Higher education communication is no longer a marketing function. It is a strategic discipline shaped by political pressure, governance risk, and real-time public scrutiny. In this episode of the <a title="Changing Higher Ed Podcast" href= "https://changinghighered.com/changing-higher-ed-podcast/">Changing Higher Ed® podcast</a>, <a title= "Dr. Drumm McNaughton - Higher Education Consultant" href= "https://changinghighered.com/dr-drumm-mcnaughton-higher-education-consultant/"> Dr. Drumm McNaughton</a> speaks with <a title="About David Maffei" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaffei/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Maffei</a>, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Americas at <a title="About Staffbase" href= "https://staffbase.com/about-us" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Staffbase</a>, about how university presidents and boards must rethink how communication functions inside their institutions under today's crisis-driven conditions. Drawing on more than two decades of enterprise and higher education communications leadership, Maffei explains why internal communication now determines external credibility, why preparedness is the defining variable in crisis response, and how fragmented communication structures quietly undermine institutional trust. The discussion also explores how technology and AI amplify leadership discipline rather than replace it, and why presidential communication can no longer be delegated. This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, boards, and senior leadership teams navigating political pressure, public scrutiny, and rising expectations for transparency, alignment, and trust. Topics Covered <ul> <li>Why internal communication now drives external brand credibility</li> <li>How crisis preparedness exposes <a title= "Higher Education Board Governance" href= "https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-consulting/higher-education-board-governance/"> governance strength</a> or weakness</li> <li>Why internal notification must come before public announcements</li> <li>How political pressure reshapes presidential communication risk</li> <li>Why communication is now a <a title= "Capacity Building and Leadership Coaching for Higher Education Presidents" href= "https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-consulting/capacity-building-leadership-coaching/"> core presidential competency</a></li> <li>The role of ego management in institutional leadership</li> <li>How siloed communication tools fracture institutional alignment</li> <li>Why unified board and presidential signaling protects credibility</li> <li>How technology and AI magnify leadership discipline</li> <li>Why <a title="Higher Education Strategic Planning" href= "https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-consulting/strategic-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">communication is now embedded inside strategy</a>, not downstream from it</li> </ul> Three Takeaways for Higher Ed Leadership <ol> <li>Preparedness determines whether crisis strengthens or destabilizes trust.</li> <li>Internal communication discipline now shapes external credibility in real time.</li> <li>Unified signaling between presidents and boards is no longer optional.</li> </ol> This episode offers practical, governance-level insight into why communication performance is now inseparable from institutional performance — and how higher education leaders can protect credibility under sustained pressure. Read the transcript or extended show summary: <a href= "https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-communication-strategy-crisis/"> https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-communication-strategy-crisis/</a> #HigherEducation #HigherEducationPodcast #UniversityLeadership #HigherEdCommunication

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Higher Education Communication Strategy Under Political Pressure and Crisis Risk

Changing Higher Ed

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews