The Blues Is #1 - Allegheny College

The Blues Is #1
Lessons From The Blues Masters on
Weathering the Storms of Change
Jesse Lavery
Director of Web Communications - Allegheny College
jlavery@allegheny.edu / @jesselavery
#heweb15 / #MPD9
The Blues Is #1
Lessons From The Blues Masters on
Weathering the Storms of Change
Jesse Lavery
Director of Web Communications - Allegheny College
jlavery@allegheny.edu / @jesselavery
#heweb15 / #MPD9
“I done seen better
days, but I’m putting
up with these.”
Rabbit Brown
1. James Alley Blues
2. Messin’ With The Kid
3. Why I Sing The Blues
4. Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues
5. The World Is Goin’ Crazy
(And So Am I)
6. Talk About The Blues
7. You’ve Got To Move
2. Messin’ With The Kid
“You can call it
what you wanna,
I call it messin’
with the kid.”
Junior Wells
!
Messin’ With The Kid
Director of Web Communications
+
Admissions Sr. Staff • Campaign
Cabinet • Undergraduate Research
Advisory Board • Bicentennial
Committee • etc.
○
Stability
Revolving Door
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1
2010 - 2010
Transferred
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Revolving Door
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2
2010 - 2010
Office Restructured
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Revolving Door
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3
2010 - 2011
Changed Structure
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Revolving Door
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4
2011 - 2011
Changed Back
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Revolving Door
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5
2011 - 2011
Left Allegheny
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Revolving Door
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6
2011 - 2012
New VP Hire
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Revolving Door
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7
2012 - 2013
New AVP Hire
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Revolving Door
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8
2013 - 2015
Left Allegheny
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Revolving Door
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9
2015 - 2015
Power Vacuum
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Revolving Door
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10
2015 -
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3. Why I Sing The Blues
“Everybody
wants to know
why I sing the
blues.”
B.B. King
!
Why I Sing The Blues
The Blues != Sadness
(not necessarily)
The Blues = Framework
(we’re nerds. we like frameworks.)
Having the blues is
not a bad thing
makes you stronger
gives you something to overcome
4. Damn Right I’ve Got
The Blues
“Damn right
I’ve got the
blues!”
Buddy Guy
!
Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues
Politics
all of the politics
$
HS Grad Population
$
Enrollment
Discount Rate
$
Budgets
$
Staffing
“Do more with less.”
Brain Drain
“Wish I
was in
Heaven
sitting
down.”
R.L. Burnside
!
Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
5. The World Is Goin’
Crazy (And So Am I)
“Seems like the
world is goin’
crazy - and
baby so am I.”
Walter Trout
!
The World Is Goin’ Crazy (And So Am I)
Budget Cuts • Staffing Cuts •
Stupid Documentaries • College
Closings • Campus Violence •
Declining Enrollment • YikYak
Revolving Door of Bosses •
Discount Rate • Declining HS
Grad Population • QR Codes •
Politics • Lack of Training •
Web & Social Media
scapegoat? savior?
Budget Cuts • Staffing Cuts •
Stupid Documentaries • College
Closings • Campus Violence •
Declining Enrollment • YikYak
Revolving Door of Bosses •
Discount Rate • Declining HS
Grad Population • QR Codes •
Politics • Lack of Training •
It’s not your fault.
You are not alone.
What can you do?
6. I Play Rock N’ Roll
“I do not
play no blues.
I play rock
and roll!”
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
!
Talk About The Blues
Budget Cuts • Staffing Cuts •
Stupid Documentaries • College
Closings • Campus Violence •
Declining Enrollment • YikYak
Revolving Door of Bosses •
Discount Rate • Declining HS
Grad Population • QR Codes •
Politics • Lack of Training •
⋆
Know Your Role
the web and social media will not
solve higher ed’s problems
⋆
Be Clear
about what you can and can’t do
⋆
Take On More
volunteer + say “yes”
⋆
Seize Opportunities
problems can be exploited
⋆
Win With Data
analytics and stats are your friends
⋆
Be Indispensable
(hat-tip: Seth Godin)
⋆
Conjure
make your own luck
⋆
Kudos File
collect kindness
⋆
“Big Ideas” File
think ahead
⋆
Report / Newsletter
celebrate & educate
7. You’ve Got To Move
“You’ve gotta move
child, you’ve got
to move.”
R.L. Burnside
!
You Gotta Move
⋆
Be Prepared
don’t get caught without an answer
⋆
Be Agile
even if higher ed isn’t
- Encore -
“I can’t quit
you, baby.”
Willie Dixon
!
I Can’t Quit You, Baby
Suggested Reading
#heweb15 The Blues Is #1
http://spoti.fi/1hjxbeb
Thank You!
Jesse Lavery
Director of Web Communications - Allegheny College
jlavery@allegheny.edu / @jesselavery
#heweb15 / #MPD9