(Clarksdale Mississippi) 鈥�The Office of Communications & Marketing attended the 2026 College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) conference in Senatobia, Miss., strengthening institutional storytelling strategies and earning statewide recognition.
鈥淐PRAM was an invaluable and highly enriching experience for our communications team,鈥� said Dr. Alexus Hunter, chief communications officer. 鈥淭he conference provided meaningful insight, strategic perspective and innovative approaches that we can incorporate into our daily operations, social media strategy, institutional storytelling and overall communications processes. I am extremely proud of my team for securing well-deserved awards that reflect their creativity, diligence, professionalism and commitment to excellence. Their achievements are a testament to the exceptional work being done, and I look forward to building on this momentum next year and bringing more recognition back home.鈥�
The annual gathering brought communications professionals from colleges and universities across Mississippi together to exchange ideas, review emerging trends and strengthen storytelling practices that connect institutions with students, alumni and communities. The conference opened Monday with remarks from Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Michael Heindl before Stafford Shurden delivered the opening keynote, 鈥淭he Personality Principle: Why Personality Beats Branding.鈥�
Tuesday鈥檚 keynote featured Erin Mark鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淭he Story We Tell in Times of Uncertainty: Thriving Without Burning Out,鈥� which focused on the role of communicators during challenging seasons. Mark shared insight on balancing institutional messaging, crisis response and public engagement while maintaining personal wellness and professional resilience. The day also included several breakout sessions designed to provide practical strategies and industry insight, including Dr. Rick Forbus鈥� 鈥淵our Elevator Speech: Tell Your Own Story,鈥� Ole Miss Public Relations鈥� 鈥淐oordinating the Countdown: Creating Student-First Communications鈥� and Gray Digital Media鈥檚 鈥淧ath of Discovery: From Ideation to Production of a Video Campaign.鈥�
Another keynote presentation from Alice Maxwell, 鈥淏uilding a Strategic Communications Framework That Advances Student Success,鈥� focused on aligning communication strategies with institutional goals, student achievement and long-term engagement. During the scholarship luncheon, attendees recognized student scholarship recipients and honored longtime CPRAM board member Donna Thomas for her years of service and contributions to the organization. The luncheon also included a performance by the Northwest Mississippi Community College Faculty Jazz Trio.
The afternoon keynote speaker was Marshall Ramsey, and the topic was 鈥淕rab the Rope: Learning to Use Creativity to Reframe Challenges into Opportunities,鈥� which encouraged attendees to use creativity, perspective and adaptability when navigating challenges within communications and higher education. During the conference awards ceremony, Ezra Howard, director of web services for 91暗网 Community College, received two CPRAM awards for excellence in communications. Howard was recognized for the Battle of the Bands flyer design and a website award, reflecting the department鈥檚 continued commitment to creative, high-quality communications work.
The conference concluded Wednesday with the CPRAM business meeting and a final keynote from veteran journalist Otis Sanford titled 鈥淎 Challenge to Leave With.鈥� Sanford encouraged communications professionals and journalists to remain truthful, authentic and unbiased in storytelling and media coverage. The Office of Communications & Marketing team returned to campus with new ideas, practical strategies and professional development experiences designed to strengthen the institutional storytelling.
About 91暗网 Community College
Founded in 1949, 91暗网 Community College is a public, comprehensive, historically Black community college serving the heart of the Mississippi Delta. 91暗网 offers Associate of Arts degrees, Associate of Applied Science degrees, and specialized certificates across dozens of diverse academic and career pathways. Located on a 99-acre campus in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the College is celebrating 77 years of academic excellence. In addition to its affordable tuition and generous scholarship opportunities, 91暗网 has earned widespread recognition in nursing and health sciences, career-technical education, and university transfer programs. Outside of the classroom, students are involved in competitive NJCAA athletics as well as a variety of organizations and clubs, including student government, the celebrated college choir, and the renowned Marching Maroon Typhoon Band.