By: Kennedy Masterson
Gen Z In Focus - Spotlight On Research
JOUR 4870 Capstone
At Ohio University, senior Caroline Mattox has become one of the leading voices behind Panhellenic’s success. She is studying communications and serves as the Vice President of Public Relations for the Ohio University Panhellenic Council. Caroline is known for her leadership, creativity, and the way she connects people through her work.
She manages the Panhellenic Instagram account where she shares stories, promotes events, and tracks engagement across campus. Over the summer, her content reached thousands of students. From May to August, she increased accounts reached by 147 percent, profile activity by 186 percent, and external link taps by 564 percent. She also boosted profile visits by 161 percent and grew followers by 9 percent, reaching more than 720,000 total views.
Caroline also created a 40-page recruitment booklet that walks new members through each chapter, explains what recruitment rounds mean, and helps women define their values. She mentors ten Vice Presidents of Marketing from individual sororities and helps them with creative ideas, Instagram management, and feedback on campaigns.
Her leadership comes during a big growth period for both the university and Panhellenic. This fall, Ohio University reached more than 30,600 students, marking one of its largest freshman classes in years. Panhellenic has grown even faster. In 2023, about 315 women joined recruitment. In 2024, that number grew to 378, and in 2025, it reached 482.
Here are some of the most recent statistics that show how strong this growth has been:
• From 2022 to 2023, OU grew 1.7 percent while Panhellenic grew 7.9 percent, which means Panhellenic grew more than four times faster than the overall student body.
• From 2023 to 2024, OU enrollment went down 3.8 percent, but Panhellenic still grew by 11.2 percent, showing strong recruitment gains even as the university shrank.
• From 2024 to 2025, OU enrollment bounced back and grew 4.7 percent while Panhellenic jumped 27.5 percent to reach 482 women.
Much of this growth is connected to the work of Caroline Mattox, who serves on the Panhellenic executive board. She researches how OU can reach more students, compares recruitment strategies with other schools, and helps keep Panhellenic enrollment moving up even as the university changes.
Her focus is not just on bigger numbers. Caroline also wants to make sure that Greek life continues to give students the chance to build friendships, take on leadership roles, and find a real sense of community.
As Ohio University continues to grow, Caroline’s research shows that Panhellenic is not just keeping up but helping shape the student experience on campus. Through her communication skills, creativity, and dedication, she is leaving a lasting mark on Ohio University and inspiring others to get involved.