TOTY | 'He's a gifted visual storyteller': Gering, Hoskinson, Clark speak on Chase Dempsey's impact
Since his arrival, Dempsey has gone above and beyond.
Note: For full Thresher of the Year content, pick up a copy of issue 12.
This spring, The Collegian introduced its Thresher of the Year award. Bethel College students, faculty, and staff were asked to submit nominees who exemplify Thresher Way qualities and work hard to improve Bethel and non-Bethel communities.
Many names were submitted, but after much deliberation, The Collegian staff selected Chase Dempsey as the award’s inaugural recipient. Dempsey is the school’s multimedia coordinator for institutional communications and marketing — a role he has served in since May 2021.
After talking with administrative members Tricia Clark (director for institutional communications and marketing), Heidi Hoskinson (VP for enrollment management), and Bethel president Jon Gering, it’s obvious that Dempsey has made a positive impact on the school in a variety of ways. Dempsey exemplifies institutional qualities, is valuable in the recruitment of new students, and has helped establish Bethel’s digital presence, especially since the school’s rebranding prior to his arrival.
While speaking with Hoskinson, she explained to me how in our current technology-driven world, it’s important to have someone on the faculty with expertise in online marketing through forms of social media, especially at an institution like Bethel. More people are increasingly drawn to visual imaging, and Dempsey is very knowledgeable about this type of marketing. His understanding of social media and other multimedia platforms is critical in reaching prospective students and expanding our student-body population.
Gering also shared his perspective on the 2023 Thresher of the Year: “Chase observes interactions and sends them out to the broader world. Through his job as a digital media coordinator, he helps uncover all the wonderful things that happen at the college and is able to share that with people in the Bethel community and the surrounding community.”
Clark had similar thoughts and feelings surrounding Dempsey’s beneficial influence on the development of the college and stated, “Chase has been extremely valuable in not only establishing the new Bethel brand identity but in bringing a fresh perspective and influence to our marketing across campus and beyond. … Chase has been an innovator since the day he joined the Bethel team and is very skilled at his job. He’s a team collaborator and pivots easily. He’s a gifted visual storyteller.”
Dempsey has offered a fresh perspective when it comes to marketing and communications at Bethel. He is able to elevate the voices of Bethel community members and all of the unique, exciting, and important things that are happening at the school that should be and need to be transmitted to the broader community.
And not only is Dempsey excellent at his job and highly skilled in the marketing and communications world, but he is also a welcoming, charismatic, and kind individual who always comes to campus with a contagiously positive attitude. Any person that passes by Dempsey on campus is welcomed with a kind smile.
“Chase has been an innovator since the day he joined the Bethel team…”
Tricia Clark
President Gering summed up Dempsey’s significance to the college as a whole in the perfect way: “Chase is a very hopeful person for the college. … I think he demonstrates to all of us what it is to thrive on campus and in his role. He also reminds me of what our young employees are seeking in their job space and how they want to be treated and how they can be successful, so that's part of it. The other part is he has a really good attitude and is always in a good mood, is always happy to see people – and I think that's remarkable as well.”
If you see Chase Dempsey walking around campus, be sure to congratulate him for being named Thresher of the Year. I can promise you’ll get a genuine smile in return.