In an era defined by shifting values and cultural change, the stories institutions tell about themselves matter more than ever. For private schools, universities, foundations, and cultural organizations, those stories are not simply messages — they are mirrors of identity, legacy, and belonging.

I can help private education institutions and others in the sector rediscover and rearticulate their stories so they reflect both where they come from and who they serve today. 

These are not simply marketing narratives. They are living, evolving expressions of your purpose—stories grounded in authenticity, guided by strategy, and told with care.

Communications strategy focuses on how you speak.

Narrative strategy helps you remember why you’re speaking—and to whom.

It explores the deeper structures of story: how an institution’s history, culture, and choices shape the way it is perceived. When the external environment changes—as it has dramatically in private education and educational philanthropy—the stories that once felt timeless can suddenly feel out of step.

Narrative strategy ensures that your public voice remains aligned with your mission, your audiences, and your moment in history.

Through guided conversation, archival insight, and narrative mapping, I partner with your communications and advancement teams to:

• Clarify your institutional story—what it has endured, what has evolved, and what deserves new language.
• Identify narrative dissonance —where inherited framing no longer aligns with lived experience or community perception.
• Develop authentic narrative anchors—connect legacy to relevance, ensuring future storytelling remains cohesive and credible.
• Create editorial and storytelling frameworks—unify alumni publications, web content, and donor communications under a coherent narrative arc.

Together, these steps create a clear, enduring framework for storytelling that aligns your institution’s history, mission and voice across every platform.

I collaborate with private schools, independent academies, colleges and universities,* and foundations that recognize their narratives as vital assets. These institutions are investing in:

• Brand storytelling and donor communications that honor heritage while inspiring future philanthropy.
• Admissions and enrollment narratives that appeal to mission-aligned or aspirational families through authenticity and shared values.
• Website and campaign content that translates institutional purpose into clear, compelling narratives across advancement and development initiatives.
• Impact storytelling that highlights diversity, student outcomes, and community partnerships as living expressions of their mission.

These partnerships are grounded in reflection and collaboration—helping institutions articulate who they are, why they matter, and how their legacy continues to evolve.

[* To maintain ethical standards and avoid conflicts of interest, I do not provide consulting services to colleges or universities that I also feature or consult as sources in my journalism.]

Every partnership begins with a discovery phase that surfaces the heart of your institutional story. From there, we can collaborate in one of a few ways:

• Narrative Audit & Insight Report: A concise, research-based analysis of your current storytelling and recommendations for refinement.
• Institutional Narrative Blueprint: A deeper, 6–8 week engagement culminating in a strategic framework and editorial direction your internal team can sustain.
• Editorial Partnership: Ongoing collaboration on alumni or donor-facing stories that reinforce your renewed narrative direction.

We also can develop a custom engagement that fits your institutional requirements. Each option is designed to help your institution share its narratives with clarity and purpose, ensuring every story reflects your mission, history and evolving identity.

I draw on more than two decades of experience as an award-winning journalist, my corporate communications background, and my doctoral research on how historical narratives shape access and legitimacy and drive change in institutions. 

This background allows me to merge research and storytelling—combining rigorous analysis with narrative intuition—to help institutions communicate with clarity, credibility, and care.

Every engagement is built on respect, transparency, and intellectual partnership. Your investment in my solutions will reflect the depth, originality and measurable impact of the work, which differs significantly from journalism assignments in scope and intent.

If your institution is reexamining how it presents its mission, legacy, or community in these changing times—I can help you shape a story that honors your past while illuminating your path forward.

Contact me to share your goals, and let’s begin the conversation.