Office of Communications and Marketing Transition

Interim president Steve Snyder sent the following message to faculty, staff, and students on June 19.

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am writing to share the news of an upcoming transition in Middlebury’s Office of Communications and Marketing. 

In May, David Gibson let me know of his decision to step down from his role as vice president for Communications and Marketing, effective June 30, to pursue other opportunities. Since that time, we have been working on a transition plan that I will share more about below. 

First, I’d like to thank David for his many contributions to communications for the entire Middlebury enterprise–Middlebury College, the Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Language Schools, C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf School of English, and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences. During the last six years, since joining Middlebury in July 2019, David has led efforts in support of institutional priorities. He served as the chief communications counsel to President Laurie Patton and her senior team; brought clarity to Middlebury’s complex identity so it would be better understood to the outside world; and applied this organic-to-Middlebury brand to communications and marketing materials across the institution, most visibly in the Middlebury.edu homepage. He oversaw creation of the signature documents to launch our comprehensive campaign, For Every Future, the most ambitious in our history. Perhaps most important, with existing resources he created a public affairs division to focus on crisis communications, issues management, media relations, social media, and internal communications, which were put to the test months later during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue to serve this community through its current challenges. 

In addition to overseeing Communications and Marketing, David has been an active and caring mentor to students, making himself available to advise and guide students interested in careers in communications and meeting regularly with editors of The Middlebury Campus student newspaper, among other groups, to provide important context. I have especially appreciated David’s calm demeanor and wise counsel during both times of celebration and crisis, as well as his warm sense of humor.

Please join me in thanking David for his service to Middlebury and in wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Communications and Marketing Transition

As I mentioned above, we have been working on a transition plan for Communications and Marketing in advance of the arrival of our new president, Ian Baucom, on July 1. I am delighted to share that Julia Ferrante, the current associate vice president for public affairs, has agreed to serve as Middlebury’s interim vice president for Communications and Marketing starting July 1. Julia will report to Sue Ritter, chief of staff to the president, with a focus on maintaining the current work of the department. Our plan is to work with incoming president Ian Baucom on his vision for the institution and this department, and we will share more information as plans are developed.

A seasoned communications professional with more than three decades of experience in higher education and journalism, Julia has led all aspects of communications during her 17 years working for selective liberal arts colleges. She joined Middlebury in June 2020 as the first associate vice president for public affairs, overseeing crisis communications, external and internal communications, media relations, social media, and select executive communications for the Middlebury enterprise. She has advised senior leadership on key issues in higher education and media relations, helped develop a comprehensive social media strategy, and collaborated across Middlebury to support institutional priorities. 

Prior to Middlebury, Julia served as executive director of both marketing and communications and media relations and communications at Connecticut College and has held roles at Bucknell University and Franklin & Marshall and Mount Holyoke colleges, following a 15-year career in journalism. 

Please join me once again in thanking David for his service and in welcoming Julia as she takes on this important role.

Sincerely, 

Steve Snyder
Interim President