Vincent Vernet, an award-winning creator of regional and national advertising and marketing campaigns, has been named West Virginia University new assistant vice president for branding and creative direction. He will join WVU’s Division of University Relations in early September.

Vernet has spent nearly a decade working for full-service advertising firms that created diverse campaigns for some of the region’s top corporations, major events and prominent universities, including Carnegie Mellon, Point Park and Duquesne.

“We are pleased to have Vincent join our team,” said Chris Martin, vice president for University Relations. “He is an innovative thinker, as evidenced by his work. And his significant experience in creative development and brand management represents a real asset to this University and its work.”

Before accepting the position at WVU, Vernet served as the creative director of The Creative Caf� of Elisco Advertising, an innovative boutique agency based in Pittsburgh, and as associate creative director of Mullen Advertising, a major full-service firm with offices in Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Winston-Salem. Corporate clients have included: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pepsi Co, Vocelli Pizza, XM Radio and Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism.

Vernet’s recent accomplishments include spearheading higher education image and enrollment campaigns that resulted in marked increases in both donor and alumni contributions. In addition, Vernet created award-winning print, broadcast and digital work for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s multi-million dollar integrated brand.

His work led to three American Advertising Federation Addy awards – widely recognized as one of the largest and most competitive advertising contests in the country – several Telly awards and an Excellence in Education marketing award.

In his new position, Vernet will oversee branding, marketing, advertising, development campaigns, recruitment publications, photography, video support, Web design, print media and new media.

Vernet is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology and a master’s degree in multimedia technology and design. He has served as a curriculum advisor and adjunct instructor in Duquesne’s Journalism and Multimedia Department and taught multimedia courses for the Art Institute Online.

“The energy of change is abundant at WVU,” Vernet said. “It is my privilege to join this dynamic team in bringing together strategic thinking, storytelling and innovation to grow and define the WVU image.”

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aj/08/26/09

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