About University Communications

Marie Williams

Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications
Office: 303-315-2157
marie.williams@ucdenver.edu

Marie Williams, a marketing communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in the field, is Vice Chancellor for University Communications. Marie leads the team responsible for external and internal communications, media relations, marketing, brand strategy, social media, and web development.

Marie joined CU Denver from Saint Joseph’s University, where she served as Vice President for Marketing and Communications and led the university’s brand image, marketing and advertising initiatives, public relations, and internal communications. Earlier in her career, Marie served as a Senior Vice President at Edelman, a communications and marketing firm headquartered in New York City, and as a Senior Managing Director at RF|Binder.

She holds a BA in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania and has participated in several leading professional communications organizations.

Vivek Arora

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Digital Strategy
vivek.arora@ucdenver.edu

Vivek is a creative and innovative leader with over 12 years of experience in the ever-changing web technology and marketing domain. With a proven track record in managing complex projects and maintaining high team morale, Vivek brings critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical expertise to guide web and marketing projects successfully.

At CU Denver, Vivek oversees the areas of web design, digital strategy, marketing, advertising, and paid promotions and serves as a key advisor in enrollment-generating creative campaigns.

Beyond professional expertise, Vivek has also been involved in academics, teaching web design fundamentals, web content and SEO strategy, application development, and database design at two renowned higher education institutions.

Kenna Aukamp

Graphic Designer & Studio Specialist
kenna.aukamp@ucdenver.edu

Emilia Covault

Administrative Support Specialist
emilia.covault@ucdenver.edu

Emilia Covault, a skilled administrative professional and organized individual, serves the University Communications team as the Administrative Support Specialist. She coordinates the Vice Chancellor’s schedule while also creating employee engagement events, streamlining workflow processes, and managing procurement operations for the unit.  

Emilia has several years of experience in administrative assistance, management, and schedule coordination which she has acquired through several years of experience as a music administrator and professional stage manager in theatres and opera houses across the country.  

Emilia holds a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Management from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is originally from Ventura, California, but most recently lived in Houston, Texas. After work, she enjoys going to barre class, going on walks with her dog and fiancé, crafting, and tending to her houseplants.  

Alex DeWind

Assistant Director of Internal Communications
alex.dewind@ucdenver.edu

Alex is responsible for finding and telling the stories of CU Denver’s people, programs, and research. She primarily oversees CU Denver News, the university’s e-newsletter and website. When she’s not pitching stories or writing on deadline, she’s tracking audience engagement and collaborating with her team members in University Communications.

Alex brings nearly four years of experience as a reporter at a community newspaper in south metro Denver, where she covered suburbia, mental health, and public education. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from CU Boulder and spent a stint of time in New York City before settling in Denver.

Alex was born in Boynton Beach, Florida and raised in Basalt. In her spare time, she enjoys catching up with friends over a good meal, jogging around Washington Park, and planning her next outdoor adventure.

Olivia Earle

Web Designer
olivia.earle@ucdenver.edu

Natasha Gardner

Editorial and Content Director
natasha.gardner@ucdenver.edu

Natasha Gardner is an award-winning writer, editor, and content producer. She has more than 15 years of experience with telling stories that matter in Colorado. A longtime editor at 5280, Denver’s magazine, she was also the managing editor at History Colorado before joining CU Denver’s University Communications team. Here, she helps develop stories and content that resonates with our students, faculty, staff, alums, and community.

Natasha has a master’s degree in news gathering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a B.A. in sociology from Smith College. When she’s not typing away on a laptop, she might be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, skate skiing, reading, or trying new recipes.

James Hough

Senior Web Developer
james.hough@ucdenver.edu

As UComm's Sr. Web Developer, James is responsible for ensuring that CU Denver's web properties are optimized for great user experience. He brings technical and design expertise to the web portion of the Marketing and Digital Strategy team. His goal is for all visitors to easily do whatever they need to do on CU Denver's websites, particularly requesting information to become a Lynx.

James has managed CMS templates, written web standards, and he enjoys finding solutions to his teammates’ problems to make their work lives a little easier. Previously, James worked as Web Services Manager for the business school at the University of Texas at Dallas, an artist in a custom glass studio in Las Vegas, a K-12 art teacher at a Dallas-area charter school and a graphic designer.

He earned a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a BA in English Literature from the University of North Texas, and an MFA from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. When he’s not working on the web, he enjoys drawing comics, painting, watching the Dallas Mavericks (and, now, the Denver Nuggets!) and hanging out with his three favorite people – his wife and their two children. He also has two art practices - James Hough Studio and Hough Slattery - which have websites where you can see some of his artwork.

Mitch Howes

Graphic Designer & Brand Manager
mitchell.howes@ucdenver.edu

A talented designer, art director, and brand manager, Mitch brings experience in graphic design, video editing, and motion graphics to the University Communications team as well as an eye for detail and organizational skills. Prior to working at CU Denver, Mitch has worked as a motion and graphic designer to elevate and define brand stories through both digital and print media. 

Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications
Zenaida.gonzalezkotala@ucdenver.edu

Girija Kulkarni

Social Media and Communications Manager
girija.kulkarni@ucdenver.edu

Melinda Lammert

Assistant Director of Integrated Marketing & Communications
melinda.lammert@ucdenver.edu

Melinda is responsible for managing our institutional social media channels. She works closely with groups across campus to ensure we are supporting and celebrating our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Melinda is passionate about social media and its significance in building a strong community while acting as a tool to share important university information with our followers.

She comes to us from the University of Pittsburgh, with five years of experience in higher education. She is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned her undergraduate degree from Pitt. Currently, she is earning her Master’s in Business Administration from CU Denver. In her free time, Melinda enjoys hiking, working out, live music, spending time with friends, traveling, and cheering on her Pittsburgh sports teams from Colorado.

Bryan Less

Producer & Videographer
bryan.less@ucdenver.edu

Bryan has been with CU for 16 years and has been the manager of CU Productions for the last 11. He produces an array of projects across multiple departments including educational, promotional, and training videos and will help us elevate our video capabilities.

Prior to joining the University of Colorado, Bryan spent 15 years as producer, director of photography, and editor. He’s produced several award-winning pieces, namely a regional Emmy Award for a series of educational videos on Health and Wellness. His work has been featured on ESPN, NBC, CNN, and PBS. Bryan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in Communications with an emphasis in film and video production. During his undergraduate years, he worked as a videographer for the University of Iowa Football Program where he gained extensive, hands-on experience in his field.

Leigh Pinner

Director of Brand & Digital Marketing
leigh.pinner@ucdenver.edu

Joining in 2022, Leigh Pinner serves as Director of Brand and Digital Marketing within the University Communications team. In this role, Leigh is responsible for CU Denver brand leadership as well as digital marketing campaign development and oversight. With over a decade of marketing experience, Leigh formerly served CU within the Office of Digital Education as Senior Brand Marketing Manager, and prior to that, worked as the Digital Marketing and CRM Manager at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Earlier in her career, she served in marketing roles at notable Virginia-based organizations. As a marketer in higher ed, Leigh is motivated by the opportunity to serve students and make a positive impact through education.

Leigh holds a B.S. in Communication from Old Dominion University and is currently working towards a Master’s in Marketing and Brand Communication at CU Denver. She currently resides in Richmond, Virginia and is an avid volunteer with the Richmond Symphony and Sofar Sounds.

John Rogers

Executive Director of Engagement & Events
john.t.rogers@ucdenver.edu

John leads the University Events team whose focus is Chancellor-level events, University ceremonies, and campus-wide initiatives and celebrations. With 15+ years of professional experience performing event management, marketing, and public relations functions, John loves any work environment that is fast-paced, ever-changing, emotionally rewarding, and driven by strategy.

Prior to joining CU Denver, John served as the senior director of advancement and presidential events at Ohio University. He has also held event management roles at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. and Johnson & Wales University. He holds a bachelor of science in Marketing from Johnson & Wales, and a master of science in Project Management and Organization Leadership from Regis University.

Dan Ruzich

Web Content Writer/SEO Strategist
daniel.ruzich@ucdenver.edu

Dan Ruzich, a web optimization professional and skilled content marketer, is the SEO Specialist and Content Writer on the University Communications Web Team. He utilizes SEO strategies to improve CU Denver's organic search results/rankings and improve website performance, manages existing university content, and writes for the CU Denver News publication.

He comes to CU Denver with years of experience optimizing for web and creating content for tech consulting, advertising, and IT/cybersecurity organizations. Most recently, Dan worked as an SEO Strategist at a growth marketing agency.

Dan holds a BS in Marketing with a concentration in data analytics from the University of Illinois Chicago. He is originally from Chicago but has been in Denver for five years. Outside of work, he enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, travelling, playing soccer and is an avid sci-fi nerd.

Ian Scott

Senior Creative Director
ian.scott@ucdenver.edu

Jeremy Simon

Director of Communications
jeremy.m.simon@ucdenver.edu

Beki Strauser

Web Developer
beki.strauser@ucdenver.edu

Matt Watson

Director of Executive Communications
matt.watson@ucdenver.edu

Matt provides communications counsel and support to CU Denver leadership to advance institutional priorities among diverse and numerous audiences. He comes to CU Denver with 15 years of experience in journalism, marketing, and communications, including 10 years in higher education between Purdue University and MSU Denver. His work has been recognized with awards from the Public Relations Society of America, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, American Advertising Federation, and others.

Matt earned a master of science in communication from Purdue and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and enjoys baseball, hiking, and trying to keep up with two children and his wife’s dog.

Paul Wedlake​

Senior Photographer and Videographer
paul.wedlake@ucdenver.edu

Toula Wellbrook

Director of Content Creation and Enrollment Marketing, School of Public Affairs
toula.wellbrook@ucdenver.edu

Toula Wellbrook joined CU Denver in 2018, initially in the School of Public Affairs and then in University Communications in 2024. She leads strategic marketing and communication initiatives to promote the reputation of the school and its faculty, staff and students; to recruit students to academic programs; and to foster student success, retention, and graduation of current students. Prior to joining CU Denver, Toula worked for public and private higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations in the Midwest and the United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian with a West European Studies minor from Indiana University Bloomington, a Master of Arts in Applied Communication with a concentration in Organizational Communication from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Northeastern Illinois University. Toula, her husband, and their dog, Pepper, enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring the Colorado mountains in their free time.

Jennifer Woodruff

Director of Public Relations & Integrated Media
Jennifer.Woodruff@ucdenver.edu