Vote Gab & Viv

The Vote Gab & Viv campaign was a student government presidential campaign at the University of Dayton, led by Gabby Davis and Vivian Ahern and managed by Flyer PR. Centered on the message “Closing the Gap,” the campaign focused on increasing transparency, accessibility, and student engagement with SGA in a competitive, first-of-its-kind contested race in over four years.

https://www.instagram.com/votegabbyvivian/

The Situation

Student Government Association campaigns at the University of Dayton are fast-paced, competitive, and often struggle to engage a student body that feels disconnected from leadership.

Gabby Davis and Vivian Ahern entered the race with a clear mission – “Closing the Gap” between students, student government and University leadership – but faced the challenge of translating a policy-driven platform into something visible, engaging, and actionable within a short election cycle.

What We Did

The Flyer PR practicum team, led by Haley Reid, built a strategy centered on visibility, authenticity, and student engagement.

Step 1: Turn platform into message
We translated a dense, policy-oriented platform into three clear, memorable pillars: Listen. Connect. Empower.
Messaging focused on transparency, accessibility, and making SGA feel approachable, bringing the “Closing the Gap” concept to life in every touchpoint.

Step 2: Launch with high-impact digital content
We kicked off the campaign with a short-form Instagram reel designed to introduce Gab and Viv in an authentic, relatable way.
Rather than leading with policy, we prioritized personality and connection, meeting students where they already were.

Step 3: Create campus-wide visibility moments
To break through traditional campaign noise, we executed creative, on-the-ground activations:

Partnered with a local favorite, DD’s Sandwiches & Subs, to distribute branded stickers on hot dogs, turning everyday moments into campaign touchpoints
Coordinated a “Thursday Night Live” performance, where Gabby sang at an on-campus café, blending campaign visibility with student culture
Secured five endorsements from campus organizations, reinforcing credibility and expanding reach across different student communities

Step 4: Prioritize Relational Organizing
We emphasized peer-to-peer outreach, face-to-face conversations, and presence in student spaces. By aligning with the campaign’s commitment to accessibility, Gab and Viv were not just visible – they were approachable.

The Results

The Vote Gab & Viv campaign quickly built momentum and strong campus recognition:

23,000+ views and 13,800+ accounts reached on the campaign’s first Instagram reel
High engagement driven by authentic, student-centered content
Expanded reach through cross-campus endorsements with key student organizations
Memorable brand presence through creative partnerships and on-campus tabling events

Beyond metrics, the campaign successfully translated a complex platform into a message that resonated: making student government feel more transparent, accessible and human.

The Impact

In a historically uncontested race, this campaign redefined what student government elections could look like when approached as a strategic communications effort.

By transforming a policy-driven platform into an accessible and engaging campaign, Vote Gab & Viv not only differentiated itself from its opponent, but also helped re-engage students in the election process itself.

The campaign also marked a historic milestone: Gabby Davis became the first Black woman to lead the University of Dayton undergraduate student body, signaling meaningful progress in representation and reinforcing the campaign’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility and empowering all students to see themselves in leadership.