The University of Minnesota (the University or U of M), the state's

ICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS

INNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

HE SEARCH

The University of Minnesota (the University or U of M), the state’s land-grant university and one of the

most prestigious public research universities in the nation, seeks a collaborative, innovative, and strategic

leader to serve as its Vice President for Communications (VPC). This is an exceptional opportunity to join

a Big Ten university at a pivotal time in its history and under the direction of a new president.

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham became president of the University on July 1, 2024, serving as the leader of the

five-campus system

. Reporting directly to President Cunningham, the VPC will play a critical role in

continuing to emphasize the University’s contributions to local communities and the state, while also

elevating its reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent public research universities. The University’s

service to the state can be measured across multiple areas: its five campuses, which serve 68,000

undergraduate and graduate students; its over 600,000

alumni, 62 percent of whom live in Minnesota

and contribute to its economy; its health care enterprise, which serves over 1.3 million patients annually

in hospitals and clinics across the state; and its Extension programs, which provide solutions, practical

education, and training for all Minnesotans. Similarly, the University’s impact in national and international

spheres can be measured by

$1.2 billion in annual research funding, its National Science Foundation rank

as 12th among U.S. public research universities, Times Higher Ed Sustainability Impact Ranking as 5th

nationally and in the top 10 percent globally, and its global programs and strategy alliance.

As a key member of the President’s cabinet and leadership team, the VPC is also a trusted and reliable

partner to the Board of Regents, all four campus Chancellors, and other senior leaders on all issues related

to the University’s reputation, communications, marketing, and branding. This is an excellent opportunity

for a dynamic and accomplished communications and marketing professional to build on the University’s

existing strengths and success, further elevating its reputation and support for its mission and programs.

To that end, the VPC will develop and implement a comprehensive communications, marketing, and

reputation strategy—building upon the strong Driven to Discover

brand—that clearly defines systemwide

priorities and messages and, simultaneously, influences communications and marketing efforts across the

campuses through collaboration and partnership. This work will result in a strategic platform that unifies

messaging and branding for the University; supports and furthers the goals of the entire institution, as

well as the individual campuses and units; and engages constituencies both on and off campus.

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The successful candidate will have a clear record of accomplishments as an innovative and collaborative

leader in a large, complex organization with local, national, and international reach. The VPC will possess

substantial experience developing and implementing multifaceted communications and marketing efforts

that position and elevate the awareness and understanding of an institution with multiple audiences –

internally, externally, and with a variety of politically and culturally diverse communities and stakeholders.

This person will possess exceptional diplomacy, judgment, and integrity; a full understanding of the

communications, marketing, and branding process from conceptualization to implementation; expert

knowledge of traditional, digital, video, and emerging media; experience and savvy in crisis

communications and issues management; and demonstrated success fostering an inclusive team culture

and building an efficient, cohesive, and collaborative team. The VPC must be able to articulate a vision for

communications, marketing, and branding that advances the University’s reputation with all its diverse

audiences and inspires internal communications partners across the organization. Equally important are

a collaborative, collegial orientation and the flexibility to navigate a large and complex university

community. A bachelor’s degree and at least 12 years of demonstrated senior leadership are required.

The University of Minnesota has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national search firm, to assist in this important

search. All inquiries, applications, and nominations for this opportunity should be directed in confidence

to the University or search firm as indicated at the end of this document.

NIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The University of Minnesota

is a comprehensive public research university ranked among the world’s most

respected institutions of higher learning. The University has scholars of national and international

reputation and a strong tradition of education and public engagement. With 68,000 students enrolled

across five campuses located throughout Minnesota—the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and

Rochester—the University advances discovery and innovation to improve society for all. The U of M has

the special distinction of being both a globally engaged R1 research institution and Minnesota’s land-grant

university, creating a unique capacity and responsibility to improve the lives of Minnesotans and drive the

state forward. You can learn more about the unique distinction of each system campus

here.

The University of Minnesota is situated and built within the traditional homelands of the Dakota, the

Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous peoples who have walked on these lands from time immemorial.

It is important to acknowledge the peoples on whose land we live, learn, and work as we actively seek to

improve and strengthen relations with the 11 sovereign tribal nations of Minnesota. The University also

acknowledges that words are not enough. We must ensure that the University provides support,

resources, and programs that increase access to all aspects of higher education for American Indian

students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Twin Cities Campus

Nearly 55,000 students are enrolled on the flagship Twin Cities

campus in the heart of Minneapolis-St.

Paul, which is the 16

largest metropolitan area in the country. A research university of exceptional

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breadth and depth with expansive interdisciplinary opportunities, the U of M advances education,

research, and outreach across schools and colleges, spanning the broad fields of liberal arts;

biological

sciences; dentistry; design; education and human development; food, agriculture, and natural resource

sciences; law; business; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; public affairs; public health; science and

engineering; and veterinary medicine. As one of only a few land-grant universities that also are world-

class research universities and one of few major land-grant research universities situated in a central

metropolitan area, the University of Minnesota has consistently advanced the land-grant mission with

exceptional vigor—distinguished by a comprehensive commitment to integrating public engagement

deeply into teaching and learning, research, and discovery.

Health Sciences

The U of M trains over 70 percent of Minnesota’s health professionals, and health sciences research

accounts for over $200 million in externally funded research annually.

University of Minnesota Health

Sciences unite education and research across six schools and patient care across the state.

In January 2023, the University announced the “UMN Health” Five Point Plan

proposal, which will:

• Sustain and advance a world-class academic health system

• Enable governance and control of campus facilities

• Provide opportunities for strategic partnerships

• Create a new state-of-the-art hospital

• Continue to invest in current facilities This vision hinges upon a strong partnership between the State

and University. The University’s aim is to advance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and

public service, and support the health of the entire state.

In January 2024, the Governor's Task Force on Academic Health at the University of Minnesota released

its

Recommendations to Support World-Class Academic Health Professions Education, Research, and Care

Delivery. The development of a strategic plan is one of the priority recommendations included in this

report. The University and its affiliate University of Minnesota Physicians work with Fairview Health

Services to deliver clinical care through a joint clinical enterprise. Ultimately, the University will want to

ensure Minnesotans have access to a first-rate academic health system, bringing them the benefits of

integrated research, teaching, and top-level care.

Research & Innovation

The University averages over $1 billion in research expenditures

annually, ranking 13th nationally among

public universities. Its faculty and experts are considered some of the best in their respective fields. The

U of M currently boasts 26 Nobel Prize-winning faculty, recipients of prestigious awards such as

Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowships, and many National Academies and the American Academy of

Arts and Sciences members.

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Division I Athletics

The Twin Cities campus is home to Golden Gopher Athletics, a founding member of the Big Ten, where

more than 600 Division I student-athletes compete on 21 (9 men's, 12 women's) teams. Student-athletes

not only compete at the highest level in their sports, they also maintain an average 3.44 GPA, one of the

highest among public institutions. The U of M Intercollegiate Athletics department generates a high level

of public interest and media coverage. Golden Gopher student-athletes are featured on television, radio,

websites, and in magazines and newspapers nationwide.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University strongly embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as foundational values and has made

engagement and diversity central to strategic planning across the system. Students on the Twin Cities

campus include 29% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students and 9.5% international

students (from over 140 countries), and roughly one in four students of all undergraduates are first-

generation students. The University is a nationally recognized leader for students learning abroad and

offers programs in more than 70 countries. The Twin Cities campus has been recognized nationally for

excellence in diversity and global learning, research, and engagement in the last five years.

The Twin Cities campus is located in a diverse and economically vibrant region at the heart of an

increasingly global Midwest. Minnesota has 11 federally recognized tribal nations, the largest urban

American Indian population in the country, a dynamic Black community, and significant African, Latinx,

and Asian American populations. The links between Minnesota communities and communities worldwide

are notable: the Twin Cities has the largest number of people of Somali descent outside of Somalia and

the nation’s largest urban Hmong American population.

Economic Impact

With an annual operating budget of $4.5 billion, the University generates an estimated economic impact

of $9 billion for the Minnesota economy. The state’s seventh-largest employer, the University has over

27,000 faculty and staff and encompasses regional Extension

offices, research and outreach centers,

clinics, labs, professional education outreach, and K–12 educational engagement programs throughout

the state, as well as world-class performing arts facilities, museums, and galleries. Forbes has also ranked

the University as one of the country’s 20 best educational employers.

NIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

President Rebecca Cunningham

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents selected Dr. Rebecca Cunningham

as the 18th President

of the University of Minnesota System, effective July 1, 2024. The Board chose Cunningham following a

thorough and public search that engaged thousands of students, faculty, and staff in listening sessions

and public forums on all five campuses.

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham most recently served as the vice president for research and innovation at the

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University of Michigan, where she was responsible for fostering excellence and upholding the

University’s public mission in research, scholarship, and creative practice across three campuses and a

health system. During her leadership tenure, U-M expanded its research volume to a record $1.86 billion

annually as Dr. Cunningham led the design and implementation of the first comprehensive review of the

U-M research, scholarship, and creative practice enterprise.

A faculty member in the U-M Schools of Public Health and Medicine since 1999, Dr. Cunningham

previously served as the associate vice president for research-health sciences, where she oversaw

research faculty affairs and partnered with colleagues across disciplines to facilitate and energize the

University’s research agenda. Dr. Cunningham served in various leadership positions earlier in her career,

including as associate chair of emergency medicine and director of the United States Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention-sponsored Injury Prevention Center at U-M. As a researcher, Dr. Cunningham

has earned continuous federal research funding for more than 25 years as a principal investigator and is

a National Academy of Medicine member.

Dr. Cunningham holds a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and a medical doctorate from

Jefferson Medical College. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at the U-M Health

System in Ann Arbor and a postdoctoral research fellowship with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse

and Alcoholism.

Board of Regents

Established in 1851 at the founding of the University of Minnesota, the Board of Regents

is the University's

governing board. Regents articulate a vision for the University and work to ensure the University of

Minnesota fulfills its mission of education, research, and outreach for the benefit of the people of

Minnesota, the nation, and the world. There are 12 regents who each serve six-year terms. There is one

Regent from each of the state’s eight congressional districts as well as four additional Regents from the

state at large.

The Board of Regents Special Committee on University Relations

was established to advance the critical

work of building strong relationships within communities vital to the University’s success. The Special

Committee has oversight of the University’s government relations function at the local, state, and federal

levels, as well as efforts to build stronger neighborhood relations in communities where the University is

located. The Special Committee will provide the administration with input on the University’s public

relations efforts including areas like marketing and brand development.

The current chair of the Board is Janie S. Mayeron; her term will expire in 2025.

ICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Reporting to President Cunningham and serving as a key member of her cabinet, the Vice President for

Communications (VPC) is charged with creating the vision for and leading the implementation of a

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proactive, innovative, and comprehensive communications, marketing, and branding strategy that

highlights the University’s academic strengths and research; demonstrates its commitment to an

environment in which all students can flourish; reinforces its commitment and contribution to local

communities and the wider state; and champions its impact at national and international levels.

Ultimately, the VPC will establish a framework for fostering connection between the University and its

constituents, both internally (e.g., prospective and current students and families, faculty and staff,

employee groups, alumni, donors, University supporters, and affinity groups) and externally (e.g.,

communities across the state, media, government at all levels, peer institutions, associations, influencers,

and thought leaders).

To this end, the VPC will provide leadership and oversight of the Office of University Relations

, 60 staff

members, and a $8.5 million budget. The VPC will also partner with marketing and communications leads

across the university to help create and define holistic communications and marketing strategies that

serve the needs of the overarching system and respect the significant and varying needs of specific

campuses, colleges, schools, divisions, and units.

The VPC will join the University during the PEAK Initiative

. The PEAK Initiative began in April 2021 and

currently includes the following work function areas: Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology,

and

Marketing and Communications. PEAK Phase 2, which includes the Office of University Relations, is

scheduled for implementation during Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The VPC will need to be a strategist with a

strong vision for the future and the ability to identify and implement University-wide innovations and

solutions that can be scaled into the future.

The VPC must be able to engage in the University’s collaborative leadership model, including active

engagement with and respect for the University’s unique form of faculty, staff, and student governance

while also moving projects forward through decisive decision-making.

The VPC will interact with a broad swath of University communities, both on campuses and across the

state. The VPC must be a clear communicator, able to interact with constituents at all levels of the

University’s structure, and able to establish credibility, confidence, and trust to create a culture of

proactive service and strategy.

Following are the responsibilities and duties of the vice president for communications:

• Conceive and implement an overarching strategic communications and marketing plan that is

innovative, progressive, and proactive, resulting in cohesive messaging and a brand identity that

extends across all media and vehicles in ways that appropriately support and reflect the goals and

objectives of the University.

• Serve as senior counselor to the President, Provost, Campus Chancellors, and other university

leaders on all communication matters and messaging, internal and external, as well as governmental

issues and actions that impact the University.

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• Provide leadership to anticipate and respond to crises that threaten the health, safety, and

reputation of the University and its community members, including crisis communications policies

and procedures. Provide real-time crisis management, counsel, and support to University leadership.

• Work with staff and key stakeholders to proactively reinforce and protect the university’s reputation;

anticipate and mitigate potentially negative and high-profile issues or crises that may impact the U

of M.

• Advise deans and other senior university leaders in their efforts to translate and communicate

academic, research, and service accomplishments to the university community and external

audiences.

• Partner with campuses, academic units, and administrative units including the

University of

Minnesota Foundation, Alumni Association, Office of Native American Affairs, athletics,

undergraduate and graduate enrollment, Office of Student Affairs, Research and Innovation Office,

and government affairs to support their strategic initiatives and ensure alignment in outreach

efforts.

• Intentionally work with colleagues to develop marketing, communication, and engagement

strategies that reach out to and connect with traditionally underrepresented and underserved

communities to support and enhance diversity in the University community.

• Build and manage an outstanding strategic communications and marketing program that

incorporates all traditional and digital channels and media, and that can be considered best-in-class

compared to its peers across higher education.

• Utilize data captured from CRM and other systems to evaluate the effectiveness and success of

communications vehicles with different internal and external audiences on an ongoing basis.

• Establish a digital ecosystem that reflects the University’s brand, creates a cohesive strategy across

platforms, while also recognizing the breadth and diverging needs of campus units, and emphasizes

compliance with accessibility and user experience standards.

• Convene, support, and inspire collaboration and coordination among decentralized communication

and marketing professionals across the University. Build strong, collaborative, and collegial

relationships with all unit-based communications and marketing teams, understanding their specific

priorities and how those integrate with the university’s brand, strategic communications, and goals.

Provide appropriate levels of support and service to those individuals and teams.

• Ensure that the Office of University Relations is a collaborative, responsive partner that can address

both opportunities and concerns from diverse stakeholders and that staff are sought out as

respected thought leaders. Foster excellence with respect to client collaboration and partnership,

customer service, and problem-solving.

• Thoroughly evaluate current marketing and branding efforts across the University. Strategically

invest time and resources in market research, competitive landscape analysis, brand and marketing

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refinement, and creative execution. Working with direct reports and other key stakeholders, assess

how best to leverage internal resources, external counsel, agencies, and services.

• Maintain and refine an organizational structure that ensures ongoing integration and cohesion

across the Office of University Relations. Set clear direction and priorities for professional and

administrative staff alike. Continually assess staff strengths; recruit and retain a high-quality, diverse

communications and marketing team.

• Maintain and promote a diverse and equitable workplace environment. Similarly, promote a

professional workplace culture of mutual respect and collegiality for all members of the institution.

• Inspire and motivate staff through transparency and direction, placing staff members’ work within

the context of the University’s strategic priorities and goals. Provide professional development

opportunities as appropriate and encourage staff to set and reach personal growth targets.

• Have a leadership style that is open and empowers staff through active communication, delegation,

and accountability. Manage expectations and resources to ensure that overall marketing goals and

activities are challenging and realistic.

• Foster an environment that rewards new ideas, creativity, and risk taking; builds confidence; and

encourages teamwork and collaboration within the office and across the University. Celebrate

achievements and set clear expectations for future success.

Qualifications and Experience

The University of Minnesota is a large, complex public research university. While direct experience in

higher education is not required, the VPC must be familiar with the needs of a large, complex

organization with local, state, and national audiences spanning urban and rural areas, and possess the

political savvy to navigate the environment, opportunities, and constraints of a public university system.

The vice president will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• At least 12 years of experience leading, envisioning, and implementing a strategic communications,

marketing, and branding program that was successfully leveraged across an enterprise with multiple

constituencies and a wide variety of audiences – internal and external, local and national.

• A record of success as an innovative and collaborative leader in a large, complex, mission-driven

organization with numerous and distributed stakeholders, shared decision making, and often rapidly

shifting priorities.

• Advanced knowledge of the strategies and industry best practices for all aspects of communications,

marketing, positioning, and messaging, including sophisticated and creative use of brand content,

social media, analytics, and other forms of digital communications (paid, owned, and earned).

• Substantial experience evaluating the strengths of existing communications and marketing programs

and identifying opportunities for improvement. An aptitude for using data and metrics in decision

making and evaluating the success of programs and campaigns.

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• Broad experience in strategic communications, crisis and issues management, communications

planning, media relations, public relations, perception management, and internal communications.

• Proven effectiveness in engaging and working directly with local, national, and international media

on background and on the record.

• Experience in institutions that are subject to political and public scrutiny, whether legislative or

regulatory.

• The ability to intuit the implicit dimensions of messages and messaging. Exceptional diplomacy,

discretion, and judgment.

• Engaging and persuasive in written and oral communications, clearly able to serve as a professional

and trusted representative of the University.

• Collaborative and collegial orientation, eager and skillful in engaging diverse stakeholders and

building strong professional relationships. Demonstrated experience serving as a resource to others

and obtaining their input, thereby being able to synthesize many ideas and produce work products

that address a variety of goals and objectives.

• Experience managing and inspiring teams in a complex organization, leading by influence and

unifying the work of communications and marketing professionals across the enterprise. The ability

to encourage change and growth in people and programs. Persuasive, persistent, and determined.

• A strong commitment to personal and professional development and the ability to build, lead,

mentor, motivate, and retain high-performing, diverse professional teams to create a robust and

collaborative communications and marketing ecosystem.

• Outstanding management, operational, and planning skills, including the ability to handle multiple

projects simultaneously in a decentralized environment.

• High degree of integrity, character, and emotional maturity, demonstrating respect for individuals

at every level of an organization; humility, a sense of humor, and life balance.

• Sharp eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; understanding of budgets and

cash flows as well as proven success managing them.

• An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment.

• A deep appreciation and passion for the mission, values, and culture of the University of Minnesota.

• A desire to deeply engage in the local and University communities; a keen understanding of the role

diversity and intercultural understanding play in achieving excellence.

• Bachelor’s degree is required.

The annual salary range for this position is $325,000 to $375,000. The stated hiring range represents the

University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of posting.

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TO APPLY

Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest and a current resume to be considered for the

position. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to the

Isaacson, Miller website:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-minnesota/vice-

president-communications

Jack Gorman, Partner (he/him)

Elizabeth Neustaedter, Principal (she/her)

Sandeep Kaur, Search Coordinator (she/her)

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs,

facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin,

gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status,

membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with

discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

This document is available in alternative formats upon request.