June 2 – 4

CMOLab 2026:
Get Bold in Boulder

Location:: Boulder, CO

Location:: Boulder, CO

In June 2026, CMOLab heads to Boulder, Colorado, for two days designed to give higher ed CMOs exactly what they need most: space to think big, swap real stories, and build a network that sticks. No filler. No fluff. Just smart sessions, candid conversations, and the kind of connections that make the hard job of leading marketing in higher education feel a little lighter…and a lot more inspiring.

Scenes from the 2025 CMOLab in New Orleans

The CMO Lab is the conference I look forward to most each year. It is hands-down the best networking and community building event for CMOs.

Welcome to the brand-new Limelight Hotel Boulder, our home for CMOLab 2026! Opened in Fall 2025, it’s equal parts chic and cozy, perched right on CU Boulder’s historic Hill and just a short stroll to downtown. We’ve secured a room block with a nightly rate of $249/night just for you.

Getting here is a breeze: Denver International Airport (DEN) is only 40 miles away with flights from just about everywhere, and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) is a quick 13-mile hop if you’re flying in from select spots.

Book your hotel room by May 2, 2026

$999
Early Bird Rate (starts November 1, 2025)

Use code CMOLABEARLYBIRD at checkout to receive the early bird pricing.

Includes:
- Registration for one CMO
- All sessions, workshops, and breakout discussions
- Welcome Reception
- CMO Social
- Breakfast and lunch
$1,200
Regular Rate (starts March 1, 2026)

Includes:
- Registration for one CMO
- All sessions, workshops, and breakout discussions
- Welcome Reception
- CMO Social
- Breakfast and lunch

Register Today

Your peers, your community.

Past CMOLab speakers and attendees

Lauren joined Boise State in 2019 as Associate Vice President for Creative Strategy and was promoted in 2020 to oversee Boise State’s Office of Communications and Marketing as the Associate Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Creative Strategy. Lauren is an innovator, storyteller and culture keeper who has worked in higher education at both the community college and university levels. Most recently, Lauren was recognized as a finalist for Marketer of the Year in the higher education category by the American Marketing Association.

Lauren Griswold

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Boise State University
Tisha serves on the chancellor’s cabinet as a key advisor and member of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s senior leadership team. In her role as vice chancellor, she is the university’s chief communications and marketing officer, leading the talented team in the Office of Communications and Marketing charged with stewarding and evolving the UT brand. In her time at UT, Benton has restructured the Office of Communications and Marketing to bring focus to the office’s role as the strategic central marketing hub of the university, and to better integrate central resources and messages throughout the institution.

Tisha Benton

Vice Chancellor, Communications & Marketing, University of Tennessee Knoxville
With over 20 years of experience in higher education communications, Zack Higbee has worked across both institutional and athletics communications, developing strategies to elevate brand awareness, engage audiences, and manage issues. He currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Communications at the University of Oklahoma, where he leads reactive media engagement.

Zack Higbee

Assistant Vice President for Communications, University of Oklahoma
Chandra Harris-McCray

Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois Chicago
Andres “Andy” Ybarra is the Chief Communications Officer at the University of St. Thomas, where he oversees the central marketing and communications team for Minnesota’s largest private university. Prior to joining St. Thomas in 2019, he spent 15 years at the Minneapolis office of global PR agency Weber Shandwick, where he worked on a range of technology clients. Andy started his career in journalism, as a reporter for the Minneapolis bureau of The Associated Press before moving into public relations.

Andy Ybarra

Chief Communications Officer, University of St. Thomas
Christie joined St. Edward’s University in 2012 as Associate Vice President of Marketing with more than 17 years of marketing and communications experience across industries including education, non-profit and technology. Her expertise includes implementing integrated marketing strategies and successfully developing talented teams. At St. Edward’s, Christie oversees the marketing mission of promoting the university story to increase engagement, attract resources, and achieve the university’s strategic goals. Christie is proud to work with the award-winning marketing and communications team as well as the St. Edward’s government and community relations programs.

Christie Campbell

Vice President of Marketing and Communications, St. Edward's University
Angela Polec

Vice President for Strategic Marketing & Communications, Temple University
Libby Eckhardt joined Denison University as vice president for university communications and branding in 2021. In this role, she directs the Office of University Communications & Marketing (UCM). UCM oversees all institutional websites and social channels, Denison Magazine, digital marketing, creative services, media relations, reputation management, and internal communications.

Libby Eckhardt

VP for Communications & Branding, Denison University
Frank Tramble

Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, Duke University