Coherence: How Telling the Truth Will Advance Your Cause (and Save the World)

First published in 2010, the second edition of Coherence, released in June 2020, includes new chapters, including contributions from RHB team members Aimee Hosemann, Alex Williams and Rob Zinkan. The content has been updated throughout to capture new case studies, stories and contemporary considerations. An expanded bibliography provides more study resources for readers.

Coherence offers higher ed marketing professionals both a broad framework and specific strategies for successfully engaging constituents. Arguing that branding is no longer sufficient to meet the changed needs and expectations of today’s audiences, Coherence suggests a better approach for transparent consumer relationship-building.

Filled with both relevant examples and practical steps you can take to advance your cause, this is a volume that serves colleges and universities as well as non-profit organizations of all types. Author Rick Bailey draws on 45+ years of experience in not-for-profit marketing to deliver insights you’ll be eager to share and solutions you’ll be eager to try.

About the author

Rick Bailey is principal of RHB, Inc., a leading marketing and design consultancy serving higher education and related not-for-profit organizations. He brings more than 45 years of experience in not-for-profit marketing, including work in fund raising, public relations, college recruitment and marketing communications. More than 350 institutions and organizations in education, the arts, social services, healthcare, professional services and membership associations have enlisted Rick’s counsel with the RHB team.

Rick began his career at his alma mater, Spring Arbor University, where he managed college relations, fund raising and recruitment and he attended Michigan State University for graduate studies in higher education administration. He served as the president of an advertising agency for eight years before launching his own firm in 1991. He is a frequent conference speaker at regional and national meetings of professional marketing and educational organizations and, taught as an adjunct professor of marketing at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business for 13 years. He is married to Tamara, his partner and chief executive officer at RHB. The Baileys have two grown children, Nick and Ashley.