Renea Morris Named Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications

The University of Denver is very pleased to announce that Renea Morris will join DU as the next vice chancellor for marketing and communications, effective July 15.

With more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience, Renea has led diverse teams at several companies. Her previous roles include serving as director of a multinational corporation and as co-founder of a non-profit organization. Most recently, she served as chief marketing officer at Ohio University (OHIO) for nine years. There, Renea developed and implemented strategies to amplify the university’s overall brand and enhance stakeholder relationships. Under her leadership, Renea’s team helped drive increases in applications, improvement in class quality, and growth in enrollment for several consecutive years. 

Renea has a collaborative and engaging leadership style, and she has built diverse stakeholder teams, including OHIO’s first Marketing Advisory Council and Campus Communicators Network. By encouraging and enabling these stakeholder groups to speak with one voice, the overall effectiveness of OHIO’s brand increased among its target audiences.

Renea looks forward to joining the DU community. She’d like to share that she is “overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity to serve at such a distinguished institution” and that she “looks forward to implementing strategies to help advance DU IMPACT 2025 and to becoming an integral part of the DU family."

Renea will join the Chancellor’s Cabinet and will work closely with senior leadership on the development of a cohesive narrative for DU, enhanced visibility for both the University and individual schools and units, and the development of crisis communications protocols.

Renea's work is recognized as among the best in brand campaigns, video productions, and employee publications, even garnering an Emmy nomination, Telly, and CASE awards as well as a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Renea currently serves on the Executive Committee for PRSA's Counselors to Higher Education group.

Renea and her husband Reginald enjoy the outdoors, including hiking and running. They have four adult children: Jonathan, Wali, Olivia, and Amira.

Please join in warmly welcoming Renea to DU this summer.

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Thank you to the members of the search committee who played an instrumental role in ensuring the success of filling this vital position. Committee members included: Melissa Akaka, associate professor, department of marketing and co-director, Consumer Insights and Business Innovation Center (CiBiC); Ann Ayers, dean, Colorado Women’s College; Ana Babic Rosario, assistant professor, department of marketing; Angel Field, associate athletic director, external relations; Darrin Hicks, president, faculty senate and professor, department of communication studies; Wyatt C. Hornsby, assistant vice chancellor, creative engagement; Greg Moore, trustee; Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor of enrollment; and Keri Ungemah, assistant dean of communications, Sturm College of Law.

On behalf of Chancellor Chopp, the Chancellor’s Cabinet, and many others across campus, we also want to express deep gratitude to Lea Cadieux for so ably serving as interim vice chancellor for marketing and communications since March 2018. While Lea will continue to play a strong leadership role in marketing and communications as associate vice chancellor, we owe her a sincere debt of gratitude for her service as interim vice chancellor and for the significant contributions she made to the University while in this role and beforehand. 

Sincerely, 

Nancy Nicely

Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff

Office of the Chancellor