Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Founded in 1957 through a generous donation by Matilda and Alfred Wilson, Oakland University (OU) began as a satellite of Michigan State University and became fully independent in 1970. Today, OU stands as a vibrant, student-centered public research institution with a strong liberal arts foundation and a deep commitment to regional service and global impact. Located on a picturesque 1,443-acre campus in the suburban communities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills—just 25 miles north of Detroit—OU offers an ideal blend of academic excellence, cultural vibrancy, and proximity to one of the nation’s most economically significant regions.
OU is classified as a Carnegie R2 “High Research Activity” institution and enrolls approximately 16,000 students across more than 140 undergraduate programs and 130 graduate and certificate offerings. Its academic reach spans eight schools and colleges, including Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Sciences, Nursing, the Honors College, and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. The faculty of more than 800 includes dedicated teacher-scholars deeply committed to student success, research, and community engagement. Many are nationally and internationally recognized, and a significant portion are engaged in sponsored research and interdisciplinary scholarship. Over the past four years, OU more than doubled its research expenditures, earned the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, received the AASCU Excellence and Innovation Award for Stewards of Place, and was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as the best value for investment among its peer institutions.
Over the past decade, OU has invested heavily in its physical infrastructure to support a 21st-century learning environment. Projects include the construction or major renovation of key academic buildings, student housing, and the Oakland Center—the campus hub for student life. Noteworthy recent additions include the Research and Innovation Center for Engineering and Computer Science and a LEED Platinum-certified Human Health Building, Michigan’s first of its kind. Further investments are underway to expand research capacity and modernize the science complex, ensuring OU’s competitiveness as a regional research leader.
Oakland University is proud to be a top university for social mobility and a leading destination for transfer and adult learners. In 2023-24, 40% of first-year students had full tuition covered, and over half of all undergraduates’ graduate debt-free. With strong ties to the region’s business, health, and innovation sectors—including the auto industry and a $38B health economy—OU emphasizes career readiness through internships, service learning, and its recently launched ‘OU Pledge,’ which guarantees all undergraduate students access to experiential learning opportunities.
Oakland University continues to be a powerful driver of economic growth in Michigan, generating a net new economic impact of $1.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, according to a new report released in May 2025 by Anderson Economic Group. The study highlights the university’s vital role in boosting regional development and supporting jobs across Michigan. In FY 2024, OU generated more than $1.9 billion in net new economic impact (more than doubling its economic impact over the past five years) and supported nearly 6,500 jobs in Michigan. This represents direct and indirect economic activity and employment that would not have occurred without OU's operations.
OU’s location in Southeast Michigan positions it at the intersection of higher education, industry innovation, and cultural richness. Its community partnerships, including the nationally recognized OU-Pontiac Initiative, reflect a deep commitment to public service, equity, and regional development.
You can learn more about Oakland University at https://oakland.edu/
Position:
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Reports to:
President of Oakland University
Opportunity Proposition:
Join Oakland University’s leadership team at one of the most pivotal moments in the institution’s history—and in the evolving landscape of higher education. In this newly constituted and strategically vital role, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) will lead a transformation in how OU sharpens its brand identity, communicates its story, and deepens engagement across audiences.
The CMCO will guide a more unified, center-led approach to marketing and communications—aligning institutional priorities with unit-level strategies to elevate brand consistency, increase visibility, and drive outcomes in enrollment, advancement, and public support. Leading a high-performing strategic marketing and communications team, the CMCO will support academic and administrative partners in achieving their goals while significantly enhancing OU’s enterprise-level reputation and reach.
Principal Responsibilities:
Serve as the university’s senior leader for marketing, communications, and brand strategy—advancing efforts aligned with the President’s vision and the goals of Strategic Vision 2030 to elevate OU’s visibility, strengthen its reputation, and support institutional growth. Lead and empower a team responsible for developing and executing a transparent, integrated plan with strategic, operational, and fiscal oversight for branding, digital engagement, external marketing/communications, and internal communications across all platforms and audiences.
Working within a center-led model, the CMCO will collaborate across the university—with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and partners in schools, colleges, centers, and administrative units—to ensure that marketing and communications efforts are cohesive, inclusive, and results-oriented. The CMCO and their team will play a key role in supporting student recruitment and retention, enhancing community and donor engagement, and contributing to future campaign planning and fundraising success—amplifying OU’s impact at both the enterprise and unit levels.
Some of the core areas for opportunity include:
Strategic and Integrated Marketing
Transformational Leadership
Brand Positioning
Data-Informed Decision-Making
Change Management
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
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To apply, please fill out the below form and upload your cover letter and resume.