Deidre Frith steps into new role at ESCC

Deidre Frith loves a challenge. That is why the opportunity work in a college environment not only intrigued her, but it also pushed her to apply for the recently created position of director of Marketing and Media Relations at Enterprise State Community College.

Frith, who spent five years as the director of Community Relations for the Wiregrass Museum of Art, says this new role will allow her to broaden her professional skills while she helps the two-year college enlarge its footprint in higher education in Alabama and across the Southeast.

“When I interviewed, I really liked the people there,” Frith said of her pursuit of the new position. “After my interview, I really wanted to be there. It was such a good fit for me. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

The second part of the interview process included an interview with Dr. Nancy W. Chandler, president, and Dr. Jeffrey Coats, dean of Student Services.

“I am pleased with the skills, background and expertise Ms. Frith brings to the college,” said Dr. Chandler in a written statement. “The opportunities her experience affords the college is exciting to us all.”

Frith says the unique qualities of ESCC will make her task of marketing the school easier.

“My job is to brand the school,” said Frith, whose first day on the job was Jan. 3. “It is my task to create a fresh identity for the school through its website, social media outlets and Facebook page. I’m also a graphic designer, so I will create a whole series of fresh, clean, informative print pieces for the college. There is so much about the college that makes my job easy. It’s my task to give it a face.”

Frith, who received her bachelor of arts degree in Public Relations and Graphic Design from The University of Alabama, says the position can be both challenging and rewarding. That is because the college offers two distinct education paths – academic and technical.

Enterprise State was ranked in the top 120 community colleges in the nation by the ASPEN institute for 2010-2011. In addition to the Enterprise campus, the school also has a site at Fort Rucker.

“Enterprise State really offers its students the whole college experience, and it is really innovative in its offerings,” Frith said. “Among its offerings are Information Technology, Paralegal, Medical and a 3-D Simulation Program. In addition to academics, the college also offers athletics and fine arts. The Fine Arts Department really blew me away. Ken Thomas leads an amazing theatre department. The college’s vocal group, The Entertainers, is outstanding.”

Since its creation, Enterprise State has built its reputation on its strong academic program. Frith says you don’t have to look far to see where that academic prowess is showcased.

“Something really unique about Enterprise State is the Scholars Bowl, led by Zac Showers. “It is comprised of 10 students who compete in a format similar to the game show Jeopardy. They compete all over the Southeast. It’s a big thing. He has a great team. The students have to be accepted onto the team.”

She also noted students from throughout the Wiregrass are drawn to the school because they like the environment fostered by the administration and the faculty.

“Enterprise State is really big in helping its students in life,” Frith said. “The students receive a quality education. When they transfer, they typically make a higher GPA.

“I’ve talked with students on campus as to why they came to Enterprise State. They love it because it’s good for students from small towns.”

Preparing students for 21st century jobs is also important, Frith says. That is where the technical side of the college takes center stage.

“It’s fascinating to work with the Alabama Aviation Center,” Frith said. “Ozark is the largest site for an aviation maintenance training program in the country with more than 1,000 students. And, the center has an extremely high passage rate, 97 to 98 percent. Ozark is home to the only aviation maintenance training program in the state.”

The Aviation Center has campuses in Ozark and Mobile and sites in Albertville, Decatur and Andalusia.

Frith acknowledges that branding two distinct programs could be a daunting challenge, but she feels the two feed off of each other.

“We’re creating a cohesiveness between the two sides of the school,” Frith said. “In that regard, part of my job is to keep enrollment up. For that, I will work with the recruiters. I’m there to help keep the momentum going.”

A change in the campus has also captivated Frith’s attention.

“Enterprise High School was on our campus for three years (following a devastating tornado that hit the school),” Frith said. “The college opened its doors and took care of the high school. The two schools were on the campus at the same time. That experience created an even greater relationship between the two schools.”

Because of the large number of students that were on the campus in those three years, Frith says the school is receiving a facelift.

“Our Student Center is getting a facelift,” Frith said. “We’re also getting new HVAC systems. Our landscaping is also recovering after housing several portable buildings.”

Frith and her husband Lee have two children, a son, Parker, 3½, and a daughter, Campbell, 1.