Boutique public relations for higher education
Senior-level PR counsel for colleges and universities, without the agency overhead. Media relations, thought leadership for presidents and faculty, and steady hands when the news cycle turns.
Services
Every engagement is scoped to the institution, not pulled from a rate card. Most clients start with one of these.
Retainer
Consistent, credible placements for the research, programs, and people that define your campus.
Program
Position your president, provost, and deans as the voices reporters call first.
On call
Calm, fast, and experienced when a story breaks: leadership transitions, Title IX, campus incidents, budget cuts.
Approach
Universities move through committees, shared governance, and academic calendars. The plan respects that reality instead of fighting it.
Interviews with leadership, communications staff, and a few faculty. I learn what the institution is proud of and what keeps the cabinet up at night.
A 12-month editorial calendar built around commencement, research cycles, admissions deadlines, and board meetings.
Targeted pitching to higher-ed trades, regional outlets, and national reporters who actually cover your beat.
Monthly reporting on placements, message pull-through, and what did not work, so we adjust before the next cycle.
Results
Regional public university
14Positioned three faculty as sources on EV battery manufacturing. Coverage cited by the state economic development office in its own release.
Private liberal arts college
48 hrsBuilt the announcement sequence for trustees, faculty senate, alumni, and press. Local coverage led with the college's framing, not speculation.
“Laura understood how a university actually works before she wrote the first pitch. That saved us months.”
Vice President for Communications
About
I started this practice after a long career in communications because I kept seeing the same thing: universities with remarkable research and people, and PR support that was either an overstretched internal team or a large agency that did not understand tenure, shared governance, or why the board matters.
Lessnau Communications is deliberately small. You work with me directly. I take on a limited number of institutions at a time so each one gets senior attention, fast turnaround, and candid advice.
Insights
Short, practical pieces for communications leaders.
Contact
A 30-minute conversation, no pitch deck. Tell me what you are trying to accomplish this academic year and I will tell you honestly whether I can help.