The University of New Mexico is partnering with McKee Wallwork Cleveland, awarding the local agency a contract to assist the university in identifying and strengthening the UNM brand, announced Cinnamon Blair, marketing director, University Communication and Marketing (UCAM).
“The university’s reputation is directly connected with student success,” UNM President David Schmidly said. “Telling our story will attract the best and brightest students, faculty and staff. It will invoke pride in the minds of those who shape and are shaped by this institution. It will strengthen relationships with UNM’s 160,000 living alumni world-wide. We want people to hear our story.”
UNM awarded the contract after an extensive request for proposals process. The process was launched by the UNM Strategic Marketing Task Force – constituents representative of campus-wide students, faculty and staff. Fourteen agencies bid for the approximately quarter-million dollar contract that could be renewed for up to four years.
The goals of the partnership, according to Blair, are to:
· Build a stronger regional and national identity for UNM;
· Enhance UNM’s reputation in the competitive market of higher education;
· Amplify marketing efforts – namely in the areas of recruitment, retention, alumni participation and donor support;
· Create a university-wide message, brand portfolio and visual identity;
· And, introduce the benefits of image building to the UNM community.
“Brands are ideas,” said Steve McKee, president, McKee Wallwork Cleveland. “Higher education is all about the transmission of ideas, and we passionately believe in the idea that is UNM. We are honored to embark on this journey of discovery to further shape and mold that idea – and to celebrate it not only throughout the UNM community, but throughout the nation as well.”
Current updates and further information about this branding process can be found at: UNM Brand.
Media Contact: Cinnamon Blair, (505) 277-1806; e-mail: cblair@unm.edu