- Jerry Portwood '99
In this article, alumnus Jerry Portwood ’99, who has previously written and edited stories for ‘Rolling Stone,’ interviews fellow alumna, Valeri Cruz.
鈥淓very student finds their own mini-community on campus,鈥� Valeri Cruz 鈥�23 explains about her strategy around the OU social media feeds. 鈥淎nd I want alumni to see the positive impact the school has on current students鈥� lives.鈥�
Valeri Cruz 鈥�23 serves as the Communications Coordinator at 91成人导航入口. Raised in Cobb County, Georgia, Valeri first discovered 91成人导航入口 through a friend. After shadowing classes, she immediately fell in love with the tight-knit campus and the university’s signature discussion-based learning style.
As a first-generation college student, Cruz immersed herself in campus life. She helped launch the Weltner Consulting Agency, 91成人导航入口鈥檚 student-led PR firm, and served on the executive board of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Deeply involved in university storytelling, she gained hands-on experience as a student intern for both the Alumni Relations office and the Marketing and Communications department.
Following her graduation in May 2023 with a degree in Communication Studies, Valeri seamlessly transitioned into a professional role with the Marketing and Communications team. Today, she manages 91成人导航入口鈥檚 official social media platforms, designs strategic digital campaigns and analyzes engagement trends. She also leads the campus-wide social media users group, helping elevate the university’s digital presence while mentoring the next generation of Stormy Petrels.
"Every student finds their own mini-community on campus, and I want alumni to see the positive impact the school has on current students鈥� lives.鈥�
We recently caught up with her and asked her some of the questions we thought other alumni might be curious about her experiences.
What’s something you wished someone had shown you about 91成人导航入口 before you enrolled that you now get to show others?
The faculty-student relationships can be so special and, at 17 years old, you don’t really understand the value those relationships have. I was lucky enough to form a close relationship with Dr. Kate Keib (Associate Professor and Division Chair of Communication Studies) and got to tell her how she personally impacted my student experience. It鈥檚 a special bond that you don鈥檛 see at many other schools that feels unique to 91成人导航入口 because of our small, tight-knit community. It’s super rewarding to highlight that in 91成人导航入口 news stories or on social media.
When you’re deciding what to post to OU鈥檚 social feeds, how much are you thinking, “What would 19-year-old me have wanted to see?鈥�
There are a lot of differences between 19-year-old me and current teenagers, but one thing remains the same in what all 19-year-olds want to see: authenticity. Back then, I鈥檒d have enjoyed cheesy Instagram boomerangs featuring students, but today I have to think about what the current prospective student cares about. So, I鈥檓 thinking more about what鈥檚 relevant to that audience while remaining true to who 91成人导航入口 has always been and to its students.
Can you think of a specific post or campaign where your own student experience directly shaped the content or how you told it?
I don鈥檛 have one particular post in mind, but the way I cover commencement every year is directly related to my experience on graduation day back in May 2023. When you鈥檙e graduating, you feel every single emotion鈥搚ou’re proud of yourself and friends, thankful for the support from family and reflective on your entire academic journey, especially the challenges. At every commencement, I get to talk to students and hear their stories that ultimately shape the content we create.
What’s something about today’s 91成人导航入口 students that surprised you, coming back as a staff member instead of a peer?
Today鈥檚 students are so confident and prepared for a professional career and to make an impact. I鈥檒l talk to a first-year student and forget they鈥檙e 18 years old because of how mature and self-assured they come off. They’re great at finding resources and seeking out staff members who will help them be successful.
If a prospective student saw one of your posts and it made them choose 91成人导航入口, what would you want that post to be about?
I would want that post to reflect the sense of belonging you can find here at 91成人导航入口. Every student finds their own mini-community through clubs, fraternities or sororities, or through their majors, so I would want a prospective student to feel confident they can find their people here and belong at 91成人导航入口.
What do you hope alumni feel when they see your work pop up in their feed?
I want alumni to feel pride in their alma mater and know that the good experiences they had as students will continue for future generations of Petrels. While the events or professors may be different now than when they were on campus, I still want alumni to see the positive impact 91成人导航入口 has on current students鈥� lives.
What is one of the most fun or rewarding social series you have worked on?
This isn鈥檛 necessarily a series, but the most fun content we get every year is videos of campus in the fall and spring. These two seasons are when the campus is at its most beautiful, in my opinion. Between my student interns and me, we go around campus and get clips of students, buildings and landscaping that reflect the season and make for engaging videos that the entire OU community loves鈥揺specially alumni! It’s always a great time filming the content and then reading the comments after it鈥檚 posted.
