Tufts University, based in Medford, MA, might have caught a lucky break.
The actions of its student Camilo A. Caballero and its psychology professor David W. Harder could reposition and repackage its branding.
No longer will Tufts be allegedly overshadowed by Harvard. The latter is based in Cambridge, MA.
The driving distance between the two is about 5.2 miles.
In branding, it's probably significantly larger.
An ambitious public relations expert could become iconic conducting a research project on that issue of brand equity in academia and its impacts on fundraising and attracting talent.
Anthony Scaramucci v. Camilio A. Caballero (no Charles Harder in the loop)
Had Anthony "Mooch"Scaramucci retained superlawyer Charles Harder graduate student at Tufts Camilio A. Caballero might be scared.
Harder successfully represented Melania Trump in her defamation-related legal actions and Hulk Hogan in his litigation against now-gone Gawker. In the latter, the jury awarded the plaintiff a total package of $140 million.
But instead, Caballero is fortunate enough to be receiving the media attention which could enhance his career prospects. That depends on how he leverages this development.
In "The Tufts Daily" Caballero published an opinion-editorial labeling The Mooch, whose job in the Trump Administration lasted 10 days, "an unethical opportunist." Here are more details from Margaret Hartman in New York Magazine. A source was the Boston Globe.
So far, the fallout has been that Tufts postponed The Mooch's scheduled talk at that university and Scaramucci threatened legal action against Caballero for alleged defamation.
Regarding the latter, The Mooch has to prove that the op-ed:
- Contained fact, not opinion
- The author was aware that the statement was false or, at least, had questions about its veracity.
If the legal and political journalists pick up on this feud (conflict creates drama and that theatre sells), Caballero could move to the front lines of thought leaders critical of the Trump Administration. That has become a lucrative niche.
William Shakespeare recognized the power in conflict. Currently, he remains a big brandname.
David W. Harder, Ph.D. (yes another promising feud)
A full professor in the Department of Psychology at Tufts University is David W. Harder, Ph.D. He did his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan Department of Psychology. He is no relation to the superlawyer Charles Harder.
For three years, at the University of Michigan, that doctoral student functioned as my therapist. Later, he also treated me as a professor at Tufts.
My emotional challenge had been, during that time frame, clinical depression. About 18.8 million in America suffer with that disorder.
In 2012, a colleague recommended I try mindfulness. Haven't need formal psychological treatment since. In the process, I got to meet myself and liking the human being I found.
Although I requested that Dr. Harder release to me my his clinical notes about my treatment, he did not. I wanted to gain insight into myself and his approach. I had a nagging hunch we were not a good fit.
Eventually, I ponied up the money to consult with a lawyer in Greenwich, Connecticut. That did the trick. When I reviewed the clinical notes, I was convinced that, no, the fit wasn't productive.
As a result, I adopted as a cause to lobby for transparency in psychotherapy. That extends from the ability of clients to have easy free access to the clinical notes to the right of insurance companies picking up the tab to be able to review the methodology and outcomes.
Of course, insurance providers should need the permission of the client. But, unless the entity paying a large portion of the bill has adequate information about results, the mental health benefit can be continually eroded. As in business, therapy should be measured by documented outcomes.
Here is an op-ed I published on that issue which the influential legal media outlet Abovethelaw.com linked to. Others with a similar concern contacted me. We agreed on one thing: Reform is overdue in the field of therapy.
If my lobbying initiatives gain traction, Tufts University could indeed have the ability to focus in fresh ways on its branding.
Get a second opinion about your marketing and advocacy communications. No pressure. No charge. Please contact Jane Genova, janegenova374@gmail.com or @genova_jane.
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