Russell Nunley

Resume: LinkedIn.com/in/russnunley

 

Selected Industry Honors

• American Marketing Association International Collegiate Competition selected Nunley as a preliminary and final round judge. New Orleans, LA, April 2023.
• Educational Advertising Awards and Collegiate Advertising Awards honored the Presidential Inauguration of Dr. Steve Mauro for international excellence in marketing execution. March 2023
• Washington Post named Alfred, NY the Ultimate US College Town from statistical research and cultivation of media interest by Nunley. February, 2023.
• "Is Higher Education Dying or Dynamic? Changes in Student Perceptions of ROI." Presentation at RNL National Higher Education Conference. Washington, DC, July 2022.
• "Digital Marketing to Students: Big Data and Big Impacts." Presentation at SUNYCUAD NYS conference for advancement and marketing leaders. Ithaca, NY, March 2022.

 

Education

Doctoral Student in Public Administration (DPA)
West Chester University, Pennsylvania
Dissertation topics under development for an expected May 2026 completion:
• How higher education leaders are altering strategies after a national decline in college enrollment.
• How crisis and issues management mitigates risks, protects reputations, and respects legal advice.

Post-Master’s Studies in Digital Marketing and Innovation
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 
AACSB and Higher Learning Commission Accreditation
• Transforming business with marketing in a digital world.
• Building measurable outcomes through marketing analytics.
• Using innovation and strategy for entrepreneurial ideas to grow.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK 
AACSB and Higher Learning Commission Accreditation
Graduated with High Honors
• Marketing studies in consumer behavior, ethics, advertising management, and social media.
• Business studies in behavioral management, data analytics, research, and strategic planning.
• Financial studies in accounting, economics, and fiscal management.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Broadcast Journalism and Management
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 
AACSB, ACEJMC, and SACSCOC Accreditation
Graduated with Honors
• Concentrated studies in Colleges of Business and Communications.
• Developed journalism, business, and presentation skills at student radio station WUTK.
• Anchored "This Week in Big Orange Country" airing on five Fox television stations.

 

Professional Certificates

Strategy Execution for Public Leadership Certificate
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
• Ensure that strategic plans have long-lasting impact.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders.
• Transform scrutiny into constructive progress

Advanced Crisis Communication Certificate
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Understanding audiences and stakeholders in stress.
• Balancing legal parameters and reputational risks.
• Forecasting, analyzing, and managing the unforeseen.

Online Teaching with Distinction Certificate
The State University of New York, Albany, NY
• Effective student interaction, engagement, and assessments.
• Inclusive communication and accessible course design.
• Quality digital course development, analysis, and adaptation. 

Conflict Resolution Professional Certificate
Cornell University, NYS School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), Ithaca, NY
• Diagnose workplace conflict and navigate labor relations.
• Determine the scope of conflict and use of problem-solving.
• Lead challenging conversations and handle emotions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Public Managers Certificate
Rutgers University, School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR), New Jersey
• Build a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
• Navigate difficulties at the intersection of race, power, and privilege.
• Understand the importance of communication and actions in an organization.

Resilient Change Leader Certificate
The State University of New York, Albany, NY
• Transform business with marketing in a digital world.
• Build measurable outcomes through marketing analytics.
• Use innovation and strategy for entrepreneurship ideas to grow. 

Public Information Officer Training
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Crisis response coordination related to a multi-state rash of theater shootings with months of local, national, and international media attention.
• Higher education crises include missing persons, fires with building occupants, student assaults/arrests, and cyber-attacks with ransomware.
• Trained to implement Incident Command Systems. Homeland Security training of 124 hours including advanced ICS-300 and ICS-400. 

 

Professional Experience

Chief Marketing Officer 
State University of New York (SUNY) Alfred State College
2016 – Present
Rochester, New York Area

Excellence in marketing, advertising, and strategic communication has led to record applicant numbers, enrollment growth, exceptional fundraising, and improved faculty and staff satisfaction.

Responsibilities include collaborating with executive leaders and stakeholders across divisions, supervising a team of 12 full-time staff plus student workers, and overseeing Print and Mail Services.

• Strategy & Leadership: Develop and execute marketing and communications strategies to promote ASC to students, parents, alumni, donors, and the public.

• Crisis & Issues Management: Lead sensitive communications including assaults, deaths, lawsuits, protests, safety concerns, cyber-attacks, and IT disruptions.

• External Relations: Manage advertising, PR, media outreach, political relations, reputation management, and donor communications along with creative development and analysis of results.

• Internal Communications: Foster employee morale, confidence in leadership, a culture of caring, school pride, awareness of successes, and strategic alignment.

• Change Management: Communicate the needs for strategic initiatives, transition from traditional to digital media, and revitalize the brand with a new logo, mascot, and messaging.

• Executive Counsel: Advise the President and senior leaders in Academic Affairs, HR, Advancement, Student Affairs, Recruitment, and University Police.

• Staff Development: Encourage diverse perspectives, use emotional intelligence for collaboration, empathy for audiences, and training for Google Analytics and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Integrated Communications: Ensure consistency across public relations, advertising, prospect solicitation, social media, and internal messaging.

• Recognition of Excellence: Promoted from Director of Marketing and Communications to CMO in two years, reflecting significant impact and growth.

Adjunct Faculty
State University of New York (SUNY) Alfred State College
2020 – Present

• BUAD 2033 Business Communication 
• MKTG 2073 Principles of Marketing
• CJUS 4103 Policing in a Free Society
• Alfred State Police Academy Trainer
• 2023 SUNY Online Teaching Certificate with Distinction

 

Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Regal Entertainment Group
1999 – 2015
Knoxville, Tennessee 

Supervised marketing and communication teams with up to 40 in-office and remote members. Served on a steering committee for a KPI-based bonus program and an annual General Manager Conference focused on strategy alignment and morale-building within the operations team.

 

Marketing & Leadership:

• Directed 120+ theater openings and 200+ premium sites, managed a $3M ad budget annually, and generated $10M+ in additional ad trades.

• Integrated marketing of theater circuits acquired, conducted 100+ theater visits annually and launched the Regal Crown Club with 14M+ members.

• Used emotional intelligence (EQ) and collaboration to earn superior 360-Degree Scores with strengths in credibility, acumen, results-focus, and integrity.

• Promoted frequently: 1999 Theatre Opener, 2001 Marketing Manager, 2005 MarCom Director, and 2008 MarCom Vice President. 

Public Relations & Crises:

• Led crisis communications, managing at its peak up to 300 media inquiries in a day, and annually securing $30M in earned media with 93% positive.

• Acted as a national spokesperson, solicited media attention, and coached both executives and staff for their own media interviews.

• Developed messaging and mix of media tactics per market including a multicultural PR strategy with a focus on the Latino market.

• Coordinated special events and movie premieres, including the $4M Stars of Hope annual fundraiser for the Regal Foundation.

    

Television Anchor, Reporter, and Producer
Nexstar Media
WATE-TV-6-ABC
1989 – 1999
Knoxville, Tennessee

• Supervised staff, determined news content, wrote scripts, and edited videos for live newscasts.
• Achieved top-rated broadcasts and most-watched TV programs when anchoring weekday mornings and weekend evenings.
• Served as business/political reporter, interviewing corporate and government leaders.
• Promoted frequently: Intern, Videographer, Editor, Producer, Reporter, and Anchor.

 

Professional Skills and Knowledge

• Results-driven management style generates measurable outcomes with analysis to track progress and attainment of goals.

• Calm and experienced approach to organizing emergency management of incidents and related crisis communications. 

• Focused communication skills to share passion for the brand, raising public awareness, and generating revenue. 

• Professional experience in the areas of higher education, entertainment, media relations, and customer service. 

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM- CXM) experience with Salesforce and Slate admissions systems.

• Learning Management System (LMS) experience with Blackboard, Canvas, and D2L Brightspace.

• Public relations monitoring experience with Cision, Critical Mention, Meltwater, and Vocus PR. 

• Parent and family engagement experience with CampusESP and social media.

• Social media experience with Hubspot, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.

• Student Success Management System (SSMS) experience with EAB Starfish.

• Portal system experience with Ellucian Portal and Microsoft SharePoint.

• Student Information System (SIS) experience with Ellucian Banner. 

• Content Management System (CMS) experience with Drupal, WordPress, and Modern Campus Omni Catalog.

• Strong work ethic for attaining achievements personally and for promoting team performance.

• Proven data-driven decision maker and project manager driving brand strategy and organizational alignment.

• Unwavering drive for proactive results with an enthusiasm to devise effective strategies in a matrixed structure.
 

Additional Studies

Amplify Critical Thinking with Generative AI - TrainingAI - Training Certificate

Project Management Institute

• Artificial intelligence is a tool for conducting research and evaluating alternatives.

• Generative AI enhances critical thinking to challenge assumptions for more sound decisions.

 

Applying Professional Strategic Plan Design, Development, and Implementation

SCUP Planning Institute

• Hone skills to build a strategic plan and subsequent action plans aligned with institutional goals.

• Develop stakeholder consensus, implement effective strategies, and continually evaluate progress.

 

Critical Thinking for Better Judgment and Decision-Making - Training Certificate

Project Management Institute

• Skepticism aids objective evaluation and helps to diagnosis complex assessments.

• Curiosity and inclusion reduces bias in decisions and blind spots in judgment.

 

Digital Analytics, Reports, and Metrics - IQ Professional Certificate

Google Analytics Academy

• Digital marketing analysis to measure audience, acquisition, behavior, and conversions.

• Skills include planning, data collection, administration, reports, and metrics.

 

Economic Development Council of New York State Certificate

NYSEDC Training

• Developing growth by combining efforts of both the public and private sectors.

• Supporting workforce development and growth of an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

Financial Aid Assistance for HS Students -College Counseling Certificate

Scoir for College Search

• Determining career paths, understanding financials, and making the college selection.

• Navigating social and emotional learning (SEL) challenges and sharing empathy.

 

Leading with Emotional Intelligence - EQIntelligence - EQ Professional Certificate

American Management Association

• Integrate empathy to promote strong relationships and achieve team results.

• Recognize emotional responses during negotiation, teamwork, and coaching.

 

Self-Study Institute for Accreditation

Middle State MSCHE

• Developing an effective self-study design, process for input, and team for collaboration.

• Writing the self-study report, building evidence inventories, and hosting evaluation visits.

 

Strategic Enrollment Management - Professional Management - Professional Certificate

AACRAO - Admissions Officers

• Review of leading SEM literature, techniques, and practices.

• Skills for implementation, campus negotiation, and measuring success.

 

Understanding & Implementing Design Thinking - TwoThinking - Two Certificates

Project Management Institute

• Collaborating across divisions to share empathy for the needs of consumer audiences.

• Building flexibility and repeated iterations to adapt and refine creative solutions.

 

Public Service & Professional Memberships

• AACRAO, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

• ACTE, Association of Career and Technical Education

• ACTER, Association of Career and Technical Education Research

• AMA, American Marketing Association

• ASPA, American Society for Public Administration

• Campus-Wide Strategic Planning Leadership Committee

• Commencement Planning Committee

• Content Creation Across Campus Team

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

• Degree Completion Partnership of WNY

• Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc. - PR Committee

• Enrollment Management Advisory Team

• Enrollment Management Directors' Committee

• Faculty Search Committees

• Homecoming Committee

• Honors Convocation Committee

• Inauguration Committee Chair

• Institutional Advancement Publicity Committee

• Major Gifts Communication Committee

• Middle States Accreditation Steering Committee

• Middle States Standard VI Co-Chair: Planning, Resources, and Inst. Improvement

• NACAC, National Association for College Admission Counseling

• PRSA, Public Relations Society of America

• Perkins Funds and Corporate Grant Committees

• Presidential Inauguration Committee

• Presidential Transition Committee

• President's Council Board Member

• Project Management Institute (PMI)

• Residential Housing Communication Committee

• Scholarships Leveraged for Enrollment Goals Committee 

• Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)

• Student Club Advisor Certification by College Media Association

• SUNYCUAD, SUNY Council for University Advancement

• Web Redesign Advisory and Strategy Committee

• Western New York Works, Advertising Co-op with Community Colleges

• WETD-FM Student Club Advisor

• WNY Pipeline, Consortium of Colleges Committee