ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (December 7, 2023) — Augustana College has selected Jill Johnson to serve as Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Brand Communication. Johnson was one of several qualified candidates from across the nation.
Search leader Kent Barnds, Augustana’s executive vice president of external relations, said Johnson was a stand-out candidate to lead the college’s Office of Communication and Marketing, a multi-talented team of twelve that serves the college in enrollment marketing, brand strategy, campus and alumni communications, media engagement, and event management.
“Johnson is a creative, versatile, and collaborative professional, and we are pleased to have her join Augustana,” Barnds said. “She is a successful higher-education leader, and she is passionate about sharing Augustana’s story of transformation and innovation to prospective students, current students, alumni, and the community.”
Johnson, who most recently led a marketing and communications consultancy serving clients in banking, government, retail, higher education, and non-profit, said Augustana is a great fit.
“I have been so impressed by the strong sense of shared mission that is evident across campus,” Johnson said. “I am delighted to be part of the Augustana campus community and to be joining an outstanding team of marketing and communications professionals.”
Johnson earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Concordia University, St Paul, Minnesota; a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota; and an Associate of Arts from Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota.
As director of marketing and creative services at the University of North Georgia, Johnson planned, executed, and assessed multi-channel marketing campaigns, and provided marketing counsel to departments across the five-campus institution.
At Newberry College, Johnson was director of marketing and communications, where she built a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy focused on building institutional reputation and brand recognition. She also served in a similar role at Concordia University, where she concentrated on enrollment marketing and institutional advancement.
