Drake Relays Week
Integrated Marketing & Project Management
Each spring, Drake Relays transforms campus into the University's largest celebration of athletics, alumni, and community. As one of Drake University's signature annual events, Relays Week brings together thousands of alumni, donors, students, families, and visitors through dozens of events occurring simultaneously across campus.
As the marketing lead for alumni engagement during Relays Week, I managed the planning and execution of integrated communications designed to increase participation, celebrate Bulldog traditions, and tell authentic stories in real time.
My role combined strategic planning with hands-on execution, requiring months of coordination before the event and rapid decision-making throughout one of the University's busiest weeks.
Relays Week responsibilities
Alumni Communications Campaign
Planned and executed a comprehensive marketing campaign promoting Drake Relays alumni programming before, during, and after the event.
Deliverables included:
Alumni email campaigns
Event invitations and reminders
Website updates
Social media strategy
Digital advertising assets
Event recap communications
Campus signage and promotional materials
Every communication worked together to build excitement leading into Relays while providing attendees with timely information throughout the week.
Managed marketing and communications for one of Drake University's most recognizable traditions and the official kickoff to Drake Relays Week.
Responsibilities included coordinating promotional campaigns, managing event communications, creating social media content, supporting on-site event coverage, and producing post-event storytelling that extended engagement beyond the event itself.
Beautiful Bulldog Contest
Real-Time Social Media Coverage & Internship Program
Relays Week moves quickly, and audiences expect content just as fast. To capture the excitement of one of Drake University's largest annual celebrations, I developed the strategy for real-time coverage across Drake Alumni's social media channels, blending planned campaigns with live storytelling through interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, event highlights, and user-generated content.
To expand our coverage, I created and managed a week-long social media internship program specifically for Drake Relays. I recruited, trained, and supervised student interns, assigning event coverage, establishing content standards, reviewing creative work, and providing real-time coaching throughout the week. The program not only increased our ability to tell authentic stories as they happened, but also gave students valuable hands-on experience working in a fast-paced communications environment.
By combining strategic planning with real-time execution and team leadership, we delivered engaging, authentic content that captured the energy of Relays Week while showcasing the alumni experience.