SCC's Heather McDorman named national council’s Communicator of the Year, marketing earns 3 paragons

Published: 04/10/2019

Heather McDorman, vice president for marketing and student life at St. Charles Community College, was named the 2019 Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR). The award recognizes a two-year college marketing professional who demonstrates leadership and ability in college communication. McDorman was honored at the council’s national convention last month in San Antonio.

McDorman, who has been with SCC for 30 years, was one of the first responsible for marketing and admissions at her college, establishing marketing and communications as a key contributor to enrollment and the college’s overall success. She oversaw two rebranding efforts, which improved public perceptions of SCC among civic and business leaders, two full website redesigns in addition to the college's first intranet portal, has chaired the annual community wellness event and more.

“Heather is a consummate professional who brings energy, creativity and professionalism to her work,” said Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D., SCC president. “She demonstrates exceptional leadership skills in building cohesive teams and developing relationships with both internal and external communities. She is most deserving of this award.”

Outside of her college, McDorman is involved in a variety of professional organizations, including the Missouri Community College Association, the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce and the Public Relations Society of America. She also contributes to NCMPR’s Counsel magazine and the American Association of Community College’s CC Daily.

The SCC Department of Marketing and Communications also took home three paragon awards at the national conference – two golds and one silver. The college earned gold in the computer generated illustration and brochure series categories, and the team took home silver in the social media category. 

NCMPR supports the professional development of community college communicators, serving more than 1,800 members from more than 550 colleges across the United States and Canada. It’s the only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges and is one of the largest affiliates of the American Association of Community Colleges. NCMPR is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.