Following a comprehensive national search, Marymount University named Joshua Harless its first Vice President of Marketing and Communications. He will plan and implement a strategic, integrated approach across all University marketing initiatives, programs and activities. Scheduled to begin his work on Tuesday, January 16, he will serve on President Irma Becerra’s Cabinet and report directly to the President, collaborating with the institution’s leadership on the University’s mission, vision and strategic goals.
Harless – a creative leader focused on collaboration and brand building – brings expertise in strategic marketing, team and brand management, digital strategy, design and campaign execution. He recently held the Associate Vice President of Marketing position at The Catholic University of America (CUA) since October 2021, following a tenure of more than 16 years in various marketing and communications roles at the University of Maryland in College Park (UMD).
“Today’s digitally driven organizations must understand the power of investing in digital strategies and their customer experience. Universities are no different, and their marketing investments must resonate with our current and future digitally native students,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “We are excited about the strategies that Joshua will bring to Marymount and look forward to his collaboration.”
“I am excited to share President Becerra’s vision for Marymount University,” Harless said. “I am fortunate to be in a position to lead a world-class brand that attracts future Saints and their families and tells a compelling story that engages with alumni, donors and stakeholders to elevate our reputation as an innovative community committed to student success.”
In alignment with Marymount’s enrollment goals, Harless will integrate marketing communications, public relations, creative strategy, events and brand management while identifying opportunities to further enhance University marketing efforts. Key responsibilities include positioning Marymount in the higher education market nationally and internationally, creating a consistent and unified message supporting the University’s brand and leveraging internal and external partnerships to endorse marketing plans, communicate messaging, drive growth and engage constituents.
“I love the energy at Marymount and its momentum in making change for its students, faculty and staff, and its unrelenting pursuit of providing an environment for intellectual curiosity, service to others and a global perspective,” Harless added.
During his recent role at Catholic University, Harless led and managed a 12-member marketing team spanning digital, social, video, advertising and creative specialists. In executing the university’s strategic brand platform, he created targeted campaigns to increase brand awareness and engagement with key audiences while maximizing impact through owned media such as CUA’s website, social media channels, video production and design.
Previously, Harless served as UMD’s Chief Digital Strategist and Executive Director of Digital Experience, focusing on creating and maintaining the digital experience for high-traffic websites, the alumni association email and events platform and the campus app. He also developed a three-year plan to ensure all university websites met accessibility requirements, redesigned the UMD homepage and developing a new digital publishing platform for institutional news. Before this position, he amplified UMD’s design efforts through roles as Associate Director of Design, Assistant Director of Design and Senior Designer of Campaign Communications.
Harless graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design.
