Chantell Cosner, PhD
@chantellcosner.bsky.social
📚Higher ed marcom director at Washington State University | ✨Helping leaders build creative teams and transform their organizations✨
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Hello Bluesky Butterflies! 🦋👋 I’m hoping to use this platform to foster a community of leaders who can explore creative leadership, coaching and culture building. Can’t wait to connect with leaders from around the world, especially those in higher ed! 🦋
In case you’re wondering want we’re discussing at an international leadership conference this week…
October 18, 2025 at 5:56 AM
In case you’re wondering want we’re discussing at an international leadership conference this week…
One of my colleagues and I were looking at my Instagram today, brainstorming some ideas for an upcoming ad campaign. Nearly every single ad in my feed was for GLP-1s or related weight loss products. He was horrified and said “I just get beer ads.” 😟
October 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
One of my colleagues and I were looking at my Instagram today, brainstorming some ideas for an upcoming ad campaign. Nearly every single ad in my feed was for GLP-1s or related weight loss products. He was horrified and said “I just get beer ads.” 😟
Staying emotionally engaged and kind during disruptive change is such an important skill as a leader. It’s also incredibly taxing. What are some practices leaders can adopt to avoid burnout and stay grounded?
September 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Staying emotionally engaged and kind during disruptive change is such an important skill as a leader. It’s also incredibly taxing. What are some practices leaders can adopt to avoid burnout and stay grounded?
I’m committing to get back into the groove with regular social and blog posts after a summer hiatus — a sort of informal post-doc to keep me exploring themes that relate to my research interests and current discourse. I’m grateful for the ability to ground myself in this work, especially right now.
September 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I’m committing to get back into the groove with regular social and blog posts after a summer hiatus — a sort of informal post-doc to keep me exploring themes that relate to my research interests and current discourse. I’m grateful for the ability to ground myself in this work, especially right now.
I find it interesting that there continues to be a narrative that working in the public sector (ie gov. or public ed) is super cushy and easy. And yet, I’ve watched very competent and successful people totally fall apart when they transition from private to public.
June 1, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I find it interesting that there continues to be a narrative that working in the public sector (ie gov. or public ed) is super cushy and easy. And yet, I’ve watched very competent and successful people totally fall apart when they transition from private to public.
My latest analogy for the use of ChatGPT/LLMs is that of a calculator. To use a calculator effectively, you need to understand how math works and how you structure questions to get the answers you want. Without that knowledge, it’s pretty useless.
May 8, 2025 at 12:28 AM
My latest analogy for the use of ChatGPT/LLMs is that of a calculator. To use a calculator effectively, you need to understand how math works and how you structure questions to get the answers you want. Without that knowledge, it’s pretty useless.
Reposted by Chantell Cosner, PhD
To the extent this exists anywhere, the financial sweet spot of higher ed institutions is places with: 1) stable to growing demand/enrollment; 2) stable to growing regional population; 3) small federal research portfolio; 4) non-elite status (mostly off Trump radar)
April 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
To the extent this exists anywhere, the financial sweet spot of higher ed institutions is places with: 1) stable to growing demand/enrollment; 2) stable to growing regional population; 3) small federal research portfolio; 4) non-elite status (mostly off Trump radar)
Just heard one of our Deans discussing how the current cuts to health research funding will impact our lives for decades to come. It takes time to build out high-quality research programs. The amount of momentum we are going to lose is hard to fathom.
April 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Just heard one of our Deans discussing how the current cuts to health research funding will impact our lives for decades to come. It takes time to build out high-quality research programs. The amount of momentum we are going to lose is hard to fathom.
I’ve been listening to Sarah Wynn-Williams’ “Careless People”, about her personal journey alongside the rise of Facebook and I highly recommend it. Not only does it unveil some deeply disturbing stories about the inner workings of FB, but it illustrates how power can shape org culture.
April 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I’ve been listening to Sarah Wynn-Williams’ “Careless People”, about her personal journey alongside the rise of Facebook and I highly recommend it. Not only does it unveil some deeply disturbing stories about the inner workings of FB, but it illustrates how power can shape org culture.
One of my favorite things is being in the receiving end of a reference check phone call for someone on my team (or formerly on my team). I use the opportunity to bend the callers ear for as long as they will allow about how great the person is they are about to hire.
April 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
One of my favorite things is being in the receiving end of a reference check phone call for someone on my team (or formerly on my team). I use the opportunity to bend the callers ear for as long as they will allow about how great the person is they are about to hire.
My health insurance provider offers me an annual subscription to the Calm meditation app at no additional cost and it’s probably one of my favorite and most used benefits, especially right now.🧘♀️
April 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
My health insurance provider offers me an annual subscription to the Calm meditation app at no additional cost and it’s probably one of my favorite and most used benefits, especially right now.🧘♀️
I’ve always loved working in higher ed because there’s usually so much hope for the future. We educate students with the hope they can transform themselves and their communities with new knowledge. We invest in research to improve lives and our planet. That’s why right now feels so difficult.
April 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I’ve always loved working in higher ed because there’s usually so much hope for the future. We educate students with the hope they can transform themselves and their communities with new knowledge. We invest in research to improve lives and our planet. That’s why right now feels so difficult.
👏👏👏
As usual, anytime I look around for truly inspired, mission-driven leaders of innovative, hope-making institutions, it’s always community colleges and regionals.
The biggies are simply too beholden to the box they’ve built around themselves.
The biggies are simply too beholden to the box they’ve built around themselves.
April 1, 2025 at 5:48 AM
👏👏👏
Reposted by Chantell Cosner, PhD
Exciting news! "The 30-60-90-Day Handbook: Checklists for Communications and Marketing Leaders in Higher Education" is now shipping! 📘📦 It comes with a bonus workbook so you can put the checklists into action.
💙📚 #booksky #highered #leadershipbooks #higheredleadership #higheredmarketing #checklists
💙📚 #booksky #highered #leadershipbooks #higheredleadership #higheredmarketing #checklists
March 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Exciting news! "The 30-60-90-Day Handbook: Checklists for Communications and Marketing Leaders in Higher Education" is now shipping! 📘📦 It comes with a bonus workbook so you can put the checklists into action.
💙📚 #booksky #highered #leadershipbooks #higheredleadership #higheredmarketing #checklists
💙📚 #booksky #highered #leadershipbooks #higheredleadership #higheredmarketing #checklists
Over the past several weeks, I’ve decided to lean in even further and put my energy into supporting a positive environment for my team. The storm is raging around us, but staying focused on what we can accomplish has helped tremendously with moral.
March 19, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Over the past several weeks, I’ve decided to lean in even further and put my energy into supporting a positive environment for my team. The storm is raging around us, but staying focused on what we can accomplish has helped tremendously with moral.
Submitted a proposal last night for the International Leadership Association conference in Prague!🤞🤞…and now I wait until late April for acceptance.
a man wearing a suit and tie is standing in a field of yellow flowers
ALT: a man wearing a suit and tie is standing in a field of yellow flowers
media.tenor.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Submitted a proposal last night for the International Leadership Association conference in Prague!🤞🤞…and now I wait until late April for acceptance.
Higher ed leaders need to be suuuper thoughtful about how they are approaching DEI right now. Not just because of the legal pressures— the public is watching and voting with thier dollar.
www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...
www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...
Target Loses Web Traffic As Costco Gains On Feb. 28 Economic Blackout Day
Target's website traffic dropped 9% on Feb. 28 in the People's Union online shopping boycott with its app usage down 14%, compared with mid-February Friday results.
www.forbes.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Higher ed leaders need to be suuuper thoughtful about how they are approaching DEI right now. Not just because of the legal pressures— the public is watching and voting with thier dollar.
www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...
www.forbes.com/sites/pamdan...
Reposted by Chantell Cosner, PhD
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
February 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
Reflecting on a comment from one of my academic colleagues regarding current events: “He can upend it, but he can’t control it.” Complex systems are far too unpredictable to know what will come from disruption. Which means, that we have just as much opportunity to build something better.
March 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reflecting on a comment from one of my academic colleagues regarding current events: “He can upend it, but he can’t control it.” Complex systems are far too unpredictable to know what will come from disruption. Which means, that we have just as much opportunity to build something better.
Had an evening beverage with a colleague who used to work at a community college and was laid off this quarter due to projected funding issues because he teaches ESL. I don’t even know where to begin except to say an educated workforce is a powerful workforce. We cannot divest in our future!
February 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Had an evening beverage with a colleague who used to work at a community college and was laid off this quarter due to projected funding issues because he teaches ESL. I don’t even know where to begin except to say an educated workforce is a powerful workforce. We cannot divest in our future!
My institution just hired the first woman our 135 year history to serve as our president. I’m am thrilled…but I’m also reminded of the “Glass Cliff” phenomenon when companies are more likely to hire women and BIPOC folks during periods of crisis or downturn, when the risk of failure is highest.
February 7, 2025 at 1:00 AM
My institution just hired the first woman our 135 year history to serve as our president. I’m am thrilled…but I’m also reminded of the “Glass Cliff” phenomenon when companies are more likely to hire women and BIPOC folks during periods of crisis or downturn, when the risk of failure is highest.
So it begins…
Approximately 20 members of Elon Musk’s staff have begun working within the Education Department. They have gained access to multiple sensitive internal systems, including a financial aid dataset containing the personal information of millions of students enrolled in the federal student aid program.
February 4, 2025 at 3:02 AM
So it begins…
Our current political and social climate is tough on students, faculty and administrators alike. We’re academics and much of our identity is rooted in finding answers and seeking solutions. But there aren’t necessarily clear answers right now. Good leadership acknowledges the ambiguity we face.
January 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Our current political and social climate is tough on students, faculty and administrators alike. We’re academics and much of our identity is rooted in finding answers and seeking solutions. But there aren’t necessarily clear answers right now. Good leadership acknowledges the ambiguity we face.
I really don’t know how I’m supposed to focus on finishing my dissertation with all this *wildly gestures around the room* is going on.
January 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I really don’t know how I’m supposed to focus on finishing my dissertation with all this *wildly gestures around the room* is going on.
Friday Reflection: How are you working to break the cycle of trauma and poor leadership you may have experienced as an employee? Alternatively, how are you sharing the wisdom and experience you’ve learned from great leaders?
January 24, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Friday Reflection: How are you working to break the cycle of trauma and poor leadership you may have experienced as an employee? Alternatively, how are you sharing the wisdom and experience you’ve learned from great leaders?