American Marketing Association Announces Finalists for Awards Celebrated at the 2026 AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education
CHICAGO, IL / AGILITYPR.NEWS / September 30, 2026 / American Marketing Association Announces Finalists for Awards Celebrated at the 2026 AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education
November 8-11, 2026 in Greater Denver, CO Area
Chicago, IL — The American Marketing Association (AMA) has officially announced the finalists for the awards celebrated at the 2026 AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education. Celebrating extraordinary leadership, innovation, and creative excellence across higher education, these awards recognize the marketers and institutions shaping the future of strategic engagement in the academic sector.
The winners will be honored and announced live at the upcoming event in Greater Denver, CO.
“Today’s higher education marketing requires an unparalleled mix of empathy, agility, and strategic foresight,” said AMA CEO Bennie F. Johnson. “This year’s finalists represent the absolute gold standard of our field, demonstrating how visionary storytelling and data-driven strategy can transform institutional reach and impact.”
2026 Award Categories and Finalists
AMA Foundation Higher Education Marketer of the Year (Individual)
Recognizes an individual higher education marketing leader who has demonstrated exceptional vision, transformed their institution’s market position, and advanced the overall field through strategic excellence.
- Christie Harper, University of Arizona
- Anne Peters, University of South Carolina (formerly at UT San Antonio)
- Carrie Phillips, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
AMA Foundation Higher Education Marketer of the Year (Team)
Honors a high-performing marketing team or department whose collaborative work, campaign performance, and problem-solving have set new standards for institutional impact.
- Montclair State University
- University of Arkansas Little Rock
- University of Oregon
AMA Emerging Marketer in Higher Education Award
Recognizes an up-and-coming professional with 10 years or less of experience in higher education marketing who has demonstrated outstanding creativity, innovation, and promise over the past academic year.
- Tim Grassley, University of Colorado Boulder, College of Arts and Sciences
- Nele Aline Langhof, University of Georgia
- Alan Rose, Southern Methodist University
Best Branded Merch in a University Marketing Campaign
Sponsored by Promotional Products Work
Celebrates the strategic and creative integration of custom merchandise within higher education campaigns, proving how physical touchpoints drive meaningful engagement and brand affinity.
- DePaul University
- Mercy University
- Pacific Lutheran University
- University of Illinois
For more information about the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education or to register for the event, visit ama.org.
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About Us
About the American Marketing Association (AMA)
As the leading global professional marketing association, the AMA is the essential community for marketers. From students and practitioners to executives and academics, we aim to elevate the profession, deepen knowledge, and make a lasting impact. The AMA is home to five premier scholarly journals including: Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, Journal of International Marketing, and Journal of Interactive Marketing. Our industry-leading training events and conferences define future forward practices, while our professional development and PCM® professional certification advance knowledge. With almost 70 chapters and a presence on 350 college campuses across North America, the AMA fosters a vibrant community of marketers.
The association's philanthropic arm, the AMA’s Foundation, is inspiring a more diverse industry and ensuring marketing research impacts public good. The AMA Foundation strengthens and elevates the marketing profession by advancing knowledge, building a global community of marketing leaders, and supporting marketing initiatives that drive innovation and societal impact.
AMA views marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. You can learn more about AMA’s learning programs and certifications, conferences and events, and scholarly journals at AMA.org.
Contacts
Amy Gwiazdowski
VP, Communications
agwiazdowski@ama.org130 E. Randolph St., 22nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-542-9076
https://www.ama.org/