When news or a video from the college crosses your social media feed, thank Alexis Croisdale, the newest member of the CPHHS marketing and communications team. The wizard behind the curtain, Alexis has served as the college’s multimedia communications specialist since May 2020. She received her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, with an emphasis on visual communications and video production. Before joining Oregon State, Alexis helped build a video marketing department for a nationwide environmental consulting firm.
What made you decide to get into the marketing and communications field? Is there one specific moment that inspired your career path?
Remember Myspace? I was one of those kids who spent their time customizing HTML codes, rearranging my top eight and constantly editing my profile. As the number of social media platforms grew and I started high school, I got involved in media production courses — creating videos, taking photos, creating graphics and even anchoring for the school’s daily news broadcast. If you had told that little girl that I would have a career centered around all these aspects of my childhood, I would have said that you were crazy. How could that even be a possibility? But it became one!
I ultimately decided to pursue broadcast journalism from my love of theatre but also wanting to make money. Once I got to college, I realized I liked being behind the camera more than in front of it. I also love the creativity and flexibility marketing allows.
Why did you choose to work at the CPHHS at Oregon State?
The minute I graduated from my undergraduate program, I knew I wanted to find my way back into higher education. My fiancé, now husband, and I moved from Arizona to Oregon in 2018, and when I discovered how close we lived to Oregon State, I was determined to become a part of Beaver Nation.
This position opened right on the cusp of the pandemic. My interviews were conducted remotely, we were all confined to our homes, and public health was being talked about more than ever. I knew the college would do a lot of heavy lifting in sharing information, creating resources and conducting research. I wanted to be a part of that.
What is your favorite part about the job?
I love being able to help others share their stories, especially students and alumni. Every time I interview an individual and hear their accomplishments, what motivated them to pursue their degree or how they are out there making a difference in the world, I get so inspired! It is truly an honor to not only highlight them but also give them a boost of confidence by sharing just how awesome they truly are.
I also am extremely passionate about visual communications. There is no better feeling than taking 20+ minute interviews, a bunch of random photos and recordings and turning that into an uplifting video.
What is your greatest accomplishment in the field to date?
My work is unique because a lot of people watch a video I produced or an article I wrote before we even meet. It’s always rewarding when I hear that someone liked a certain article I wrote, or that the video they viewed inspired them to apply to the college. Sometimes they don’t even realize that I’m the person who put it together.
How do you strive to affect people’s lives with your work?
I get to help showcase our college as a credible institution promoting health equity, along with sharing the amazing work our students, alumni, faculty and staff are doing to make the world a better place. However, sometimes scientific research isn’t easy for your average person to understand. Being able to spread awareness about these complex issues, backed up by the life-changing work our college conducts, in a way that everyone can understand makes me feel like I’m adding some positivity to the online world.
What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?
In 2016, I won a lip-sync battle for a performance of Mr. Roboto (which is a five-minute song!). It was such a fun experience, and I got to compete against local comedians, who I thought were a lot funnier than I am!
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
I’m an active reader and I love to get crafty, specifically with painting. I also love exploring the state of Oregon with my husband, our 2-year-old son and our Dalmatian, named Ohana.