We are little over a week away from the 20th American Marketing Association's Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education and I am getting a bit nostalgic.I was lucky enough to found this symposium in 1989. I say lucky for many reasons. First, I was fortunate enough to have a president at Xavier University, Fr. Al Di'Ulio, who was willing to back the effort with only a five minute pitch.He not only gave me the go ahead but also the funds and told me to tell him how it worked out! Well so far so good!
I was lucky because this effort turned out to be my life's work. Some people like to golf. I like to study and market education! Who knew?
I was also very lucky because this Symposium has introduced me to so many people over the years I now consider very good friends and colleagues. It is always a pleasure to find people with similar passions and interests with which to connect. I met my partners, Elizabeth Scarborough and the late Christopher Simpson at the Symposium.
I was very fortunate to have a committee after that first year that I will never forget and created the foundation for the conference it is today. Please allow me to spend a few minutes to tell you about them.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Bob Johnson in Cincinnati the first year we were together. Bob was heading enrollment at University of Detroit-Mercy and I instantly found a kindred spirit. Bob not only became a good friend but I give all the credit of the early growth of the Symposium to him. He took over as chair of the Symposium from 1994-2002. Today you still know him as an expert in higher education and especially on line strategies.
I only worked with Leslie Goldgehn from the University of San Francisco and Anthony Lolli, then at the Williams Patterson College of new Jersey, for a short time, but both were committed and energetic committee members.
James A. Burns was the original editor of the Journal of Marketing of Higher Education and someone I worked with in healthcare marketing before my life went in this direction. He was an early advocate of marketing in higher education.
Beverly Miklich was responsible for marketing at Coastline Community College. She brought a different perspective and audience to what we were doing and was someone I respected a great deal. As a side note, she was only one of two people of whose dissertations I have ever bought...the other being Bob Sevier's! Both were on marketing higher education. Beverly passed away from cancer in the mid 90's. I still keep her dissertation.
Lastly, I remember my good friend and colleague Roy Adler from Pepperdine University who passed away suddenly this past summer. I had the honor and privilege to work with Roy for many years at Xavier. He was the original and ultimate "idea guy" who always carried a tape recorder or pad of paper to jot his ideas down on before he forgot them. Anyone who attended the Symposium over the years will remember Roy's infectious smile and unbridled enthusiasm for everything he did. Roy and I were co-authors, partners in mischief, and very good friends. His spirit will be part of this Symposium and everyone after. If you remember and are so inclined, when I see you at the social hours of the Symposium....and you know I will be there.....please come up and lift your drink and say "to Roy!" I am sure he will be smiling on us!
Tom Hayes http://simpsonscarborough.com/hayes.htmlI
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