OU Names New Vice President for Marketing and Communications

NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma announced today the appointment of Jennifer Hollingshead as vice president for marketing and communications, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications, Hollingshead will begin her role at OU on Aug. 21. Hollingshead comes to OU from Rutgers University, where she serves as vice chancellor of marketing and communications. In this role, she oversees the marketing and communications functions for both Rutgers’ flagship campus in New Brunswick, as well as for Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

A national search was conducted for the position, attracting interest from over 200 candidates across higher education and the private sector. The 14 members of the search committee – chaired by Jennifer Schultz, chief marketing and growth officer for OU Health – included representatives from the Office of Human Resources, the Division of Enrollment Management, Administration and Finance, Athletics, the OU Foundation, the OU Health Sciences Center, the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Price College of Business, the HSC Graduate College, as well as faculty, staff, student, and industry representatives. The search was narrowed to 11 candidates with five semifinalists, with the search committee ultimately selecting three finalists.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jen Hollingshead to the University of Oklahoma,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “The relevancy of her background at multiple higher education institutions with AAU status, along with her oversight of Mizzou’s communications strategy during its move to the SEC, make her an ideal choice for the important work ahead at OU. Her professional expertise and demonstrated leadership ability will serve us well in our efforts to amplify the life-changing OU story to the world.”

As vice president for marketing and communications, Hollingshead will lead a university-wide Division of Marketing and Communications to cohesively manage and develop the OU brand across the entire institution, enhancing the prominence of OU’s excellence and impact. One of her immediate priorities will be to fully unify marketers and communicators into a single division aimed at elevating OU’s already strong, globally recognized brand even higher.

At Rutgers, Hollingshead led the development of comprehensive strategies to effectively advance the perception and reputation of both Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. This work included establishing key performance benchmarks, positioning the university as a major research engine, and refining its earned media strategy. She also developed the first-ever internal and external marketing campaign focused on Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences’ mission.

Her higher education experience also includes her time at the University of Missouri, where she served as interim vice chancellor of marketing and communications during a period of transition for the Mizzou campus. She also previously served as the chief communications officer for the University of Missouri System and was part of the marketing team within University of Missouri Health, a five-hospital academic medical center.

Hollingshead began her career as a reporter for the Columbia Daily Tribune after earning bachelor’s degrees in journalism and sociology from the University of Missouri. She also graduated from Columbia College with a Master of Business Administration.