Suzan Brinker, Ph.D. | Co-founder & CEO
Suzan has dedicated her career to helping higher education initiatives build strong value propositions and communicating them to the right audiences. Her work spans enrollment marketing initiatives at Penn State, Northeastern, Babson, and Tufts. Having served as Director of Marketing in complex university settings, Suzan is excited to lead Viv Higher Education because it gives her the chance to build the agency partner she always wished she had.
Suzan is a collaborative leader who understands how to navigate university environments. She has worked extensively with faculty, administrators, and senior leadership teams and is proud of her track record of increasing conversions and enrollments for initiatives targeting a diverse set of audiences, including: continuing education and lifelong learning; undergraduate and graduate students; domestic and international audiences; and broader university communities and employers.
Kalman Gacs | Co-founder
Kalman’s creative vision stems from a foundation in fine arts at Boston University. Over the years, he has developed graphics for nonprofits, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies alike. His sharp eye for detail and talent for visual storytelling make him an invaluable asset to Viv and its clients.
Audra DeLaney-Hall | Vice President of People Operations
Audra’s career in higher education marketing began at Bowling Green State University and Williams College, where she refined her skills on cross-functional teams dedicated to enhancing enrollment pipelines. Now at Viv, her insider perspective on university communities allows her to tactfully handle organizational leadership, internal operations, complex workflows, and supports collaborative client success work. In all that she does she works to build trust and strengthen relationships that drive success.
Flannery Burdick | Senior Director of Content
With over 15 years in international education, Flannery has guided universities, consortia, government agencies, and nonprofits in 15+ countries to elevate their global communications strategies. From her early days as a lead writer in a U.S. university’s outreach office to her role as content strategist at a global marketing firm, Flannery brings expertise and cultural fluency to every project.
Dana Cruikshank | Vice President of Growth
Guided by a belief in higher education’s transformative power, Dana helps institutions find sustainable paths to growth. At Viv, he partners closely with clients to address challenges and seize opportunities, crafting strategies that enhance enrollment, stakeholder engagement, and development efforts. With deep knowledge of emerging tools and trends, Dana ensures partnerships create lasting value.
Kate Jackson-Meyer | Senior Consultant
Kate Jackson-Meyer is a scholar and educator passionate about fostering dialogue and ethical solutions in complex situations. She has taught ethics, philosophy, and theology at leading institutions, including Boston College and Catholic Theological Union, and consulted with the MIT Volunteer Consulting Group. As a trained mediator and Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program, Kate combines her research on community flourishing with Viv’s innovative approach to university alignment and mission-driven marketing. Her expertise in humanities and conflict resolution strengthens institutions and advances their goals.
Jill Wierbicki Abrahams | Senior Consultant
Jill brings 37 years of philanthropy expertise to Viv, grounded in her “teach them how to fish” philosophy. She has facilitated millions in donations and trained leaders to achieve lasting impact. As Director of Major Gifts at Harvard Kennedy School, Jill led fundraising for six Research Centers, working with faculty to meet ambitious goals. Her expertise spans fundraising, strategic planning, and leadership, supporting institutions with customized training and interim leadership solutions. Through creative gift planning, Jill helps organizations thrive in higher education and beyond.
Lauren Wamelink | Senior Enrollment Strategist
Lauren is a digital marketing leader with over 10 years of experience in higher education, specializing in customer acquisition, performance marketing, and maximizing marketing investments. As Senior Director of Digital Marketing at Northeastern University, she led enrollment marketing strategies that consistently drove growth. Now a senior consultant, she partners with institutions nationwide to develop integrated, analytics-driven approaches to improve marketing performance and grow enrollment.
David Brinker | Business Intelligence Manager
Dave is a social scientist with expertise in data analysis, strategic planning, and evaluation. Passionate about turning research into actionable insights, he supports Viv’s operational and financial systems with a keen eye for efficiency and impact. A skilled leader, Dave excels at aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals to drive meaningful progress.
Parth Mehta | Paid Media Implementation Lead
Parth Mehta is a seasoned paid media advisor with over 5+ years of experience driving enrollment growth for higher education institutions across North America. He has led campaigns that achieved up to 4x the original goal in lead volume. Passionate about performance marketing and tech, Parth specializes in leveraging platforms like Google Ads, Meta, and LinkedIn to optimize student recruitment strategies. His expertise lies in powering enrollment strategies through paid media, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, and delivering measurable ROI.
Carly Althaus | Senior Paid Media Strategist
Carly Althaus is a seasoned paid media strategist with an expansive background in higher education advertising. She brings strategic oversight, technical precision, and a collaborative mindset to every engagement — helping teams streamline their media efforts and drive stronger results. With experience at schools including the University of Maryland, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Carly is known for her ability to balance big-picture thinking with detailed execution, making her a trusted partner in optimizing complex campaign ecosystems across SEM, paid social, programmatic, and other channels.
Steve Lipscomb | Web Analytics Specialist
Steve’s journey into digital marketing began at Johnson & Johnson, where he became an expert in web analytics. Over 25 years, he led large-scale Google Analytics projects, building dashboards that reveal actionable insights. At Viv, Steve ensures accurate lead tracking and equips clients with data tools that clarify enrollment funnels and improve decision-making.
Chris Pelling | Design Director
Chris has spent over two decades crafting bold, personality-driven designs. Known for his love of typography and branding, he has collaborated with organizations like Wimbledon, McLaren, and Assumption University to build and grow brands with impact.
Jackson Miller | Senior Designer
Jackson’s design journey began with Photoshop experiments in high school and evolved into professional work in education and nonprofits. With six years of experience, he specializes in branding, layouts, and infographics, collaborating with clients like The United Way and Northeastern University to bring stories to life visually.
Dylan Kaufman | Videographer
Dylan is a versatile media producer, blending his skills as a Director, Videographer, and Photographer to create compelling, eye-catching content. With experience leading productions nationwide for diverse clients through his company, CBDK Photo, Dylan has also partnered with exceptional organizations like Viv. Known for his excellent communication, adaptability, and joyful approach to content creation, Dylan brings both technical expertise and a collaborative spirit to every project.
Alex Ezorsky | Videographer
Alex is a versatile video producer, known for creating engaging, high-impact content for clients like Harvard, NEJM, and Doritos. With expertise in editing, visual effects, and storytelling, his work has gained attention for its creativity and polish. His campaigns have gone viral for their standout execution. Alex brings a sharp eye for detail, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for elevating every project he touches.
Colleen Sabatino | Content Writer
Colleen is a skilled content writer specializing in messaging, brand storytelling, and strategic communications. At Viv, she crafts compelling content that helps organizations connect with their audiences and achieve their marketing goals. With experience as a fractional CMO, she brings a deep understanding of integrated marketing, having led campaigns and managed teams across startups, higher education, K-12, and healthcare.
Brandon Rosas | Content Writer
Described as an “idea machine,” Brandon enjoys delighting audiences with the
written word. His marketing journey began as a student writer for Central College
and Bethel University. After honing his skills in the corporate world, Brandon
returned to higher education, where he combines strategic insight with creative
vision to help clients achieve their goals. He has written for Harvard Magazine,
UW-Milwaukee, and National Louis University, among other organizations.
Amy Errthum | Project Manager
Amy is a results-driven marketing and communication professional with 15 years of experience leading strategic initiatives in higher education. At Clarke University, she leads transformative campaigns, including a historic football awareness initiative, record-breaking first-year enrollment efforts, and post-COVID strategies boosting graduate and adult enrollment. She excels in Slate communication strategies, enhancing digital platforms, and creating award-winning content.
Al Roth | Project Manager
With over 15 years of experience in higher education and nonprofits, Al specializes in managing workflows and improving operational efficiencies. She has partnered with institutions like Northeastern University and Concordia University to streamline systems and drive results. As a technical lead, Al has supported over 150 organizations with CRM migrations and website redesigns, empowering teams to adopt innovative solutions and achieve clarity in their operations.