Robin Oliver

Today, Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis named Ms. Robin Oliver as Ohio University’s first Vice President for University Communications and Marketing. Ms. Oliver, who has nearly 20 years of experience and comes to Ohio University from Western Carolina University, will officially lead OHIO’s Office of University Communications and Marketing team beginning July 22, 2019.

“Robin is deeply committed to the power of higher education to transform lives and positively impact communities. She is passionate about the role marketing and communications can serve in articulating the value proposition of our great university and in raising the profile and reputation of Ohio University,” said Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis. “She will be a wonderful addition to the Office of University Communications and Marketing, my senior leadership team, and our community. I am looking forward to having her join our Bobcat Family.”

Ms. Oliver comes to us from Western Carolina University, where she served as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). She began her career as a Features Writer and Entertainment Editor at the Birmingham Post-Herald in Birmingham, Ala. She then went on to join Birmingham, Ala.- based Big Communications and served in numerous roles including Vice President for Public Relations.

She has extensive experience in marketing and communications – from developing and implementing strategy to integrating communications and marketing. Most recently at Western Carolina, she led a collaborative, university-wide process to establish a five-year Integrated Marketing and Communications Plan; restructured the marketing team to support the university’s strategic plan; and launched Western Carolina’s first comprehensive integrated marketing campaign. Last year, she received the American Marketing Association’s Higher Education Marketer of the Year award.

“I am honored to be Ohio University’s choice to lead the institution’s marketing and communications team and collaborate with talented professionals across campus as we tackle ambitious and exciting priorities ahead. I fully believe the work we do – all of us in higher education – opens doors and transforms futures for the students we serve,” Oliver said. “It’s what brought me to higher education and what keeps me energized every day to tell stories about student success, research and discovery, and regional and national impact, all of which are engrained in Ohio University’s own story.”

Ms. Oliver holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Music from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She also will receive her master’s degree in Business Administration from North Carolina State University later this month.