Jessica Rivinius has been named Miami University’s vice president and chief marketing communications officer.

She has served in the position on an interim basis since August when she replaced Jaime Hunt, who took a position as inaugural vice president for university communications and chief marketing officer at Old Dominion University in Virginia. 

Rivinius joined Miami in January 2021 as senior director of University News and Communications. As interim VP, she has guided the growth of Miami University Communications and Marketing (UCM) to accomplish President Crawford’s mission to create a cohesive, data-driven, university-wide marketing and communications team. UCM is the centralized hub for campus communicators.

“Jessica’s leadership has been instrumental in promoting Miami and our faculty, staff, and students on a national level and elevating and amplifying the great work being done at our university,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said. “I am excited and eager to see what the future holds as Jessica and her team continue to build on these accomplishments and help advance Miami’s unwavering commitment to student success.”

In the past six months, Rivinius has led the UCM team as it launched the new Miami brand platform, The Power of Will; implemented a new project management process; sustained success in highlighting faculty research and expertise in the news media; and advanced UCM’s multicultural marketing and DEI efforts. Rivinius also led the development of a “storytelling center of excellence” within UCM, consolidating storytellers from different units to better align news, marketing copy, photos, and videos with Miami’s brand pillars and strategic priorities. Under her leadership, Miami’s national news media placements have nearly doubled and the total number of placements has increased 15%.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead this team of incredible creators, storytellers, and marketers — not only are they immensely talented, but they are great colleagues who share a deep commitment to Miami and one another,” she said. “We have seen some early success in launching ‘The Power of Will,’ having already exceeded our goal for out-of-state, out-of-home impressions, and I am very excited to bring that momentum to campus this spring with some new designs and focal points on campus that enhance the beauty and add some buzz.”

Rivinius added, “In bringing Miami’s brand to the national stage — whether through marketing, social media, news stories, or word of mouth — we are encouraging all those who have the will, to find their way, their purpose, at Miami.”

Rivinius came to Miami after serving as the communications director for the University of Maryland’s counterterrorism government think tank, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).

She was responsible for all facets of public affairs and internal communications — including media relations, marketing, briefings, and budgetary decisions. As a member of the executive management team, she was instrumental in growing the center’s research portfolio and donor base, diversifying its funding, recruiting staff and students, and garnering international media attention.

Prior to joining the University of Maryland, she served as the assistant director of media relations for Rice University and media relations coordinator for Ohio University, her alma mater.

Rivinius earned her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, with specializations in business and political science, from Ohio University. She began her career as a journalist, working for various print and broadcast outlets.