CMOLab 2027:
Making Waves in San Diego

As RIT’s Associate Vice President for Marketing Strategy, Cassandra leads marketing strategy, branding, and intelligence for the university, and works closely with college and divisional marketers to achieve strategic goals for their respective areas. Prior to serving in this role, Cassandra was the Director of Marketing for RIT’s College of Science where she led first-of-its-kind marketing and advertising campaigns that elevated awareness of the college and its programs, leading to a one-year increase in enrollment of 35%. Before coming to RIT, Cassandra led integrated marketing communications teams in a variety of organizations. She worked in marketing at Allendale Columbia, a private K-12 school, and at GED Testing Service, the national adult education organization. Cassandra brings a broad set of skills to RIT, including experience in global product branding, event marketing and website development at a start-up supply chain technology company. She is also well-versed in how to use a variety of marketing mediums including print, digital ads, social media, out-of-home, radio, TV, and email marketing after years with local advertising agency, Dixon Schwabl. In her role with GED Testing Service (a division of Pearson VUE/American Council on Education), Cassandra led the development of a new online portal that connected students with study resources and testing information, innovating on the way the decades-old organization had operated. Cassandra is a graduate of SUNY Brockport and earned her Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from American University in Washington, DC.

Frank Tramble is a global communications leader, strategist, and trusted executive adviser with extensive experience in brand positioning, reputation management, and high-stakes communications. He currently serves as Vice President for Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs at Duke University, where he sits on the President’s Cabinet and leads enterprise-wide communications and marketing strategy. He oversees a global network of more than 400 communicators and personally leads crisis and issues communications, advising senior leadership across Duke, Duke Health, Duke Athletics, and the university’s international partnerships. Before joining Duke, Frank served as Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Howard University, where he helped drive unprecedented national visibility and brand momentum. His work included the award-winning redesign of Howard Magazine and the creation of The Dig, a daily storytelling platform. Throughout his career, he has advised high-profile leaders, managed complex reputational challenges, led global brand announcements, and contributed to White House initiatives. Under his leadership, communications teams have earned numerous industry honours, including CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, Eddie & Ozzie Awards, and a PRSA Bronze Anvil Award. Frank is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches brand strategy and mentors emerging communications leaders. A sought-after speaker on crisis communications, leadership, branding, and reputation management, he serves as a judge for major industry awards and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Institute for Public Relations.

Jack Martin leads branding, marketing and communications initiatives that advance the University of Washington’s reputation, resources and relationships. He chairs the Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Senior University Marketing & Communications Officers Group, and previously served as chair of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Council on Strategic Communications and on the Association of American Universities Public Affairs Steering Committee. Prior to joining the UW in 2015, Martin served as director of strategic communications at the University of Kansas, his alma mater. Before that, he was director of strategic communications for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius; communications director for Congressman Dennis Moore; and a senior account executive at McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations in Nashville.