ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how current higher ed professionals like the two cited engage in and use digital communication tools. Participants were recruited through professional associations, most of which promoted the study through a link to the survey instrument within electronic mailing lists and social media channels. Beyond information about usage, higher ed professionals were asked to consider their purposes or motivations for connecting on social media. Having data on social media usage and preferences is a fantastic start, but it provides fairly surface-level information because for higher ed professionals, a lot is going on behind the screen, including a digital literacy gap. In addition to professional development conferences, participants reported learning opportunities at their own institutions that provided social role modeling and digital empowerment. Social media strategy and strategic communication skills have a stake in digital leadership but not without the self-work within few platforms to which the #HigherEd Digital Life research results have spoken.
