Connect with us at the CIC President’s Institute in Orlando, Florida! Be sure to stop by our presentation:

Public Roles, Private Lives: Navigating Visibility as a Presidential Couple

January 6, 2:30 PM

Presidents and their spouses or partners often navigate overlapping public and private roles, particularly in the age of social media and heightened visibility. This session will explore how presidential couples can define a public presence that supports the institution while protecting personal boundaries and preserving privacy. A panel of presidential couples will share their approaches to managing visibility, maintaining authenticity, and working in partnership with campus teams. Participants will leave with a framework for shaping their own engagement strategy as individuals and as a couple.

Your Attendees.Your Attendees.

  • Matt Gerien SVP, Strategic Communications
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    Persona The Sophisticated and Confident Captain

    Matt Gerien, Senior Vice President at Carnegie, is an experienced communication leader who works to enhance clients’ brand reputation through cohesive and human-centered communications. From campus to Capitol Hill, Matt has advised college and university presidents and senior leaders on strategic and crisis communications matters. Before joining Carnegie, he served as chief communications officer at Rhodes College. Matt also spent a decade as a television journalist covering local and national news. He began his communications career as a congressional press secretary.

    Matt Gerien

    Matt Gerien, Senior Vice President at Carnegie, is an experienced communication leader who works to enhance clients’ brand reputation through cohesive and human-centered communications. From campus to Capitol Hill, Matt has advised college and university presidents and senior leaders on strategic and crisis communications matters. Before joining Carnegie, he served as chief communications officer at Rhodes College. Matt also spent a decade as a television journalist covering local and national news. He began his communications career as a congressional press secretary.

  • Emma Jones EVP, Leadership
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    Persona The Entertaining and Influential Producer


    With more than 20 years of experience working with colleges, universities, and associations, Emma designs unique leadership experiences underpinned by her strengths in strategy and storytelling. Emma guides national partnerships to build higher education leadership benches for the future, supporting and developing presidents and senior-level leaders across the sector. She is an advocate for empowering women and gender-diverse leaders and for changing the prevailing narratives about higher education by inspiring innovation.

    Emma Jones


    With more than 20 years of experience working with colleges, universities, and associations, Emma designs unique leadership experiences underpinned by her strengths in strategy and storytelling. Emma guides national partnerships to build higher education leadership benches for the future, supporting and developing presidents and senior-level leaders across the sector. She is an advocate for empowering women and gender-diverse leaders and for changing the prevailing narratives about higher education by inspiring innovation.

  • Alex Kappus Senior Director, Client Success
    Persona The Creative and Generous Guardian
    Alex Kappus
  • Bill Fahrner President, Credo: Powered by Carnegie
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    Persona The Confident and Determined Challenger

    For nearly 30 years, Bill Fahrner has engaged with more than 200 institutions on projects ranging from strategic planning and enrollment management to advancement and board development. He brings deep expertise on these topics and serves as a trusted advisor and thought partner to college and university leaders across the country. He is a firm believer in the power of education as a great equalizer.

    Bill Fahrner

    For nearly 30 years, Bill Fahrner has engaged with more than 200 institutions on projects ranging from strategic planning and enrollment management to advancement and board development. He brings deep expertise on these topics and serves as a trusted advisor and thought partner to college and university leaders across the country. He is a firm believer in the power of education as a great equalizer.

  • Joretta Nelson Vice Chairman & Founder of MTN, Credo: Powered by Carnegie
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    Joretta Nelson empowers institutions and their staff to integrate their strengths, co-creating solutions to deliver results that transform student outcomes. Her background as both a faculty member and administrator on campuses helps her inspire campus leaders to face challenges and develop holistic solutions for student success. She engages her passion for identifying and cultivating the talent of others through her work as a presidential advisor and leadership coach.

    Joretta Nelson

    Joretta Nelson empowers institutions and their staff to integrate their strengths, co-creating solutions to deliver results that transform student outcomes. Her background as both a faculty member and administrator on campuses helps her inspire campus leaders to face challenges and develop holistic solutions for student success. She engages her passion for identifying and cultivating the talent of others through her work as a presidential advisor and leadership coach.

  • Eric Page Chief Client Officer
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    Persona The Innovative and Confident Captain

    Eric Page brings a bold approach to clients’ enrollment solutions, propelled by his 15+ years of experience leading and executing cutting-edge communications and marketing strategies. He has expertise across the board, including in strategic planning, organizational dynamics, higher education enrollment and marketing, media and public relations, digital marketing, social media, website design, storytelling, and content marketing strategy. Eric previously led the admission recruitment and marketing team at the University of Iowa, where he engineered a 17% growth in enrollment over a two-year period.

    Eric Page

    Eric Page brings a bold approach to clients’ enrollment solutions, propelled by his 15+ years of experience leading and executing cutting-edge communications and marketing strategies. He has expertise across the board, including in strategic planning, organizational dynamics, higher education enrollment and marketing, media and public relations, digital marketing, social media, website design, storytelling, and content marketing strategy. Eric previously led the admission recruitment and marketing team at the University of Iowa, where he engineered a 17% growth in enrollment over a two-year period.