Challenge
At English Language Programs, one of the top outreach priorities is finding consistent, meaningful ways to engage alumni. The goal is twofold: encourage them to reapply for new projects if they are eligible and empower them to share their stories in ways that could inspire and mentor future applicants.
Action
I helped create multiple avenues for alumni involvement across conferences, campaigns, and special events. At regional, national, and international conferences, I coordinated alumni-led sessions and panels, providing presenter coaching, logistics training, and clear talking points. I also trained alumni and staff to represent the program at booths, equipping them with the tools to mentor prospective applicants while engaging visitors. Beyond events, I curated alumni stories for promotional campaigns, blogs, and monthly social media features—amplifying their voices to broader audiences. During a two-week Virtual Educator exchange culminating at ISTE, I led alumni engagement in our Playground session, where they presented projects alongside their in-country institutional counterparts, offering real-world perspectives to over 200 participants. I also built recognition and connection into smaller touchpoints, producing appreciation certificates, designing writable banners and displays for conferences, and collaborating with TESOL Professional Learning Networks to highlight alumni opportunities.
Impact
These efforts created measurable engagement: across 2024–2025, alumni-led sessions averaged 16 attendees per conference, and booths generated an average of 38 new email sign-ups at over 40 events. The ISTE Playground alone drew 200+ participants, solidifying the Virtual Educator Program’s credibility in the EdTech space and strengthening alumni visibility and influence far beyond direct recruitment.
Supporting Materials
Below you’ll find examples of how creativity and design supported community engagement and outreach.
TESOL 2025 Writable Banner (Long Beach, California) – I designed this piece in alignment with the program’s branding style to bring a stakeholder vision to life: attracting alumni and potential applicants through an interactive booth feature. Alumni were encouraged to respond to a banner prompt by linking their reflections to their project experiences, while potential applicants could read these responses, add their own, and feel motivated to apply. The design process and the final real-time result illustrate how visual creativity can spark meaningful connections and foster community participation.
Virtual Educator Impact Exchange Workshop Presentation – This workshop, co-designed by the outreach team for Virtual Educator alumni and their international counterparts, guided teachers on how to share their stories and impact on our private COP platform and across social media. While the workshop was a collaborative effort, I contributed the idea to open with a Six-Word Memoir activity as a creative icebreaker. Adapted from one of the Virtual Educator Playground presentations, this activity demonstrated to participants that they already had the tools to contribute to program outreach, even if they didn’t see themselves as marketing experts. This creative framing helped set the tone for a session that not only amplified teacher voices but also strengthened the program’s visibility as a paid professional development opportunity.
*Select work samples shown here have been adapted or modified to respect organizational branding and confidentiality.