Ohio University Wins ZeeMee Trailblazer Award for Student Engagement

“The OHIO team does an amazing job of including ZeeMee in all facets of their admissions outreach,” said Chris Fait, senior vice president of partner success at ZeeMee. This recognition comes as Ohio University recently secured the ZeeMee Trailblazer Award, a distinction reserved for university partners who demonstrate exceptional creativity in building community for prospective students.

For many students, the transition from high school to a university campus is defined by uncertainty. In an era where digital connection often replaces physical presence, Ohio University has leaned into the ZeeMee platform—a social media space designed specifically to help students navigate the college search process. The university’s Enrollment Marketing and Operations unit, a division of Enrollment Management, began its dedicated ZeeMee community in fall 2023. The scope of this initiative is broad, encompassing both the main campus in Athens and all five of the university’s regional campuses.

Building Community Through Student-Led Engagement

The success of the platform at Ohio University is largely driven by a model that prioritizes peer-to-peer interaction. Current students, serving as influencers, occupy a central role in the digital ecosystem. They answer questions from prospective Bobcats, share personal anecdotes from their time in the classroom, and provide a window into the realities of campus life. This human-centric approach is intended to mitigate the stress of the application cycle by providing authentic, unfiltered perspectives.

Kenna Reynolds Warren, assistant director of communication in Enrollment Marketing and Operations, manages the day-to-day operations of the community. Her role involves coordinating the student influencers, moderating channels where students can query staff from various campus offices, and managing a schedule of monthly live events. These digital gatherings are designed to provide structure to the recruitment process, keeping students informed about critical deadlines and administrative requirements.

Using ZeeMee, future Bobcats are finding community in a world where it’s increasingly hard to connect, helping them build meaningful connections with one another and the OHIO community.

Data-Driven Outreach and Future Recruitment

The efficacy of this strategy is reflected in the most recent recruitment cycle. Data from the fall 2026 enrollment period indicates that nearly one out of every two incoming students was active on the ZeeMee platform. This high rate of adoption suggests that the university’s investment in digital community-building is aligning with the preferences of the modern prospective student demographic.

Fait noted that the team’s success is not merely a result of using the platform, but of how they utilize it. He highlighted a recent event tailored specifically for out-of-state students as a standout example of the team’s intentionality. By creating these niche digital spaces, the university is attempting to solve the geographic isolation that often affects students applying from outside of Ohio.

Katie Troyer, executive director of enrollment marketing and operations, emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “This recognition reflects the creativity and care our team brings to connecting prospective students with Ohio University,” Troyer said. “Kenna, campus partners, and our student influencers have created welcoming opportunities for future Bobcats to ask questions, hear directly from current students and get a firsthand sense of the OHIO experience.”

As universities across the United States continue to adjust their recruitment strategies in response to shifting demographics and the rise of digital-first communication, Ohio University’s approach offers a case study in blending traditional enrollment management with modern social networking. The challenge remains to ensure that these digital connections translate into long-term student success and persistence once students move from their screens to the lecture halls of Athens.