Strategic communications & marketing leader

Turning complex initiatives into clear, compelling narratives.

Brand leadership, executive messaging, and storytelling that move audiences and deliver measurable impact — across higher education, financial services, and real estate.

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Director of Communications and Donor Experience University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business

About

A strategic communicator who leads with clarity.

I'm Marissa Elder, Director of Communications and Donor Experience at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. I've spent my career helping organizations say the right thing, to the right audience, at the right moment — advising leaders, building brands, and turning complex priorities into stories that drive engagement and investment.

Before higher education, I led marketing in financial services and across multi-market real estate and homebuilding — experience that grounds my creative work in revenue, results, and brand discipline.

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Approach

I lead communications as strategy — not output. I advise senior leadership, shape executive messaging, and translate complex institutional priorities into clear narratives that strengthen reputation, deepen engagement, and move people to act.

My work spans integrated, multi-channel campaigns across digital and print; brand governance at institutional scale; and data-informed strategy that ties communications to measurable outcomes. The throughline is the same in every industry I've worked in: clarity, credibility, and impact.

Selected work

Case studies in strategy, brand, and measurable impact.

Advancement Communications

Annual Gala & Donor Experience

Elevated participation and a cohesive donor journey across the college's highest-visibility advancement events.

University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business

Integrated Campaigns

Brand & Community Engagement

A consistent, recognizable college brand across student, donor, and community audiences.

University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business

Executive Messaging

Executive Publications & Reports

Board- and executive-ready materials that advance reputation, partnerships, and philanthropic investment.

University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business

Brand Strategy

KnoxSky Brand Identity System

A cohesive, ownable brand system and the standards to apply it everywhere.

KnoxSky

Integrated Marketing

Multi-Market Real Estate & Homebuilding

Consistent brand and qualified demand across multiple markets and a national builder's regional division.

The Real Estate Firm · D.R. Horton (East Tennessee)

Social & Brand Strategy

Regulated Financial Services Brand

Stronger brand credibility and a compliant, efficient content operation in a regulated environment.

Mortgage Investors Group

Impact

Communications that earn attention — and produce results.

A decade of building cohesive, strategic communications that elevate institutional priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and translate complex initiatives into measurable outcomes.

10+ Years leading integrated communications & marketing

3 Industries — higher education, financial services, real estate

3 Markets directed across a national builder’s region

5+ Channels orchestrated — digital, print, social, email, events

Where I lead

Advising senior leadership and shaping executive messaging
Integrated, multi-channel campaign strategy
Brand governance across multi-site operations
Donor experience and stewardship
Communications in highly regulated environments
Data-informed strategy and audience insight

Contact

Let's talk about your next chapter of communications leadership.

Open to Director, Executive Director, AVP, and VP communications and marketing roles. I'd welcome a conversation.