James Madison University seeks an inaugural Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing to lead the development and execution of a bold, integrated strategy that elevates the university’s brand, reputation, and voice across all platforms and audiences. This visionary leader will shape and implement comprehensive communications plans that reflect the university’s values, amplify its impact, and position JMU as a national leader in higher education.
This search comes at an exciting time at JMU. The vice president will report to President James Schmidt, who joined the university on July 1, 2025. With the full support and partnership of the president, executive leadership team, and Board of Visitors, the vice president will lead a newly centralized division with expertise and passion.
Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley. JMU is fast becoming one of the nation’s leading lights in higher education because students enjoy unusually engaged relationships with world-class faculty who are dually engaged in teaching and transformational research. This comprehensive institution offers more than 130 programs, an engaged campus and local community, Division I Athletics, and unwavering pride from its more than 150,000 alumni.
The units of university communications and university marketing & brand were historically embedded in the Division of University Advancement. Under the direction of the new president, these critical divisions will accelerate their charge and centralize in organization to amplify the institution’s storytelling, align best practices, and serve as a center of excellence to all university constituents.
The inaugural vice president will convene and strengthen the highly skilled, collaborative, and passionate marketing and communications staff to closely coordinate efforts and produce work that collectively advances the JMU brand. The vice president will fine-tune the work of this cohort, ensuring that information is shared effectively, efficiently, and transparently throughout the university. In a highly collaborative, decentralized environment, the vice president will spearhead brand campaigns, cross-university messaging programs, and current and future strategic initiatives for complete external brand, messaging, and media alignment for its diverse audiences.
The vice president will oversee the university’s public relations and media engagement efforts, ensuring consistent, proactive, and strategic storytelling that elevates JMU’s visibility nationally and globally. They will serve as the university’s chief spokesperson when appropriate and will lead the development and execution of comprehensive media relations strategies that foster strong relationships with journalists and media outlets. The vice president will also be responsible for crisis communications planning and response, ensuring the university is prepared to communicate swiftly, clearly, and effectively in times of challenge or uncertainty. They will work closely with university leadership, legal counsel, and campus safety teams to manage sensitive issues and protect the institution’s reputation while maintaining transparency and trust with internal and external audiences.
The vice president will also be an accomplished leader in marketing and branding, with demonstrated experience in advancing the reputation of brands and a strong understanding of higher education and its societal impact. They will play a critical role in building and establishing a vision and direction for the team while also helping shape how the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing will grow and work in the future. They will define and build the JMU brand across a wide variety of platforms and distribution channels, working collaboratively across each school, college, and unit.
To succeed, the vice president will be a dedicated team player, builder, and partner, in addition to being extremely adept at leading through influence, empathy, and consensus-building. The vice president will lead JMU’s efforts by driving vision, strategy, and execution toward a clear set of goals.
The vice president and their team will be responsible for measuring the impact of work to increase regional, national, and global awareness and the reputation of JMU, partnering with schools, colleges, and administrative units in meeting their goals and objectives, and will be recognized as an industry leader.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile, available at https://wittkieffer.com/positions/201665.
WittKieffer is assisting James Madison University with this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Friday, January 9, 2026.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal at https://apptrkr.com/6776224.
Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Melissa Fincher, Jenna Brumleve, and Bree Liddell at [email protected]
James Madison University does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination in its employment, programs, activities, and admissions on the basis of age, color, disability, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information (including family medical history), marital status, military status (including veteran status), national origin (including ethnicity), parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or on any basis protected by law, unless otherwise permitted or required by law. JMU complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, affirmative action, and anti-harassment. The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring, and information dissemination about JMU’s program of equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and affirmative action is assigned to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity via OEO website, email [email protected], or phone (540) 568-6991.
JMU prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment including sexual assault and other forms of inter-personal violence. The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring and information dissemination about JMU’s Title IX program is assigned to the Title IX Coordinator. Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator: Laura Sider Jost via Title IX website, email [email protected] or phone (540) 568-5219.
