On the surface, a sticker drop is simple: a CSU-themed sticker is created, a time and place are announced on social media and then President Amy Parsons waits to hand the stickers out. Three or four times a semester, we share where she’ll be and anyone who shows up can say hello to her.
But behind that lighthearted exchange is a bigger story about connection, access and campus culture.
View this post on Instagram
CSU sticker drops have become a tradition over the past few years. The designs are playful, colorful and deeply tied to the CSU experience. We’ve done everything from CAM the Ram and Ag Day to basketball, volleyball, squirrels, the Oval, Flower Trial Gardens, outdoor snow sports and even a pumpkin.
They’ve even become a kind of collectible. We have superfans who have never missed a drop and others who proudly show off their growing sets.
Access in action
If you follow President Parsons on social media, you know where she’ll be and when. And when you arrive, she’s right there—no calendar invite needed, no formal setting, just a moment to connect.
On a campus as big as CSU, that kind of access can be rare. For students, it’s a chance to engage directly. For staff and faculty, it’s a reminder that leadership doesn’t just live in the Administration Building.
Joy as a strategy
This might sound odd, but joy is strategic. Giving away a sticker may not seem like much, but it shifts the atmosphere. It’s a small burst of fun on a busy campus day. And when people walk away, they don’t just have a sticker—they have a story…and a sticker.
Our Marketing and Brand Management team has fun designing each sticker, and that energy shows. The result is something people genuinely look forward to collecting—and something that builds pride and belonging across campus.
Because the designs and the overall strategy emphasize creativity and joy, sticker drops also create space where President Parsons’ social media student interns can really shine. Much of her content is more serious in nature—group photos, institutional updates, priority-driven messaging—but sticker drops invite playfulness. They give interns the chance to jump on trends, flex their Gen Z instincts and bring forward fresh, bold ideas that add an extra layer of joy to the president’s digital presence.
View this post on Instagram
A challenge for those managing someone’s executive presence
Sticker drops aren’t about novelty; they’re about consistency. After two years, the CSU community now expects them. That rhythm matters. It means President Parsons is regularly visible and accessible, not just at big, formal events, but in everyday campus life.
For anyone managing social media or an executive presence, here’s your challenge: what’s your version of a sticker drop? What small, joyful practice can get your leader out into the community on a regular basis? It doesn’t have to be stickers. The specifics don’t matter as much as the consistency and the spirit behind it.
