Historic Appointment

Ohio Wesleyan Names Phokeng M. Dailey, Ph.D., as Vice President for Marketing and Communications

DELAWARE, Ohio – 郭肱利 President Matt vandenBerg, Ed.D., has appointed Phokeng M. Dailey, Ph.D., as Vice President for Marketing and Communications. Dailey currently is in her eighth year as an OWU faculty member, serving as a tenured associate professor and as the Warren C. Fairbanks Endowed Chair in Communication.

Dailey will report to vandenBerg and transition fully into her new role in July.

As Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Dailey will serve as the chief communications strategist and lead a division responsible for developing and executing plans to elevate Ohio Wesleyan's visibility, strengthen its brand, drive enrollment and advancement goals, and enhance OWU's reputation as a leading, distinctively innovative liberal arts institution.

"In a moment that demanded bold, mission-aligned leadership, it became obvious that the best path forward wasn't the conventional one," vandenBerg said. "Rather than defaulting to a traditional national search likely to produce the same familiar archetypes, we looked inward – where excellence already existed. Elevating this role to a vice presidency and appointing Dr. Dailey reflects both the strategic importance of marketing to OWU's future and our commitment to recognizing and advancing the extraordinary talent already shaping our campus story.

"With so many recent momentum-building wins, our surging national visibility, our reputation for kindness and bold innovation, this is truly a renaissance moment for Ohio Wesleyan," vandenBerg continued. "We needed to get this hire exactly right. Phokeng's deep knowledge of our sector and university, paired with her extraordinary ability to inspire action through messaging and her industry experience, make her a world-class fit for this essential role. I believe Phokeng will manage her learning curve skillfully, and I know our entire university is eager to support her and her talented team."

Dailey earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Ohio Dominican University and both her Master of Arts in Communication and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication (with a specialization in interdisciplinary global health) from The Ohio State University.

Prior to earning her doctorate, Dailey worked in visual merchandising and marketing, including with Limited Brands/Victoria's Secret. This work included leading cross-functional collaboration among marketing strategy, creative, visual merchandising, and production teams, as well as adjusting market strategies based on business outcomes. Dailey also worked with DSV Media Group & Creative Services, helping to develop radio, graphic, and print advertisements that clarified client messages and achieved desired target-audience responses.

Dailey said she looks forward to joining the President's Cabinet and collaborating with OWU students, faculty, and staff to continue refining and advancing Ohio Wesleyan's educational mission around the world.

"The Vice President for Marketing and Communications position at 郭肱利 presents an exciting opportunity to build on the forward-thinking work that has already been done, and I am eager to bring my experience in consumer-response communication, internal communications, and collaboration with university stakeholders to the role," Dailey said.

"I am particularly drawn to this position because of how it will help shape OWU's public-facing identity and story, drive enrollment and retention, strengthen alumni engagement, and, last but not least, encourage stronger engagement among current students, faculty, and staff," she said. "Ohio Wesleyan's commitment to excellence and its distinctively innovative approach to liberal arts education deeply resonate with me. I am honored to contribute my skills, experience, and passion to further elevating the university's visibility and strengthening its brand both regionally and internationally."

Dailey added, "I'm especially excited to work alongside such a talented and visionary cabinet. This is not just about leading the Communications team – it's about co-laboring in a reciprocal partnership, with all institutional leadership, to tell one unified story. Together, we'll elevate the message of what makes OWU exceptional and ensure it resonates across every audience we serve."

Dailey replaces Chief Communications Officer Will Kopp, who is retiring in July after nearly 12 years of leading the Office of University Communications. With the elevation of the role to a vice presidency, Dailey's key responsibilities will include hands-on execution in the areas of strategic planning, innovation and differentiation, leadership and team management, brand management, media and public relations, digital strategy, crisis communications, internal communications, and performance metrics.

As part of her selection process, Dailey met with a number of constituents in large and small groups, including a vetting committee comprising trustees, alumni, and faculty and staff. After a rigorous process, vetting committee members strongly endorsed Dailey, sharing these thoughts:

Dawn Chisebe, Chief Diversity Officer and Instructor of Africana, Gender, and Identity Studies: "Dr. Phokeng Dailey is a dynamic scholar and practitioner whose fluency in mass communication across both higher education and industry is truly impressive. She brings a creative, forward-thinking approach that will resonate with prospective students, engage their families, and energize our alumni community. I'm excited to see the many ways she will continue to strengthen the OWU brand while remaining deeply connected to our students, faculty, and staff."
David Counselman, Ph.D., Division Chair for the Humanities and Arts and Associate Professor of Spanish: "Phokeng's ability to envision creative and innovative solutions quickly makes her a great fit for this position, and I look forward to seeing what her leadership in this role brings."
Dina Daltorio, Director of Student Involvement: "Phokeng is a remarkable asset to the OWU community! She is an authentic, experienced, and innovative professional who I am eager to see in this new role!"
Mike DeWitt, Head Men's Basketball Coach: "Phokeng's combination of academic expertise and practical 'real world' experience, along with her institutional knowledge, make her the perfect choice for Ohio Wesleyan as the new Vice President for Marketing and Communications. She will do a tremendous job of leading the effort to share the story of Ohio Wesleyan to our various constituents locally, nationally, and internationally."
Elizabeth Foos, Associate Director of Human Resources: "Phokeng's strategies are poised to create a vibrant, interconnected community where students and alumni are deeply connected to the university's mission, ensuring sustained growth and a robust institutional reputation through OWU's 'one story.' I am looking forward to her leadership as a passionate, strategic, and visionary leader with a strong focus on student engagement, internal community building, and branding."
Robert Harmon, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Astronomy: "Phokeng brings us a unique combination of corporate experience in marketing and communications, plus experience in the classroom and working with students. This is something that I really value as a faculty member. Her insider understanding of what students and families are looking for in a college and her vision for how to tell OWU's story to the outside world make me excited to see her in her new role. I look forward to all that she will achieve!"
Cole Hatcher, Director of Media and Community Relations: "Dr. Phokeng Dailey has been an esteemed professor and engaged member of the Ohio Wesleyan community for eight years. She knows the campus, she knows the liberal arts, and she knows how to communicate with precision, impact, and heart. Ohio Wesleyan will continue its strong trajectory forward with Phokeng as our new Vice President of Marketing and Communications."
Vanessa Hildebrand, Ph.D., Division Chair for the Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Anthropology: "Dr. Dailey has a keen sense of how communications has an important role in building and maintaining a sense of belonging at OWU. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Dr. Dailey brings to us a unique combination of expertise as a long-time professional in marketing and communications, as well as a highly successful tenured faculty member at our own institution. In absolute terms, there is not a better qualified person to take this role anywhere."
Ken Sternad, University Trustee and Class of 1977 alumnus: "Phokeng brings extensive knowledge of communications, a fresh energy, and exciting new ideas to this important job. She is exactly what we need as Ohio Wesleyan continues to aggressively promote its brand for future success."
Laura Tuhela-Reuning, Ph.D., Division Chair of Natural Sciences, Curricular Practical Training Professor of Biological Sciences, and Director of the OWU Summer Science Research Program: "Phokeng brings a fresh perspective to this position. With her diverse background and deep understanding of OWU, Phokeng will engage effectively with students, staff, and faculty to tell our OWU story in an authentic and meaningful way."
Katie Webster, Director of Alumni and Family Engagement: "As someone who cares deeply about our alumni and their connection to the Ohio Wesleyan community and to one another, I'm excited by Phokeng's commitment to collaboration, authenticity, storytelling, and strategic growth. Alumni are a powerful part of our story, and together, we will continue to uncover new and meaningful ways to strengthen those connections and expand our impact in the future."
Lindsay Mauter, Director of Admission Communications and Project Manager for University Communications: "Phokeng is a respected and positive collaborator with a clear vision for bridging the gap between academia and administration. She brings ambitious, data-driven ideas for raising OWU's national profile, and I'm excited to explore these opportunities with her."
Myron McCoy, University Trustee and Class of 1977 alumnus: "Dr. Dailey's unwavering commitment and passion for OWU are evident in her willingness to collaborate across campus boundaries in achieving institutional goals. She no doubt will build on this solid foundation while ensuring a cohesive narrative across all marketing and media platforms."
Laurie Patton, Director of Admission: "Phokeng's combined successful academic and industry experience, along with her knowledge of all things OWU, make her a perfect fit for this role. I look forward to seeing her creative and strategic insights and ideas on how to strengthen OWU's market position even further among its constituents!"
Brian Rellinger, Ed.D., Associate Provost for Academic Support and Chief Information Officer: "I was immediately impressed with Phokeng. She expertly explained how her corporate experience, combined with her classroom experience, would serve our students and campus community well. I look forward to working with her in this new role."

Founded in 1842, 郭肱利 is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 and competes in 24 NCAA Division III . Through its signature experience, the , Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at or learn more at .