Leading communications, media relations, and reputation strategy for a new graduate research university in Saudi Arabia — working with founding leadership to establish credibility with global academia and attract faculty, students, and research partnerships in a politically complex environment.
A newly established graduate research university in Saudi Arabia entered the international higher education landscape with exceptional ambition, significant sovereign investment, and a vision to become a global center for research excellence. Yet reputation cannot be funded it must be earned. With virtually no public profile, the institution needed to attract world-class faculty, exceptional students, international research partners, and global media attention while navigating a politically sensitive and highly scrutinized environment.
Greeley partnered closely with the institution’s founding leadership to build its communications function from the ground up. Together, we developed a compelling institutional narrative that clearly articulated the university’s purpose, global relevance, and long-term vision. We established trusted relationships with leading international education and science media, advised senior leadership on executive communications, managed reputation during sensitive public moments, and embedded strategic communications into the institution’s leadership and decision-making processes.
The university established a respected international identity recognized by leading academic, scientific, and policy communities. It built enduring relationships with influential media and stakeholders while developing an internal communications capability capable of supporting long-term research excellence, global collaboration, and institutional growth.
