We continue to be humbled by the faith our candidates and clients bestow upon us year after year. WittKieffer's expertise, process, and people ensure outstanding outcomes, as evidenced by more than 135 successful marketing and communications leadership searches over the past five years. Our consultants are deeply committed to connecting outstanding leaders with mission-driven institutions across academia, healthcare, cultural, and non-profit organizations.  

WittKieffer's Expansion of Offerings

WittKieffer has long been known for its executive search services. We have expanded our professional search capabilities at the AVP, executive director, senior director, and director level with an emphasis on industry expertise (marketing and messaging, brand and campaign management, public relations, executive communications, and crisis and reputation response, to name a few). Additionally, WittKieffer has stellar capabilities in interim leadership and leadership advisory services.

We know that choosing the right leaders – defined by your institution's strategy and context – is critical. Our consultants offer insights into the development and support of leaders:

• Where Will Your Next VP of Marketing and Communications Come From?
• How to Retain Your Best Staff Members in Higher Education
• How to Align Your Leadership Team in Troubled Times
• Organizational Culture: A Critical Lever for Executing Strategy
• Preparing the Workforce of the Future: How Higher Ed Can Adapt Its Value Proposition
• Why Colleges and Universities Are Hiring Interim Leaders

We hope you will consider us as you look to strengthen your team, and if you are interested in learning more, we encourage you to reach out to:

Melissa Fincher
Marketing and Communications Practice Leader
mfincher@wittkieffer.com 

Congratulations to Our Placements

Please join us in congratulating the following exceptional placements from the 2024 academic year:

Bennington College, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing – David Buckwald

Carnegie Mellon University, Vice President for University Communications and Marketing – Tysen Kendig

Case Western Reserve University, Vice President, Marketing and Communications – Erica Starrfield

Colorado College, Vice President Strategic Communications & Marketing – Johanna Blickenstaff

Frederick Health, Vice President Strategic Communications and Marketing – Susan Muma

Kansas State University, Vice President for Communications and Marketing – Patrick Burt

Kettering University, Vice President University Marketing & Communications – Jennifer Umberger

Montage Health, Director, Marketing and Communications – Mindy Maschmeyer

Northwestern University in Qatar, Assistant Dean for Communications and Public Affairs – Nisar Keshvani

Rice University, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Brand Strategy – Melanie Schramm

Rutgers University-Camden, Vice Chancellor Marketing & Communications – Sherrie Madia

Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Rutgers Health, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing – William Warren

UCLA Health System, Senior Director of Growth Marketing Strategy – Marc Fredson

UCLA Health System, Senior Director, Brand and Creative – Hill Cheuck

University at Albany, SUNY, Vice President for Communications and Marketing – Melissa Connolly

University of California, Berkeley, Chief Marketing Officer, Haas School of Business – Joseph Schmit

University of Colorado Boulder, Executive Director, Advancement Marketing & Communications – Taylor Jarvis

University of Oklahoma Health, Vice President, Brand & Growth Marketing – Heather Linder

University of Oklahoma Health, Vice President, Digital Media & Content Strategy – Robin Daniels

University of Oregon, Vice President for University Communications and Chief Marketing Officer – Carol Keese

University of Oregon, Associate Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Communications – Zeel Patel

University of Rochester, Associate Vice President for Marketing – Sid Bhattcharya

Current Searches

As the peak of fall recruitment season kicks off, we encourage you to review all open positions on the WittKieffer website. Please tell us if you want more information about any of these opportunities or if you know an aspiring leader who would excel in the role.

Let me also encourage you to add or update your profile on the WittKieffer candidate portal.

Carnegie Mellon University, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Brand Strategy

Carnegie Mellon University, Associate Vice President for Strategic Communication

CentraCare, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Gonzaga University, Vice President of Marketing and Communications (coming soon!)

Indiana University, Associate Vice President, University Communications

University of California, Berkeley, Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Public Affairs (coming soon!)

University of Colorado-Denver, Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications (coming soon!)

University of Texas at El Paso, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Marketing and Creative Services

As you consider a new leadership role, I encourage you to take advantage of these two helpful insight articles from our WittKieffer consultants:

• The Cover Letter: Valuable Real Estate for Your Application
• Making the Move – Is it Right for Me, for My Family?
  
  

2024 AMA Symposium for Marketing in Higher Education 

Your WittKieffer Team will be attending the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education in Las Vegas from November 10^th – 13^th, 2024. We would love to connect with you.

To request an appointment, reach out to marketingcommunications@wittkieffer.com.

Communications and Marketing Practice

Below you will find a list of WittKieffer professionals dedicated to the recruitment of marketing and communications executives. Each of us invites you to reach out at any time to share feedback, ask questions, inquire about our services, or brainstorm about your career. 

It is an honor to play a part in advancing your institution’s mission and impact. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

On behalf of your WittKieffer Team,

Melissa Fincher
Principal and Practice Leader, Marketing and Communications
mfincher@wittkieffer.com

Jenna Brumleve, Associate – Louisville, KY
Jeff Compher, Principal – Chicago, IL
Jess Cummings, Associate – Cleveland, OH
Cathryn Davis, Senior Associate – Charlottesville, VA
Corin Edwards, Associate – Baltimore, MD
Melissa Fincher, Principal - Port Jefferson, NY
Ben Haden, Senior Partner - Medford, OR
Taeler Kaufmann, Senior Associate – Chicago, IL
Jen Kennedy, Executive Search Coordinator – Chicago, IL
Bree Liddell, Senior Associate – Seattle, WA
Robin Mamlet, Senior Partner – Philadelphia, PA
Kim Migoya, Associate – Denver, CO
Ashlee Winters Musser, Consultant – Washinton, DC
Christy Pratt, Consultant – Niles, MI
Natalie Song, Senior Associate – Maimi, FL
Andrea Thomas, Senior Research Analyst – Chicago, IL
Tyler Workman, Associate – Carmel, IN