Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, president of Methodist University, recently announced the hiring of Brad Johnson as the University’s new Director of Marketing and Communications.
Johnson, who has nearly two decades of management experience in university marketing, publishing and public relations, will help lead Methodist’s strategies and initiatives in relation to internal and outward messaging. His key areas of focus include, but are not limited to, enrollment, advancement, alumni, and academic departments; also management of web, social media, video/photography, print, writing, design, brand, vendors, media/public relations, advertising and other constituent communications.
“I am pleased to welcome Brad to the Institutional Advancement team at Methodist,” said Greg Swanson, vice president for Institutional Advancement and senior counsel. “He deeply resonates with our mission and has a wealth of marketing experience in higher education. I have worked with Brad previously and believe he has the leadership and skills necessary to create and implement an effective integrated marketing effort across the University. These efforts are particularly important in the evolving marketplace facing universities today.”
Johnson is passionate about higher education and spent the past decade as director and assistant vice president in charge of all marketing and messaging for Asbury University in Kentucky, helping set record numbers in enrollment (undergrad, grad and degree-completion), development (capital campaigns and events) and marketing strategies (new web site, social media/digital marketing campaigns, media relations, etc.).
“The ‘whole-person,’ liberal arts approach that Methodist offers is unlike any I’ve seen and I’m blessed to now be a part of it,” Johnson said. “Intellectual values, innovative programming and ethical principles aren’t just part of a mission statement that remains within institutional boundaries. At Methodist, excellence (in the classroom and out), inclusivity and diversity are grounded in truth, virtue, justice and love. Those qualities are evident each day and shared in the communities, cities, states and more than 100 countries that Methodist students, faculty, staff and alumni call home.”
Community is of great value to Johnson. He has spent the past decade-plus as a board member (chair) with an inner-city ministry for the homeless and has led numerous university-student mission trips (focusing on homelessness and social justice) to underserved communities in Chicago, Jacksonville (Fla.), New York City and abroad. He’s also been a board member and coach with the Miracle League (baseball, basketball and football programs for children and adults with special needs) for more than a decade.
“My passions for service – on and off campus – align perfectly with Methodist,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s experience includes time as the Director of Publishing for IMG College, the world’s premier sports marketing company, and Content Director for TeamTalk (an international marketing agency). His journalism/marketing career began as a writer/editor/designer at The Charlotte Observer and has included state and national recognition/awards. Prior to that, he was a two-sport collegiate athlete (soccer and baseball) who earned two degrees (double-majoring in journalism and history) from Indiana University.
Married to DeAnna for nearly 30 years, the Johnsons have two children (Matthew and Niklas).