It is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Marylou J. Ferry as vice president for communication and marketing at 61传媒 College, effective August 22, 2011.
This newly created position reflects the College’s aspirations to heighten national and regional recognition of its unique curriculum, highly accomplished faculty and students, and significant contributions to the preparation of leaders.
Reporting to the president, Marylou will lead the Office of Public Relations and Communication. She is charged with taking the strong reputation 61传媒 enjoys among those who know us and leading her team to create new opportunities to build our reputation among additional important stakeholders in Southern California and across the country. To do so she will build partnerships across our community to develop and execute a strategic marketing and communication plan for the College. Her duties will also include managing all new and traditional communication platforms such as publications, public relations, media outreach, social media, websites, and other marketing endeavors. As vice president, Marylou will serve as an advisor to me and be part of the College’s leadership team. She will work closely with the vice presidents for enrollment and institutional advancement to support them in achieving their missions.
Marylou is well prepared to meet the challenges of this new position. She is a highly experienced communication strategist and practitioner. She brings us extensive experience in media relations, marketing, crisis communication, and organizational leadership. Currently a public relations and marketing consultant and owner of On Message Communications in Claremont, she has developed several successful and innovative strategies for higher education clients. She was tapped to develop the communication platform and collateral for The Campaign for Claremont McKenna. She also created strategies to promote the work of the University of Redlands’ Center for Educational Justice. At Redlands she developed strategic alliances with the thought- provoking movie Waiting for Superman and worked closely with faculty to position them as thought leaders and spokespeople on educational issues in statewide and national media.
Her strong media background includes serving as communication director and press secretary to Washington State Governor Gary Locke, who was recently appointed as the United States Ambassador to China. In that capacity, she was responsible for leading a team tasked with intensive proactive and reactive media relations, stakeholder communication for public policy and state issues, and the communication response to public emergencies.
Marylou’s background in corporate communications and marketing spans national and international companies, including positions in Los Angeles as vice president of public affairs at Fleishman-Hillard, a global marketing and communications firm, and director of corporate and political affairs for ARCO. 聽In Seattle, she served as director of media and guest relations for Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls and as public affairs and public relations coordinator for Nordstrom.
Marylou has a bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Puget Sound. A trustee of Foothill Country Day School in Claremont and an AYSO soccer coach, she lives in Claremont with her husband, Rick, and their two children.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Marylou to 61传媒 College.