Meet the Team

Our team of visionaries tells the story of this great university, its proud history, its active research, remarkable faculty and the life-changing experience it provides to undergraduate and graduate students.

Within University Marketing and Communications are teams with deep experience in strategic communications and university media relations, editorial content and news, digital marketing, advertising, web and digital communications, university magazine, visual communication and design, photography and videography, executive communications, and online enrollment marketing.

UMC Leadership

Guisselle Nuñez

Senior Associate Vice President for
University Marketing and Communications

Email: [email protected]  

Melissa Retana

Executive Assistant

Email: [email protected] 

Kristin Ede

Executive Director of University Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Michelle Frey

Senior Director of Creative and Brand Strategy

Email: [email protected]

Michelle Smith McDonald

Senior Director of Media Relations

Email: [email protected]

Kamryn Williams

Director of Strategic Operations

Email: [email protected]


College and Program Marketing

Marketing and communications strategy and development for various divisions, colleges and programs.

Adriana Avila

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Lucas College and Graduate School of Business

Email: [email protected]  

Marcus Ismael

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Facilities, Development and Operations/Student Housing

Email: [email protected]  

Sam Kamangar

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

University Advancement

Email: [email protected]

Rhoda Shapiro

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Student Affairs

Email: [email protected]


Copywriting and Editorial

Campus-wide storytelling, including: editorial content, brand messaging, style and writing guidelines, strategic communications and content strategy for SJSU’s enterprise-wide print and digital platforms, including Washington Square Magazine and SJSU NewsCenter.

Julia Halprin Jackson

University Writer and Copy Editor, Managing Editor of Washington Square

News beats: Humanities & Arts, Social Science, Education and Student Affairs

Email: [email protected]  


Creative and Brand Strategy

Visual storytelling and design strategy, creative support for faculty and staff, SJSU visual identity and guidelines, campus-branded spaces, events and affiliate visual resources, professional video, photography, project requests, lockup requests, and brand permissions

Roman Goshev

Digital Production Project Manager

Email: [email protected] 

Pourya Nadimi

Senior Visual Designer and Art Director

Email: [email protected] 

Jonathan Wang

Visual Communications Designer

Email: [email protected]  

Javier Duarte

Senior Multimedia Production Manager

Email: [email protected]  

Robert C. Bain

University Photographer

Email: [email protected]  

Jonathan Meyer

Multimedia Specialist, Video Production

Email: [email protected] 


Social Media and Digital Communications

Social media engagement, email marketing, online campaigns, content engagement analytics and strategy management. 

Brian Anderson

Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Email: [email protected]  

Trevor Phillips

Digital Content Analyst

Email: [email protected]


Media Relations

Media relations, crisis communications and reputation management, including the development of university statements and key messages to news media worldwide through relationships with local, national and international media outlets.

Sean Woodland

Media Relations Manager

Email: [email protected]


Professional & Global Engagement Marketing

Supports the outreach and recruitment of students for professional education, winter and summer intersession, and open university through integrated, digital marketing and communications. 

Jim Hsia

Associate Director of Professional and Global Engagement Marketing

Email: [email protected]  

Cindy Chin

Marketing Specialist

Email: [email protected]  

Jeanette Mai

Marketing Specialist

Email: [email protected]  

Momina Manzoor

International Marketing Specialist 

Email: [email protected]  

Cindy Tang

International Marketing Specialist

Email: [email protected]


SJSU Online Enrollment Marketing

SJSU Online brand guidelines and messaging, enrollment funnel communications strategy, storytelling, website design, CRM management and email marketing, direct mail, integrated digital advertising campaigns, video production, social media strategy, and enrollment marketing analytics. 

Brian Cheung Dooley

Associate Director of SJSU Online Enrollment Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Marc Montenegro

Web Developer/UX Designer

Email: [email protected]

Tiffany Thaoxaochay

CRM Engagement Lead

Email: [email protected]


Web and User Experience

Website development, SJSU web guidelines and governance, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Analytics. User experience research, web planning and design.

Rock Fredell

Assistant Director of Web Development and User Experience

Email: [email protected]

Vacant

University Web Developer/User Experience Designer


Athletics Marketing and Sports Media Relations

UMC works closely with Athletics Communications to promote a university-wide environment that elevates the Spartan brand and builds champions in the classroom, in competition and in the community.