KEARNEY – UNK Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Marketing Kelly Bartling has been named executive vice president for marketing and strategic communications for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Bartling, a 26-year University of Nebraska staff member, adjunct faculty and administrator, will transition in November to the new role in Lincoln, Chancellor Neal Schnoor announced today.
“I chaired the search committee that recommended Kelly for hire as assistant vice chancellor for communications and community relations in 2012. In that role she inherited a small office which soon grew into a thriving full-service public relations and marketing office with several key hires,” Schnoor said.
In 2018, Bartling was appointed to the lead role in enrollment management, as the first vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Marketing. In that capacity, she has led collaborative efforts to develop a strategic enrollment plan advised by a campuswide steering committee, enhanced undergraduate recruiting and personalized email campaigns through CRM and optimized scholarship and financial aid strategies.
The division led by Bartling includes Admissions, Financial Aid, Enrollment Technology Strategies, Communication and Marketing, Military and Veteran Student Services, and Student Affairs.
In her work with Student Affairs at UNK, she reorganized Student Engagement, engaged sponsors on projects to improve advising and student success, and helped develop the Loper Success Hub.
In the executive vice president role at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bartling will oversee strategic marketing and communication, managing the Chamber’s voice, strengthening engagement and impact across communication platforms, through events and activities including the Nebraska State Chamber Foundation, Leadership Nebraska, Manufacturing Alliance, Tech Nebraska and other key initiatives. With the Nebraska Chamber leadership team, she will help execute member relations and legislation and policy initiatives, including member and grassroots messaging and materials.
“As a lifelong Nebraskan, Kelly understands Nebraska’s unique attributes and has a network of leadership partners across the state, including Greater Nebraska,” said Nebraska Chamber President and CEO Todd Bingham. “She has demonstrated communication and marketing success and is committed to working collaboratively to serve our members and enhance the Nebraska Chamber’s communication strategies to be an even stronger voice for business in Nebraska.”
Prior to joining UNK, Bartling was news editor in University Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after a previous career in Nebraska newspapers including the Kearney Hub, Lincoln Star, York News-Times and Beatrice Daily Sun. During her time in public relations at UNL, she earned her master’s degree and was an adjunct professor in communication, marketing and advertising.
Moving forward, the vice chancellor position at UNK will not be filled. Instead, effective immediately, a newly established chief enrollment management officer position has been created, and Brad Green has agreed to serve in the role. Green, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs George Holman and Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Todd Gottula will report directly to the chancellor and serve on the Chancellor’s Leadership Team.