About Clarus

Objectivity.

Competence.

Integrity.

Our Team Brings

The team members at CLARUS — A Carnegie Company not only have higher education credentials and community college experience,
but our team also brings a passion for making a difference for our community college clients—in fact, we pride ourselves on it.

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Where Are We Located?

CLARUS—A Carnegie Company is located in Westford, Massachusetts.

We also have digital managers strategically located across the country to best serve you.

WHAT TO EXPECT

OUR TEAM

CAREERS

OUR STORY

What To Expect

  • Fair & Ethical

    Business Practices

    CLARUS personnel conduct business affairs in an ethical and professional manner with the intention of giving the highest level of value and satisfaction to our client colleges. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. In fact, we want to have such a strong positive relationship with our colleges that they will be proud and excited about personally calling us a colleague and friend and recommending our services to other colleges. For us, the best reference is a satisfied college.

  • Client Relationships

    College’s Best Interest First

    CLARUS provides services to our clients with integrity, competence, and objectivity; we place the college’s best interests above all others in the project.

  • Full Disclosure

    Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

    CLARUS endeavors to avoid conflict of interest, or the appearance of such. We disclose to the client any circumstances or possible conflicts which might influence judgment for the project.

  • Objectivity

    We Will Meet Your Unique Needs

    CLARUS endeavors to understand the values and desired outcomes of our clients. We will custom design our programs and practices to meet their unique needs. Prior to accepting any project, we ensure that there is a mutual understanding with the client college of the objectives, scope, work plans, fees, and expenses for the duration of the contract. CLARUS only charges fees and expenses which are reasonable, legitimate, and commensurate with the service delivered.

  • Integrity

    Finding The Best Fit

    CLARUS is committed to providing accurate representation of our skills and capabilities. If we do not feel that we can honorably meet the needs of our clients we will assist them in finding an organization with a better “fit” for the successful outcome of the project they are undertaking.

  • Dedication and Contribution

    Making A Long-Term Positive Outcome

     CLARUS will take ownership in the long-term positive outcome of a project and its impact on the success of our clients. That is, it is our commitment to contribute to developing sustainable competitive advantages for our clients. Thus, we will make every effort to follow up and to measure the impact of our programs.

  • Commitment to Change

    We Practice What We Teach

    CLARUS believes that the members of our organization should not just be consultants, but should assist the colleges in making a sustainable change in their organization. We practice what we teach and believe in, particularly in terms of developing the skills of the personnel at the college to continue without us when the project is over. We continuously strive to learn new skills and best business practices worth employing in the management of our business as well as to share with our clients.

  • Confidentiality

    For Proprietary Or Privileged Information

    CLARUS respects the individual rights of the participants in the market assessment. We will not disclose any individual information about the participants unless so directed by the participants. We also respect the personnel and corporate rights of the college with which we work. We treat all college information as confidential, preventing access by unauthorized people unless indicated otherwise by the college. We do not take advantage of any proprietary or privileged information without the college’s permission.

  • Reliability

    Meeting Our Commitment To You

    Project delivery dates will be carefully planned in full consultation and agreement with the needs of the client college and the ability of CLARUS. Every effort will be invested to meet the commitment dates. In cases where circumstances prevent the meeting of a deadline or if meeting the deadline would jeopardize the integrity of a project, colleges will be given maximum notice and every alternative means for fulfillment will be undertaken.

Meet the CLARUS Team

Kathi Jordan Swanson, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT

  • Ph.D. Marketing, Texas A&M University (at age 27)
  • Master in Business Administration, University of Louisiana–Monroe
  • Bachelor in Business Administration, University of Louisiana–Monroe
  • Marketing faculty member at Nebraska State College
  • Chair of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees (youngest chair ever)

“The best part of my job is making a difference for my clients—whether it is increasing enrollments for the first semester in five years for a college or filling a specific program that was on the verge of closure.”

Alison McLallen

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CLIENT SERVICES

  • Master of Education in Secondary Education–English, Northern Arizona University
  • Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Broadcasting, Northern Arizona University
  • Associate of Arts (Broadcasting) & Associate in Applied Science (General Studies), Arizona Western College
  • Eleven years at Arizona Western College as the Media Relations Director
  • Five years broadcast television management and radio in Arizona and California

“I enjoy working in and with higher education and specifically at the community college level, because this is where you find people wanting to better themselves. CLARUS connects potential students to colleges, which in turn, changes lives.”

Chelsie Shackelford

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications, Arizona State University
  • Certification in Editing, University of Washington
  • Google Ads Search and Display Certifications
  • Previously the Marketing/ Digital Engagement Manager at North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

“I enjoy using strategic and creative solutions to connect with those on their educational journey to help achieve a positive outcome for our clients.”

Rachel Key

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

  • Bachelor of Business Administrations, UT Southern

  • Former Social Media & Marketing Specialist at Motlow State Community College

“I love working with community colleges because they are life-changing institutions. I have seen firsthand how students’ lives are changed for the better. As a member of CLARUS, I get to help community colleges across the nation reach their goals and show students how their lives can be transformed!”

Hannah Keller Flanery

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Hannah Keller Flanery

  • Education: B.S. in News Editorial Journalism from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro; Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro; currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Administration from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.Higher Ed Experience: Nine years of experience in higher education communications and marketing – seven years at community colleges and two years at a four-year liberal arts college
  • Prior to working in higher education, I worked for 10 years in daily newspapers.

“I love the life-changing experience community colleges provide to their students. As a community college marketer, my favorite part of my job was getting to tell the stories of our students who had changed not only their lives for the better, but the lives of their family members and future generations. Now, as a member of CLARUS, I get to help community college marketers reach prospective students and show them how a community college education can change their life.”

Maegan Bair

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Maegan-Bair

  • Bachelor of General Studies, Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • Previously the Senior Manager of Media Planning at Dallas College

“Working for higher education, especially at the community college level, is the greatest reward. It gave me a front-row seat to students accomplishing their dreams of transitioning into the workforce or transferring to a university. Now as a member of the CLARUS team, I get the privilege of helping clients reach future students and change lives. ”

Karis Anthony

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST

  • Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing, The University of Texas in Arlington
  • Bachelors of Business Administration in Management, The University of Texas in Arlington

“The best part of my job is summarizing marketing results which helps our clients see when they have met their goals and gives insight on future campaigns.”

Savannah Bizjack

DSP CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE

  • Appalachian State University; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing, Digital Marketing

“CLARUS goes the extra mile to guarantee the success of students and community colleges. The continuous support we offer has the potential to transform students’ lives, offering them increased opportunities for their personal development and growth.”

Terri Eades

PAID SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Terri Eades

  • Bachelors of Art in Computer Art (Graphic Design), University of Northern Colorado
  • Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Digital Media Certificate, Leeward Community College
  • Google Ads Search Certification
  • Google Analytics Individual Qualification
  • Google Ads Display Certification
  • Fourteen years as Webmaster, Social Media Manager, and Digital Advertising Specialist at Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, CO

“The best part of my job is building and monitoring social media ad campaigns in order to reach students and help them on the path to their educational goals and career dreams!”

Ashley Macawile

PAID SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Ashley Macawile

  • Associates in Arts and AGEC-A Certificate, Arizona Western College

“I love applying my skills in various way to help the team and our clients. I enjoy continuing to gain more knowledge and helping our community colleges transform lives.”

Terie Dawson

DATA ANALYST

  • BA and MBA Chadron State College, NE
  • Admission & Enrollment Management (14 years);  Institutional Research (10 years)

“Finding information for clients and CLARUS team members..generally I love being hero support for CLARUS projects :)”

Ashley Meyer

GOOGLE ADS SPECIALIST

  • Bachelor of Science in Art History, Portland State University
  • Associate of Arts, Portland Community College
  • Post-baccalaureate in Art Restoration

“Working for CLARUS and with our client partners presents a new puzzle and set of challenges I get to solve every day.”

Amy Colerick

DIRECTOR OF FULFILLMENT

  • BA in Business Administration with emphasis in Human Resource Management and Management, Doane University
  • Founding member of the Doane College Human Resource Management Club
  • More than twenty years’ experience in human resources and recruitment

“I love that the work we do at CLARUS helps both students and schools.”

Chelsea Riesland

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

  • Bachelor in Agribusiness, Arizona State University
  • Former Communications Coordinator for Arizona Western College

“It’s exciting to know that the work CLARUS does directly impacts students and community colleges all over the country, connecting students to higher education and changing lives.”

Ashley Knaub

BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER

Ashley Knaub

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Emphasis from Chadron State College

“I enjoy getting to learn new things while working with an amazing group of people!”

Enedina Cantu

OFFICE MANAGER

  • Associate of Science in Business Administration, Western Nebraska Community College

“I enjoy learning about the new marketing opportunities that CLARUS pursues and then offers to our clients. Each project is different and unique.”

Trisha Sharpe

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

  • AIB Certificate in Accounting
  • 35+ years of working in Finance and Accounting
  • Notary Public for 35 years

“To build lasting connections with others in offering successful marketing solutions to aid in the process of higher education with enthusiasm and trust.”

Leslie Goodner

FULFILLMENT SPECIALIST

  • Master of Arts, Organizational Leadership, LaGrange College
  • Bachelor of Arts, Organizational Leadership, LaGrange College
  • Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
  • Over 13 years of Paralegal experience

My post-secondary education began at a two-year, open access college, and I have always felt that the supportive and nurturing environment in which it provided was the catalyst for my future.

Careers

Would you like to be a part of the CLARUS team?  Please email us your resume and cover letter.

Apply

Meet Carnegie

For more than 35 years, Carnegie has been a leader and innovator in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy. Carnegie’s commitment to providing industry-leading marketing and enrollment solutions led them to CLARUS Corporation. We joined the Carnegie family in 2023 and continue to leverage our services for the community college market—now with even more to offer. READ MORE about this partnership.

Carnegie