Administration

Search under way for vice president for marketing and communications

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Applications and nominations are being accepted for the position of vice president for marketing and communications at Penn State. Doug Anderson, dean of the College of Communications, will chair the search advisory committee, and Heyman Associates will assist in the national search.

The vice president for marketing and communications will develop the University’s brand vision, strategy and campaigns to attract the best students, engage with alumni and donors, and recruit world-class faculty and staff.

“Penn State is among the top public research universities in the world. The person in this position will be key to the University’s efforts to remain among the most attractive destinations for talented students and faculty, and research partners,” said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. “The successful candidate will provide critical strategic direction and leadership for Penn State’s marketing and communications efforts in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”

This senior leadership position, which reports to the president, will be responsible for all marketing and communications to include:

-- Brand research and strategy;
-- print, broadcast and digital outreach;
-- content and creative services;
-- executive communications;
-- internal communications;
-- strategic media relations;
-- issues and crisis management;
-- digital and social media;
-- leadership and collaborations with college and campus marketing professionals;
-- training and development across the University;
-- measurement and performance management to ensure accountability and continuous improvement; and
-- innovation initiatives to capture new or emerging opportunities.

In addition to leading the University’s substantial central team of marketing and communications professionals, this position will provide strategic direction, ideas and support to academic and administrative units.

Applications and nominations, including a resume and cover letter, should be emailed to T.R. Straub at trstraub@heymanassociates.com.

Members of the search committee are:

-- Doug Anderson, committee chair and dean, College of Communications;
-- Ben Clark, president, Commonwealth Campuses Student Government;
-- Duncan Fong, chair and Zimmerman Endowed Fellow, Department of Marketing, Smeal College of Business;
-- Cindy Hall, interim chief marketing and communications officer and associate vice president for University Relations, Office of University Relations;
-- Jeff Hermann, director, Office of University Relations;
-- Patreese Ingram, assistant dean of multicultural affairs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and 2012 chair of the Senate Committee on Educational Equity and Campus Environment;
-- Barbara Kennedy, director of College Media Relations and Public Information, Eberly College of Science;
-- Rodney Kirsch, senior vice president for Development and Alumni Relations;
-- Ann Marie Major, associate professor and director of the Jimirro Center for the Study of Media Influence, College of Communications;
-- Charles (Chuck) Marsh, marketing and communications manager, Penn State Abington;
-- Zack Moore, director of Governmental Affairs, Office of Governmental Affairs;
-- Greg Myford, associate athletic director and director of marketing and communications, Intercollegiate Athletics;
-- Tom Poole, vice president for administration;
-- Karen Quintos, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Dell Inc.

Last Updated January 9, 2015