Rutgers-Newark Names Deidra Hill Marketing Vice Chancellor
Rutgers University-Newark has appointed Deidra Hill as its inaugural vice chancellor for marketing and communications, one of three higher education hires announced.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in People
Rutgers University-Newark appointed Deidra Hill as its inaugural vice chancellor for marketing and communications. Wilberforce University and Colby College also announced appointments of Anthony E. Barwick and Adrian Thomas to new roles.
Why it matters
The new position gives Rutgers University-Newark a dedicated leader for marketing and communications, a role that shapes how the university presents itself to students, families and the public. The hires reflect ongoing investment in communications and partnership leadership across higher education.
Deidra Hill brings more than 25 years of higher education communications leadership to the new Rutgers-Newark role. Anthony E. Barwick brings more than 15 years of experience securing philanthropic investments at Wilberforce University.
The players
Rutgers University-Newark
A public research campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, located in Newark.
Deidra Hill
A higher education communications leader named inaugural vice chancellor for marketing and communications at Rutgers University-Newark.
Wilberforce University
A historically Black private university in Wilberforce, Ohio, founded in 1856.
Colby College
A private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine, founded in 1813.
The details
Deidra Hill, previously director of advancement communications at Howard University, has also held vice presidential roles at Alvernia University and the City College of New York and holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Morgan State University. Adrian Thomas joins Colby College in Waterville, Maine, as associate dean and director of the Pugh Center after serving as assistant dean for diversity and inclusion at the Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Timeline
- Appointments announced in November 2026 (article published November 6, 2026)
Industry Dynamics
Universities across the country have increasingly elevated marketing and communications to senior administrative posts, a pattern this appointment follows. Such roles now sit alongside advancement and partnership functions as institutions compete for students and philanthropic support.
For Newark residents and Rutgers-Newark students, a dedicated vice chancellor for marketing and communications may shape how the university communicates about programs, admissions and campus events. The change is likely to affect public-facing information rather than tuition or day-to-day classes.
The takeaway
Leadership appointments in communications and partnerships signal how universities are organizing themselves to engage students, alumni and donors. Watching these roles can reveal shifts in how higher education institutions prioritize outreach.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage to see other leadership moves in the business sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
