University High School is excited to announce that Nila Nealy will take over as Director of Communications in the 2023-24 school year. Nealy has served as Communications Coordinator at University since 2016. She will replace Ashley Crockett-Lohr who will become one of University’s Directors of Admission in June.

Nila came to University High School in 2016 with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and graphic design. Prior to her time at University, she had served as principal and brand strategist at TwentyTwo, a local brand development and design firm. She has a BFA in visual communications from Herron School of Art and Design. Nila is the mother of two University High School alums, Cameron (’16) and Alexa (’18).

As the school’s Communications Coordinator, Nealy has contributed an eye for beauty, keen knowledge of visual communication, vast experience in branding and strategy, and passion for learning and growing to the external relations team. She has helped elevate University’s brand throughout Central Indiana, ensuring we are known for being the diverse, welcoming, warm, rigorous, and values-driven place that we are. And she will build even more on this good work when she takes over as Director of Communication this summer.

In her cover letter for the Director of Communications position, Nealy reflected on her recent experience leading the World of Auto Racing J-Term class. At the time of her application, the group was preparing to travel to Daytona, FL for the Rolex 24. Nealy added, “I know that J-Term is one small part of my responsibilities. I’m really here to tell the school’s story to attract the best prospective families, retain our current students, encourage donors to give, and generally build a brand of goodwill in our local community and beyond. But being ‘on the ground’ with these remarkable young people in this environment of curiosity and creativity — and so much more — is the best kind of ethnographic marketing research. Teaching allows me to understand further who we are and what we do — expanding hearts and minds.”

We are thrilled to have Nila Nealy in this new capacity at University High School. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming her!