This is where strategy meets creativity.
Washington State University Strategic Plan Communications
Washington State University Strategic Plan Communications
As Director of Strategic Communication at Washington State University, I led the development and execution of communications for the university’s strategic plan.
The project focused on translating complex institutional strategy into clear, accessible messaging and visual systems that could be understood by stakeholders across the university system.
This work included building a comprehensive strategic plan website, designing the university’s official strategic plan document and annual reports, and developing a communications framework to help the WSU community understand how strategic priorities were being implemented across the institution.
Organization: Washington State University
Scope: University-wide initiative
Role: Director of Strategic Communication
Key Deliverables
- Strategic communication plan for the university strategic plan
- Strategic plan website with dashboards and campus plan directory
- Designed strategic plan print document
- Annual strategic plan reports (3 editions)
- Executive leadership and Board communication materials
Project Scope
I started this project from scratch, with no prior communication materials to start from. This communications framework created a cohesive system for sharing and tracking the university’s strategic priorities.
By combining a centralized website, clear visual design, and ongoing reporting, the project made it easier for stakeholders across the university to understand the goals of the strategic plan and see how progress was being made.
The work helped transform the strategic plan from a static document into a living communication platform that supported transparency, accountability, and institutional alignment.
The challenge
Washington State University’s strategic plan represented a major institutional initiative involving leadership, faculty, and departments across the university system.
However, the plan initially existed primarily as a lengthy text document, making it difficult for many stakeholders to easily understand how the strategy connected to day-to-day work across the university.
The challenge was to translate complex institutional priorities into communication tools that were clear, accessible, and meaningful for a wide range of audiences—from faculty and staff to executive leadership and the Board of Regents.
Our Approach
The project focused on transforming the strategic plan from a static document into an accessible communication platform.
A comprehensive strategic plan website was developed to serve as the central hub for the initiative. The site presented the university’s mission and priorities through clear messaging, visual structure, and supporting resources.
Key features of the site included:
- A centralized home for the university strategic plan and supporting materials
- A directory of strategic plans from across the university system
- Dashboards tracking progress across ten strategic prioritie
- Regular updates highlighting progress and impact
To support the broader communication strategy, a campaign titled “See the Difference” was created to help members of the university community understand how strategic initiatives were improving the institution and advancing its mission.
Alongside the digital platform, the strategic plan was redesigned as a professionally formatted document, replacing the original text-based version with a clear, visually structured publication.
Annual reports were also designed to communicate progress on the strategic plan. These reports incorporated visual storytelling, infographics, and QR codes linking to video content that illustrated the impact of the university’s work.
