Experienced marketing professional Jill Johnson will be Augustana College’s new assistant vice president of marketing and brand communication, the Rock Island liberal arts college said in a news release.
Ms. Johnson was one of several candidates from across the nation to apply for the post, Augustana said. She will replace Keri Rursch, former vice president of marketing and brand communication, who left Augustana to take a new job at her former employer Modern Woodmen of America.
The search for her replacement was led by Kent Barnds, Augustana’s executive vice president of external relations.
He said Ms. Johnson was a standout candidate to lead the college’s Office of Communication and Marketing and its multi-talented team of 12 that serves the college in enrollment marketing, brand strategy, campus and alumni communications, media engagement and event management.
Mr. Brands described her in the news release as “creative, versatile and collaborative professional, and we are pleased to have her join Augustana. She is a successful higher education leader, and she is passionate about sharing Augustana’s story of transformation and innovation to prospective students, current students, alumni and the community.”
Augustana a great fit
Augustana College is a great fit, said Ms. Johnson, who most recently led a marketing and communications consultancy serving clients in banking, government, retail, higher education and nonprofit.
“I have been so impressed by the strong sense of shared mission that is evident across campus,” she said in the release. “I am delighted to be part of the Augustana campus community and to be joining an outstanding team of marketing and communications professionals.”
Ms. Johnson earned a master of arts in organizational management from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota.; a bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Minnesota; and an associate of arts from Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota.
As director of marketing and creative services at the University of North Georgia, she planned, executed and assessed multi-channel marketing campaigns, and provided counsel to departments across the five-campus institution.
At Newberry College, Ms. Johnson was director of marketing and communications, where she built a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy focused on building institutional reputation and brand recognition.
She also served in a similar role at Concordia University, where she concentrated on enrollment marketing and institutional advancement.
