Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing is seeking a builder, strategist, and innovator to serve as its inaugural Chief Marketing Officer.
The College of Connected Computing (CCC) is Vanderbilt's first new college on the Nashville campus in 40 years and is in the early stages of building its administrative and academic structure. Capitalizing upon the university's historic strengths, the CCC advances computing education and research across every discipline, preparing students to lead in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, data science, and computational thinking. The College embodies Vanderbilt's enduring commitment to solving society's most complex challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration—connecting computing with fields as diverse as medicine, engineering, the arts, and the humanities to create opportunities for innovation that transcend traditional boundaries. This interdisciplinary college is designed to advance breakthrough discoveries and expand computing education through a “computing for all” approach. The College is expected to grow rapidly over the next three years, requiring agile, strategic, and collaborative leadership.
At the heart of the CCC's mission is the conviction that computational fluency has become essential across all fields, and that technical excellence must be paired with the ethical judgment and contextual understanding needed to deploy technology in service of humanity. Curiosity; impact; agency – computing doesn't replace those; it fuels it. The College's research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, and human-computer interaction, while deep partnerships with industry, government, and nonprofit organizations translate academic discovery into real-world impact. By preparing students to apply computing where human insights matters most – across science, policy, medicine, design, and beyond – that is a recipe for breakthrough thinking.
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing is responsible for developing and executing a cohesive and innovative marketing, communications, and brand strategy that advances the College's mission, enhances its visibility and reputation, and drives engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Reporting to the College's chief of staff and a member of the senior leadership team, the CMO provides strategic counsel to leadership and collaborates across departments to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging, voice, and brand identity. Central to this work is the responsible integration of AI and emerging technologies to elevate storytelling, sharpen audience insight, and scale engagement, ensuring innovation advances the brand with integrity and sound human judgment.
The ideal candidate will be a bold, collaborative, and creative leader with a sense of urgency and a proven track record of developing and executing successful branding, marketing, and communications strategies that measurably enhance visibility, reputation, and engagement. Genuine excitement for AI, automation, innovation, and their impact on society; the ability to navigate matrixed environments and multiple decision-makers; and a willingness to work in an environment where individuals often operate beyond traditional job boundaries will be assets for the role. Demonstrated fluency in AI-powered marketing tools and emerging technologies, with the judgment to deploy them responsibly to sharpen audience insight, scale content, and strengthen campaign performance and the ability to use analytics to drive strategy and measure impact and employ data to inform resource allocation and audience engagement strategies will be essential for success. The CMO will be adaptable, flexible, and resilient; comfortable making decisions with incomplete information; and able to prioritize effectively in a fast-moving environment.
WittKieffer is assisting Vanderbilt University, College of Connected Computing in this search. The review of candidate materials has begun and will continue until an appointment has been made.
Confidential inquiries, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted to the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by clicking here. For additional questions, please contact Shelley Arakawa, J.D. and Ethan Robles at VanderbiltCCC_CMO@wittkieffer.com
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.