The goal of the project is to increase the diversity of those who view wildlife. Develop messaging to new younger diverse audiences (black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ) that already recreate in the outdoors to increase the viewing of wildlife (such as birdwatching). What messages resonate with these audiences? What are the most appropriate marketing/communication channels? The client has significant research that the student consulting team will review to help inform their messaging strategy.

Client(s) name(s):

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Working Group.

Shelly Plante
Nature Tourism Manager
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department-HQ

Anne Glick
Wildlife Viewing Program Administrator
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Project Mentor

Amanda Lawler, ISU Alumna, and Marketing/Communications Professional.

Final deliverable format:

Strategic messaging plan for younger audiences of color to increase the viewing of wildlife. The strategy will include tactics and sample creative material.

The B-N EDC would like new thinking on how B-N can retain a higher percentage of college graduates from B-N colleges/universities. Project consultants will identify what strategies have been successfully employed in other communities of similar size, geography, and employer base as that of Central IL and make prioritized recommendations to the EDC on what role it could play to achieve the objective.

Competencies

• Critical thinking/problem solving
• Creativity & Curiosity
• Strategic thinking
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Some interest in economic / community development

Project Mentor

Andrew Bordewick
Andrew is an ISU Alumnus, has 13 years of experience in the financial services industry with work focused on marketing and product development. He has an MBA from Illinois State University and has consulted with primary and secondary schools on marketing, advancement, and development efforts. Other interests include playing music, running, and coaching junior high cross country.

Client(s) name(s):

Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council (EDC)

Final deliverable format:

Strategic plan for how to retain young recent graduates to B-N. The strategy will include specific tactics.

The goal of the project is to raise awareness through a campaign or similar vehicle for IAOM’s (non-profit) Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM) Credentials among those who refer, and among the general public. Particular emphasis is on how to communicate “why is the COM the gold standard for care in this area?” and relatedly “why should people seek out a COM?” Orofacial health is the study of the muscles and skeletal structures of the mouth and face that affect speech, swallowing and/or chewing. COM’s are challenged in unprecedented ways to meet the needs of patients, clients, and students due to the pandemic.
This project’s goal is to showcase how the COMs have risen to the challenge. Campaign developments could include the following:

• New Social Media Ads
• Story Wall Updates
• Revisiting Past Ad Subjects
• Member Toolkit Resources
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Client(s) name(s):

International Association of Orofacial Myology (www.iaom.com)

Barbara Taylor, IAOM, Board member
Kaye Baumgardner, IAOM Board member

Project Mentor

Jordan Knoup. Jordan is an ISU alumnus and a public affairs and marketing professional.

Final deliverable format:

A campaign to raise awareness for why the IAOM’s (non-profit) Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM) Credentials is the gold standard among those who refer and among the general public. Campaign will include tactics and sample creative material.

The goal of the project is to evaluate how this grocery chain (brick and mortar and online) can engage millennials through cooking. After conducting research, the project charge is to develop a strategy and tactics including communication channels, messaging and sample creative material that resonates with this audience. An emphasis on digital is suggested.

Competencies

• Interest in food retailing and cooking
• Digital media and communications
• Marketing
• Creativity

Client(s) name(s)

Large grocery chain in the Midwest

Project Mentor

Dr. Peter Kaufman

Final deliverable format:

A strategic plan including a messaging plan on the topic of cooking to reach millennials tied to the client, a large grocery chain. The strategy will include tactics and sample creative material. An emphasis on digital is suggested.

The goal of the project is to identify new product ideas that are fun and interesting that leverage this organization’s existing unique origami design thinking (design, manufacturing, and material capabilities). The project requires careful identification and understanding of how major trends (in particular economic trends) and competitor factors will support these new product ideas. New product ideas should be fun, interesting, and consistent with the firm’s mission.

Competencies

• Interest in outdoor recreation
• Creativity
• New product development
• Communications

Client(s) name(s):

Oru Kayak

Project Mentor

Dr. Peter Kaufman

Final deliverable format:

A new product plan. The plan will include strategy, tactics, and sample creative material.

Current research suggests that males struggle with negative body image at levels equal to their female counterparts. The emphasis on muscularity and the male physique promoted by culture and media poses a unique challenge for men. Student Counseling Services, in collaboration with Health Promotion and Wellness, is offering ISU men the opportunity to engage in the Body Project: More Than Muscles.  This new program is designed to help male college students develop and maintain a healthy body image.

Illinois State University is the first campus in the U.S. to pilot this new research-based program. The purpose of this project proposal is to develop marketing to increase interest and participation in the Body Project: More Than Muscles program at ISU. The primary objective of this project is the creation of a marketing video to be used on the program website as well as on social media platforms. The purpose of this video is to promote positive messaging about male body image, invite and encourage male student participation in the program, and provide information about how to be involved.

Competencies

• Communication skills and close collaboration are integral in ensuring the messaging and language in the final project are consistent with the aims of the program.
• Marketing skills to guide dissemination of final product
• Video production and editing skills to create a marketing video
• Familiarity with video editing software (e.g., Adobe products)

Client(s) name(s):

Student Counseling Services, ISU. Dr. David Adams, Staff Psychologist.

Student Counseling Services has three main areas of focus: clinical services, programs, and training. The primary focus of SCS is providing care for the student body at Illinois State University. SCS works closely with campus partners, students, and colleagues at other institutions to engage in programming that engages in prevention of mental health concerns faced by students. The Body Project, which is a long-standing program offered at campuses across the country, is well-researched and has been found to play an integral role in preventing eating disturbances and eating disorders. The Body Project: More Than Muscles is a new program aimed at establishing similar prevention-focused outcomes for men.

Project Mentor

Dr. Suejung Han

Final deliverable format:

The goal of this project is a video for use in marketing this program. Video is integral in increasing participation, which will serve to enhance the research being conducted on this program that builds awareness about male body image issues.

Identifying and Managing the Economic Risks of Anomaly in Earth’s Magnetic Field. This vast, developing phenomenon, called the South Atlantic Anomaly, has intrigued and concerned scientists for years. Satellites and spacecraft are particularly vulnerable to the weakened magnetic field strength within the anomaly. During these encounters, technological systems onboard satellites can short-circuit and malfunction. Satellites not only allow for safe navigation in the air, on land and at sea, but also underpin financial transactions and the protocols that keep data parcels in sync across the internet.

Competencies

• Physics
• GEO-GIS & Earth and space education
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Economics & Finance
• Actuarial science
• Risk management and insurance

Client(s) name(s):

Verisk

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

A paper that can be published with the students names on Verisk emerging risks database

A telematics system includes a vehicle tracking device installed in a vehicle that telemetry data including location, speed, idling time, harsh acceleration or braking, fuel consumption, vehicle faults, and more. Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) is a type of auto insurance that uses telemetry data to track mileage and driving behaviors. UBI is often powered by in-vehicle telecommunication devices (telematics)-technology that is available in a vehicle that is self-installed using a plug in-device or already integrated in original equipment installed by car manufactures. Fortune 100 Insurance Company is interested in research assessing whether UBI has a negative or positive impact on people of color. The study would include comparing UBI insurance rating to traditional insurance rating factors such as traffic violations, and home location.

Competencies

• Telematics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses telecommunications, vehicular technologies, for instance, road transport, road safety, electrical engineering, and computer science. UBI is an insurance based application of telematics.
• Interest in risk management or actuarial science
• Interest in economics
• Interest in law and social justice
•  Written communication skills
•  Ability to think systemically
•  Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable
• Communications

Client(s) name(s):

Fortune 100 Insurance Company

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

White paper and presentation

Numerous studies exist on the various areas of the economic costs of racial inequality and injustice. These include the racial wealth gap, health inequalities, segregated housing, disparate law enforcement, adverse technology, and financial exclusion. A map of costs can be found at https://kumu.io/eetamek/james-jones#untitled-map-3

Competencies

•  Interest in racial justice
• Interest in economics
• Interest in sociology or risk management
• Written communication skills
• Ability to think systemically
• Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable

Client(s) name(s):

Pending

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

White paper and presentation

The Mission of the MiN is to promote the development and delivery of effective risk management tools, including insurance, for unserved people. The goal of this project is to understand and then effectively communicate how risk management and insurance are and can be used to address climate change effects on smallholder farmers in developing countries and help to make rural communities in developing countries more resilient.

Competencies

•  Interest in climate change
• Interest in international development and inclusive risk management
• Written communication skills
• Ability to think systemically
• Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable

Client(s) name(s):

Microinsurance Network
https://microinsurancenetwork.org/

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

Strategic Messaging Plan

The goal of this project is to help NFW identify an ownable message strategy and specific creative storytelling ideas for standing out among a very crowded field of competitors in the plant-based textile movement. NFW has a unique approach to using abundant, natural materials in a truly circular way (cradle to cradle). We also have a key competitive advantage in our ability to scale at levels of magnitude more than others. However, a lack of consumer knowledge about existing issues with the use of plastics in fashion and footwear, the dominance of incumbent messaging, and a lack of transparency and accountability in a crowded field of new entrants create a significant hurdle in breaking through the noise in the plant-based materials movement.

Competencies

• Interest in the environment and sustainability
• Digital media and communications
• Some interest in fashion
• Creativity

Client(s) name(s):

NFW and Mirum

The Mirum platform extends NFW’s ability to mold and shape natural polymers and creates high-performance composite materials that are plant-based and contain no plastics. Utilizing natural inputs they remain highly tunable for use by creative product designers. Mirum can replace leather or less sustainable leather alternatives which typically use polyurethane or other plastic binders. www.naturalfiberwelding.com and www.madewithmirum.com.

General Manager, Mirum Business Unit
Oihana leads all aspects of NFW’s breakthrough, plant-based 100% natural plant-based alternative leather line, Mirum. She joined NFW in 2019, bringing 16 years of experience working in multiple countries and across a range of roles at global giant BASF. She has deep expertise in innovation, technology, sustainability, and proven experience helping customers turn ideas into commercial success. Hailing from Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, she earned her Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from POLYMAT, the University of the Basque Country.

Director of Marketing, NFW
Annie leads the marketing and communications function at NFW. She supports the Mirum and Clarus business lines as well as the organization’s overall PR, internal communications, and community relations efforts. She brings two decades of experience in a range of roles across multiple industries including ESG investing, natural and organic foods, and alternative proteins. She excels at translating complicated concepts into ideas that can connect with and motivate action. She is originally from Wisconsin and lives in Minneapolis, MN. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Journalism and Political Science and a Masters in Strategic Public Relations from The George Washington University.

Project Mentor

Elisabeth Reed, Director of Sustainability at ISU.

Mike Wiese. Mr. Wiese is a 1984 graduate of ISU with double majors in Computer Science and Mathematics along with a Business Administration minor. Since graduating from ISU he has spent the bulk of his professional career in project leadership and business management consulting roles focused on clarifying business challenges and delivering meaningful solutions. When he is not working he enjoys running, watching sporting events, and attending theater performances.

Final deliverable format:

Project will have several mini-deliverables designed to garner feedback along the way and build a complete message strategy for our Mirum product line. The student team is encouraged to be creative in their approach to working through:

• Competitive/landscape analysis
• Strategic message framework
• Creative ideation process for storytelling impact

The focus of this project is to continue the development of marketing and strategy for the IL Global Scholar (IGS) program in support of the team which oversees it. This is a state-approved project mostly supported by volunteer labor, so continuing to develop ideas for marketing and support materials is important.
An ICC team of ISU students worked on this project last academic year; this year’s team would build on their findings in key directions. IGS is a relatively new program so current awareness is limited. Here are two potential avenues for the team to work on as samples. First, one potential issue that was identified last year was how smaller school districts could become involved, so strategies and support are needed to develop this area. Second, how can materials be provided to help interested teachers “sell” this program to their administrators?

Competencies

• Marketing & International Business
• Education
• Social Media, Languages, Area studies
• Global and Political issues
• Oral and Communication skills

Client(s) name(s):

IL Global Scholar Program, an NGO started by high school teachers in IL who believe high school students could learn and make a difference by engaging in global issues.

Project Mentor

Dr. Barbara Ribbens (Associate Professor and Director of the Varner International Business Institute)

Final deliverable format:

A portfolio of materials focused to support the growth of IGS and promote the value of a global perspective and a report outlining strategies for growing the IGS program using these materials.