Nortila Okwei: The Social Media Maestro Behind BSC’s Community Vibe

Bismarck State College’s vibrant Instagram posts and eye-catching TV screen ads in the Student Union, owe their spark to Nortila Okwei, BSC’s Social Media Strategy Specialist. In a recent interview, Okwei shared how she crafts posts, reels, and campaigns that bring BSC’s community to life, from hyping Homecoming to promoting anti-hazing initiatives. Her role isn’t just about posting—it’s about connecting students, faculty, and local businesses to the heart of BSC.

Okwei’s day starts with a digital deep dive: checking emails, Microsoft Teams messages, and social media accounts to spot what needs coverage, from club events to campus-wide initiatives. She collaborates with a team of social media interns (who are BSC students themselves), graphic designers, and marketing managers to create content that pops. 

“We’re all about being educational, informational, and cheerful,” Okwei said, aiming to keep BSC’s online presence positive and engaging.

One of her proudest projects is the Homecoming Court campaign. 

 “It was really fun to get to know more students and give that community feeling,” she said, noting it was one of BSC’s highest-engaged posts last week. 

By showcasing nominees through posts and reels, Okwei helped students feel connected to the Mystic spirit, boosting turnout and excitement. Her Welcome Week campaign also drew crowds to BSC’s booth, proving her knack for turning clicks into real-world engagement.

Okwei’s work isn’t just for students—she bridges BSC with the wider community. When local businesses visit campus, she snaps photos and crafts posts to highlight these partnerships, promoting both the businesses and BSC’s community-focused vibe. For the anti-hazing campaign, a fast-tracked project with Student Life, she coordinated with interns and graphic designers to create TV screens and posts that spread awareness in just two weeks, showing BSC’s commitment to a safe campus.

Balancing so many voices—students, faculty, and external partners—isn’t easy.

 “The biggest challenge is different visions,” Okwei admitted, explaining how her team of four brainstorms to align ideas. 

Tools like postflow help her schedule posts and track engagement, while TikTok keeps her in tune with trends. Looking ahead, she plans to dive deeper into analytics to tailor content to what students love most, ensuring BSC’s social media stays fresh and relevant.

For students eyeing a communications career, Okwei’s advice is simple: “Be organized.” With multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines, staying on top of tasks is key. Whether she’s posting about Mystic athletics or promoting campus resources, Okwei’s work makes BSC feel like home. 

“Seeing how community-based the school is, how much fun the events are—that helps our brand stand out,” she says.

Nortila’s posts and Reels weave the digital threads of BSC’s community. To join the conversation, follow @BismarckState on Instagram and share Mystic moments for a chance to be featured.