Jenny Li Fowler welcomes Jessica VanderKolk, a Public Communications Specialist at East Carolina University. The conversation centers on ECU’s innovative communications department structure, which utilizes a liaison model. Rather than being siloed in a central office, communicators are embedded directly within the colleges they cover. Jessica explains how this geographical proximity fosters deep collaboration, allowing for stronger relationships with faculty and staff and creating an environment where teams share resources rather than acting territorially.
Jenny Li Fowler welcomes Jessica VanderKolk, a Public Communications Specialist at East Carolina University. The conversation centers on ECU’s innovative communications department structure, which utilizes a liaison model. Rather than being siloed in a central office, communicators are embedded directly within the colleges they cover. Jessica explains how this geographical proximity fosters deep collaboration, allowing for stronger relationships with faculty and staff and creating an environment where teams share resources rather than acting territorially.
Guest Name:Jessica VanderKolk, public communications specialist at East Carolina University
Guest Social: LinkedIn
Guest Bio: Jessica VanderKolk is an award-winning communicator with over two decades of experience spanning newspaper journalism, local government, and higher education. As a public communications specialist at East Carolina University, she crafts compelling stories, manages social media strategy, and drives daily communications for the ECU College of Fine Arts and Communication. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and is currently pursuing her master’s in strategic communication at ECU. Actively involved in the professional community, she is a member of or volunteers with several government and communications organizations, including the Government Social Media Association. She is a fierce advocate for communication accessibility, transparency, and the non-negotiable use of the Oxford comma. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys life with her spouse, her super-cool teenage son, and their pittie mix. Her favorite ways to unwind include reading, running, enjoying great food, watching “Taskmaster,” and relaxing with a color-by-numbers app.