About
Ellis + Eyre was founded to support higher education and nonprofit professionals.
We Feel You.
Marketing professionals are short-staffed and burned out. You’ve weathered crisis after crisis. But you’re still expected to do more with even less. You can’t seem to get to those big, important projects despite putting in nights and weekends. And it feels as if the fiscal year is racing by.
That’s where we come in. We are your secret weapon, your ace in the hole, your rabbit in a hat.
As seasoned writers, we obsess over finding just the right words to tell your story. We are small and nimble and boutique-y, which allows us to radically customize our services to your needs. Our authentic, on-brand content works for everyone — from admissions to advancement to leadership — and, of course, your audience. And our 25+ years in education nonprofits allow us to dive right into your project and deliver best-in-class work that gives you immediate results.
Your leadership team will applaud, your metrics will improve, and you’ll feel something you may not have felt at work in a long time: joy and relief.
“Leadership was thrilled with this work. I cannot recommend Ellis + Eyre enough.”
— Michele Faye Hoos, Director of Strategic Communications for Cornell Tech, Cornell University
About Erin
Erin Lyons, CEO
For more than 25 years, Erin has helped universities and nonprofits of all sizes and ranks level up, reach new audiences, and meet their most important goals. She began working in education nonprofits in 1996 and was an intern for marketing guru Seth Godin in 1999.
A former director of development and communications for Harvard University, Erin holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a BA in English from University of Wisconsin. She has lived in New York City, Boston, Chicago, London, and DC. Now, she is happily based in Vermont on a trout stream in the Green Mountains.
Team Members
WRITERS
We only hire writers who are exceptionally skilled and sensitive to the nuances of higher ed and nonprofit culture. Our writers come directly from educational institutions — and many are academics themselves. We train them in our best practices for conversion-optimized writing and we bring them into most meetings with our clients. They learn the details of your institution so well that, by the end of the project, you’ll feel as if they have always worked with you.
DESIGNERS
We focus mostly on content but occasionally will provide design services, if the project is the right fit. We understand the tricky balance between traditional visual design and new aesthetic directions that captivate modern prospective audiences and funding partners.
PROJECT MANAGERS
Right now, we don’t utilize project managers. That’s what separates Ellis + Eyre from an agency: you always work directly with Erin, you always have continuity throughout your project, and you always get the very highest level of expertise and insight.
PARTNERS
We have worked with almost every digital agency, design firm, and software platform in the space. Whether you need help vetting or locating a vendor for your project, we can give you an honest assessment of your top picks or recommend trusted partners who can reliably deliver high-quality work.
What People Are Saying
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with someone who loves this kind of work and who commits to it as much as we do. Ellis + Eyre dove in immediately and demonstrated a level of commitment to our community that surpassed my expectations. It was not only rare and refreshing to partner with Erin but it was a joy because of her good humor and creativity.”
Bernice Tsai
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Columbia College, Columbia University
“Erin is a phenomenal writer and content strategist who has a deep understanding of digital and web strategy. She can evaluate and revamp websites holistically, offering guidance traditionally made by a team of people. On top of this, she is an absolute pleasure to work with and someone who can interface seamlessly with deans, faculty, and anyone in higher ed leadership.”
Michelle Faye Hoos
Director of Strategic Communications
Cornell Tech, Cornell University
“Ellis + Eyre gets the job done. Their talent, creativity, expertise in digital content strategy, and vast knowledge of the higher education landscape resulted in an award-winning, best-in-class website. Erin kept our team motivated to stay on task — and in many cases to go the extra mile. From day one, it was clear that Ellis + Eyre cared as much about this project as I did.”
Lindsey Waldrop
Director of Marketing and Communications
School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
