Hello!

Hi there. I’m glad you’re here. 

About me

I started my career in the early 2000s at the Rochester Institute of Technology. I spent six years at RIT in enrollment as an admissions counselor and social media coordinator. Facebook had just opened up to the public, and universities started asking if they had a place on social media. 

At RIT, I helped set up the university’s social media presence, designed pieces of the admissions website, and produced prospective student and parent newsletters. 

Higher Ed Live

I also had a podcast. Or a vlog. The first years pre-dated podcasts. We called it a live weekly webcast, and I hosted a show hacked together into a multicamera live event. I interviewed admissions professionals, and we took questions from Twitter. I remained the producer of Higher Ed Live for nearly a decade. 

Cornell University

In 2013, I joined a social media strategy team at Cornell University. I served in a digital innovation role where I helped develop and implement the advancement division’s digital strategy. Early in my career at Cornell, I moved to my hometown and started working remotely. A skill we all learned six years later. 

In 2020, we embarked on a mega-reorganization, and I was promoted to Director of Marketing Operations. I oversee all marketing communications for Cornell alumni and annual giving programs. 

Consulting

I have been an independent consultant for over a decade. I established Ashley Budd Digital Strategy + Design, LLC. on my birthday in 2022. 

I provide support for nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities. I host workshops and speak regularly at local and international events. I apply psychology and testing to marketing frameworks. And I teach teams how to innovate and streamline communications. 

The Email Book

I’m writing a book! This summer, I drafted a book about email with Dayana Kibilds. Day and I were destined to write this book. We have two metric tons of experience between the two of us. And our perspectives complement each other in a way I know every reader will take something useful away.