Caitlin Baker | Reporter
From Print [November 10, 2015] | Legacy

In October, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen featured two Halloween do-it-yourself videos from YouTube blogger Lexy Lately.
Lindenwood sophomore Alexis Kadey is the woman behind the “Lexy Lately” YouTube channel, which she has managed for more than a year. It is why she was asked to start the first YouTube blog for Lindenwood University.

The inaugural episode of the “Life as a Lindenwood Lion” blog launched on YouTube on Sept. 2, 2015, with Kadey as the host. She is also a Lionette dancer and recently competed for the Miss Missouri USA crown.

While attending the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, Kadey’s professors told her that instead of waiting for the perfect film role, she should create a name for herself on her own. She created a YouTube account where she films and uploads comedy skits with her friends and also creates some arts and crafts videos.

Lindenwood’s public relations department came up with the idea for a YouTube blog with the help of Lindenwood’s Vice President of Enrollment Management Joseph Parisi. Kadey said her admissions counselor, Tara Houston, was a big help in making it happen.

“We were small-talking with Joe Parisi and she tells him that he should check out my YouTube channel, and I’m like ‘Oh gosh, that’s just me in my spare time doing dorky videos with my friends,’” Kadey said.

That initial conversation led the PR department to create a Work and Learn position just for her. The blog is designed to showcase different campus events, explain the admission process, give college living tips and advice and much more. Lindenwood’s marketing and communications social media manager, Rachel Johnson, said working with Kadey has been great.

“She understands how to plan, shoot and edit to create brief videos that elicit positive responses,” Johnson said. “She’s an involved, organized and motivated person who does great work, so we thought she would be a great fit to showcase all the great people and cool things happening here at Lindenwood University.”

Kadey frequently collaborates with Morgan Findlay, a graduate assistant in the public relations office.

“I’m so glad I have him in the videos with me and that he’s there to bounce ideas off of,” Kadey said. “We’re really trying to make the YouTube channel feel more personal and enjoyable.”

Houston, said the new YouTube blog is just what the school needs.

“I think it will be a really good forefront for Lindenwood. I feel like she is breaking the ground for more exposure to the school,” Houston said. “She’s working on a dorm room tour based off of the show ‘Cribs’ and she wants to tour downtown St. Charles and show students what they can do for fun in the area. She has some really great ideas.”

Blogging for Lindenwood has not been difficult for Kadey. She calls Springfield, Missouri, her home, but said her time at Lindenwood has felt no different.

“I swear, ever since I’ve been on this campus, everything has just felt so right,” Kadey said. “It was kind of a leap of faith, but it was like I was coming home at the same time. It all feels so right and you can’t really explain it when that happens.”