February 27, 2024
Haley Ahlers and Jessica Lane recognized as Professional Staff and Professor of the Week
Haley Ahlers, director of marketing and communications in the College of Business Administration, and Jessica Lane, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs in the College of Education, were recognized as the Professional Staff and Professor of the Week at the Feb. 26 men's home basketball game. Faculty Senate, the Office of the President, K-State Athletics and the Division of Communications and Marketing wish to recognize their contributions to K-State.
Since joining the College of Business Administration team in 2021, Ahlers has had an immediate impact on the college as the director of marketing and communications. She developed a thoughtful strategic plan to increase the visibility of the college in every area of her responsibility. Among her measurable accomplishments are the following:
- Launch of the online video viewbook.
- Organic social media engagement increases across all platforms.
- 47% increase in total impressions.
- 88.9% increase in total engagements.
- 1,043% increase in post link clicks.
- 103% increase in net audience growth.
- Average engagement rate of 6.5%.
- Photographic coverage of 86 different events, activities and headshot sessions.
This does not include the numerous activities and events she and her staff cover in the college's weekly newsletters and the biannual alumni magazine. Additionally, Haley works closely with the recruiting department to leverage the marketing efforts to increase student recruitment. She was also able to articulate an actionable marketing strategy to the Business Advisory Council to secure $300,000 in funding to enhance the college's marketing efforts.
Lane has been part of the College of Education for the last 17 years — first serving as teaching faculty in preparing P-12 preservice teachers, and now serving as counseling faculty.
In 2018, Lane was named the Kansas counselor of the year. She has co-edited a counseling book, coauthored an eBook, book chapters, numerous journal articles, and was a contributor to the College of Education's documentary, "Becoming Trauma Responsive," which aired on PBS. Lane has presented at state, regional, national and international levels. In addition, Lane serves as co-principal investigator to "Build Community Resilience to Prevent Suicide in Vulnerable Rural Communities in Kansas Through Evidence-Based Mental Health Education." Lane's research interests include collaboration between school counselors and administrators; social-emotional advocacy and support; rural counseling and mental health.
Lane was part of K-State's counseling faculty, which led the development of K-State's first education specialist degree that launched this fall.