Marketing for Higher Education Associations

Partner with higher ed marketing consultants who understand mission-driven organizations

Your association thrives when members feel connected, informed, and supported — but in today’s busy digital landscape, it takes more than a newsletter or the occasional social media post to cut through the noise and keep your community engaged.

My team and I support higher education professional organizations through sustainable, human-centered marketing and communications strategy. Your social media, website, and email messaging should work together to boost the organization’s visibility and impact. Our integrated approach aligns your efforts with your ambitions, while keeping workflows manageable for in-house staff.

Let’s Build an Engaged Association

Successful associations don’t just communicate. They connect.

We understand professional organizations’ unique marketing challenges:

New member recruitment
Annual conference registration
Community-building
Fundraising
Sharing research and resources
…and so much more

These mission-critical initiatives require thoughtful strategies, informed by deep knowledge of the higher education industry.

Our consulting services are designed to help you build a sustainable foundation for marketing and communications — so you can reach the right people, with the right message, at the right time.

Digital Marketing Review

We’ll take a deep dive into your digital content, including your website, social media, email marketing, and other channels. Our approach blends platform data with qualitative stakeholder interviews and surveys. You’ll receive a comprehensive report on what’s working well, areas for improvement, and sustainable next steps.

Competitive Benchmarking

How do your marketing efforts stack up against similar professional organizations? We’ll conduct a thorough analysis of your peers, competitors, and/or aspirational brands in your field. From there, we’ll evaluate industry best practices and make recommendations to help your association stand out.

Content Strategy & Creation

Content is the way you share your story with the world — and your organization’s story deserves to be told. We’ll help you develop a framework for collecting, curating, and creating messaging for members and other stakeholders.

Association Brand Guide

Sure, you have a logo — but what’s your brand? How do members experience your organization, and what can future members expect when they join? We’ll work with you to develop clear guidelines that align your marketing and communications efforts with the association’s mission and values.

Data Reporting & Analysis

Effective marketing decisions are informed by data. We’ll provide user-friendly, actionable reports on website traffic, social media performance, and campaign results so you can track progress toward your organization’s goals.

Executive Strategy

In higher education, we know how important support systems are. That’s why we offer one-on-one coaching for CEOs, CMOs, and other organizational leaders to help you understand the foundations of marketing and communications — for both your organization and your own digital leadership presence. We’ll work collaboratively to provide you with resources, frameworks, insights, and ideas that allow your mission to thrive in digital spaces.

Professional Development

Looking for professional development opportunities for your in-house marketing team? I offer a variety of workshops to ensure your staff has the skills and confidence to lead marketing and communications efforts effectively.

NACADA partnered with Dr. Ahlquist and her team in 2025 to help us align our marketing and communications with our goals around member outreach, recruitment, and retention…In just a few months, Dr. Ahlquist and her team have exceeded any expectations we had for the year. When our partnership is complete, we will be at a level of excellence with marketing and communications that we could not have even imagined without Dr. Ahlquist.

Kyle Ross

Executive Director, NACADA

The Engaged Association Newsletter:

Resources for Higher Education Professional Organizations

Marketing in the higher ed association space is always evolving. We’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve.

The Engaged Association is your go-to resource for the latest insights on higher education digital marketing, member engagement strategies, and nonprofit communications best practices.