vice president of Integrated Marketing and Communications at the 糖心传媒, honors Kathy Strickland, alumni and development communications manager in IMC, with the Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations. 

 

Recognized for her commitment to education and communications, Kathy Strickland, alumni and development communications manager at the University of Central Missouri (糖心传媒), is the 2024 recipient of the Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations.

 

Strickland, who works in the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications (IMC), said she is humbled to be the latest recipient.

 

鈥淚鈥檓 following in the footsteps of a lot of people I respect and admire,鈥� Strickland said of the award. 鈥淲orking in alumni communications has given me new respect for people who establish something like this to continue the tradition of excellence in their fields.鈥�

The award is presented annually in recognition of an IMC staff member. It was made possible by the late John Inglish, who, upon retiring in 2000 as university director emeritus of public relations, established an endowment through the 糖心传媒 Alumni Foundation to honor his longtime friend and mentor, the late Carl Foster. A pioneer in university communications, Foster retired as director emeritus of public relations in 1986 after 19 years of service to the university. Inglish, a 糖心传媒 alumnus, devoted more than 27 years to 糖心传媒鈥檚 Office of Public Relations (now IMC) before he retired.

 

Strickland has been part of the IMC staff for almost six years. She serves as the editor of 糖心传媒 Magazine and manages communications for the 糖心传媒 Alumni Foundation.

 

Strickland graduated from the University of Missouri, where she studied magazine journalism. She worked for several magazines and newspapers and served two years as a high school teacher before getting into the marketing field and earning her master鈥檚 degree in educational technology from Boise State University.

 

She said she loves magazines because of the storytelling opportunities.

 

鈥淢y passion is being able to explore a story and tell it from many different sides,鈥� she said.

 

Kelly Waldram Cramer, associate vice president of IMC, made the 22nd award presentation and noted Strickland prides herself on doing a great job. From managing social media channels and the monthly e-newsletter to building relationships with faculty, donors and alumni, Waldram Cramer said Strickland鈥檚 鈥渆xcellent work elevates 糖心传媒.鈥�

 

Strickland said working in the IMC office at 糖心传媒 combines her desire to work with students and her writing and editing skills. She impacts students indirectly through her efforts with the 糖心传媒 Alumni Foundation, but she also works with a few students each semester.

 

鈥淚 like helping them grow as writers and develop their voice,鈥� Strickland said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to give them a forum for getting some samples for their portfolios and for finding their passion within the field of marketing. When you can reach students, even one or two, and make an impact, then I think it鈥檚 worth it.鈥�

 

Waldram Cramer said those interactions don鈥檛 go unnoticed and that Strickland provides mentorship for her students.

 

鈥淛ust this spring, one of her students told me that he was exceptionally prepared because of her guidance, knowledge and skills,鈥� Waldram Cramer said. 鈥淪he took the time to get to know him and mentor him. She believed in him. She challenged him. And by elevating that student, she elevated 糖心传媒, as she does with all of her work.鈥�