In an increasingly crowded communications environment, universities have their work cut out for them. Determining what truly matters and translating that into unique strategies that resonate, while being effective, is more challenging than ever.
Yet, one of the most important audiences in higher education communications is often consulted indirectly or after the fact, rather than engaged directly in the planning process: students. They are why we are here, doing what we do – and how we communicate with them, and what information we share that sticks with them, will ultimately determine if universities and colleges continue to exist.
This panel-style session will centre student voices, representing different backgrounds, stages of the academic journey, and study focus.
Think: academic focus group.
Rather than speaking about learners, this session will invite conference participants to hear from them directly. Panelists will respond to moderated questions exploring how communications and marketing, from social media and institutional storytelling to recruitment messaging and digital experiences, shape their perceptions of universities and influence their decisions and academic journeys.
Virginia Middleton
Senior Communications Advisor, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Virginia Middleton is the Senior Communications Advisor with Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine. She leads and supports communications initiatives spanning student recruitment, strategic planning, media relations, digital communications and engagement. She is passionate about
storytelling, building connections in ways that are meaningful, accessible and impactful.
When not at work, Virginia enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering with Girl Guides, an organization she has been involved with for more than 30 years as both a girl member and an adult volunteer. She values the organization’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment to develop leadership skills, teamwork and self-confidence. Whether leading activities, supporting youth members or singing campfire songs, she is always happy to be involved.
Virginia is looking forward to moderating this discussion and learning directly from students about how institutions can better engage learners through communications and marketing.
Lydia Hardy
B.A. Psychology (Honours) student, Communications and Engagement Coordinator Co-op student, Memorial University
Lydia Hardy is an incoming graduate student in Psychology at Memorial. Their Honours research examined storytelling in higher education, with a particular focus on how instructors understand, use, and position it as a pedagogical tool within large lecture environments. Building on this work, Lydia’s graduate research will turn toward student perspectives, examining how storytelling shapes engagement and belonging throughout their academic journeys.
Lydia brings experience across academic, government, and science communication roles. They have contributed to policy research and program evaluation with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, supported faculty-wide communications and engagement initiatives at Memorial University, and worked on collaborative research projects across North America. This work has shaped their interest in how complex ideas can be communicated in ways that are both informative and accessible.
Dr. Kavi Heerah
PhD in Environmental Sciences, Starting post doc in the Department of Chemistry, Memorial University
Lydia Hardy is an incoming graduate student in Psychology at Memorial. Their Honours research examined storytelling in higher education, with a particular focus on how instructors understand, use, and position it as a pedagogical tool within large lecture environments. Building on this work, Lydia’s graduate research will turn toward student perspectives, examining how storytelling shapes engagement and belonging throughout their academic journeys.
Dr. Kavi Heerah has recently completed his PhD in Environmental Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Kavi completed his graduate degree in the Reader Lab in the Department of Chemistry. His PhD work looked at understanding how the rivers of Newfoundland transport carbon and iron into the marine environment. One of the major accomplishments of his program was the establishment of a long-term monitoring station at the Seal Cove Brook near Cappahayden, which has
been running for 5 years and is still going. With the completion of his degree, he has started a postdoc position in the Department of Chemistry, where he is travelling to Fortune Bay to set up another monitoring program, looking at the water quality at the top of the bay near the communities of Recontre East, Pool’s Cove, and Bay L’ Argent.
Kavi is passionate about the environment, volunteering and serving on the board of Nature NL and Aquatic Conservation Initiative. Kavi has also volunteered at numerous academic conferences, serving as part of the organizing committee for the Scientific Endeavours in Academia (SEA) conference in 2024. The importance of communicating science in an accessible manner and connecting the local community
to the science he does is something Kavi is always looking for more opportunities to do.
Steven Nzoyama
B.Sc. Behaviour Neuroscience (Honours) student, Memorial University