Finding Space for Creativity

Transformation has been a hallmark of Jaime's career. In nearly 20 years working in higher education, she been part of four university rebrandings and five website overhauls. She's been hands-on in the development of an integrated marketing communications model at three institutions. As a result, she has gained extensive expertise in brand strategy, recruitment marketing, internal communications, crisis communications, issues management, online innovation, and media relations. She also has in her portfolio government relations and, for two years, she oversaw a public radio station. She is currently the vice president for university communications and chief marketing officer for Old Dominion University, a 23,000-student public R1 research institution in Coastal Virginia. Prior to her current role, she was the vice president and chief communications and marketing officer for Miami University (the one in not-as-sunny Oxford, Ohio). She also served in marketing and media relations leadership roles at Winston-Salem State University (North Carolina), Radford University (Virginia), the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Northwestern Health Sciences University (Minnesota). Her background also includes more than four years as a print journalist and three years working for nonprofits and in nonprofit consulting. She earned my bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and her master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University.

A leader and visionary in the higher education marketing field, Kristi Eaves-McLennan has conducted two successful branding campaigns at Meredith College, as well as launched a profitable trademark licensing program at the College. The leader of almost twenty marketing and events professionals at Meredith College, Eaves-McLennan motivates her team to continue developing the College’s brand and facilitate successful enrollment and fundraising campaigns. Her team’s work has resulted in record enrollment increases, helped achieve fundraising and sales goals, and garnered numerous awards. Eaves-McLennan is widely recognized by her marketing peers as a leader and innovator. An invited speaker at some of the field’s most prestigious conferences, she has spoken about enrollment marketing strategies, growing new revenue sources at small colleges, breaking down institutional silos, and implementing successful branding campaigns. In addition, she has published op-eds in leading higher education industry publications. Prior to joining Meredith College in 2000, Eaves-McLennan was director of public relations at Louisburg College. She has held positions with an RTP-based national investment education firm and with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Eaves-McLennan graduated summa cum laude from Peace College with a Bachelor of Arts in communication. She holds an MBA from Meredith College.