We've had an embarrassment of riches at our agency between some well-deserved promotions and some incredibly talented new people joining our team. Read on for the updates and be sure to reach out to congratulate everyone on their new positions.
Bob Rafferty has been promoted to Vice President of Creative & Digital. Previously our VP of Digital, Bob will oversee the increasingly integrated and highly collaborative work coming out of this now single division. Bringing our creative and digital teams together aligns our resources with where we know the industry is headed. Digital-first brands will be the most visible and will have the greatest impact. He's been instrumental in not only growing our digital work but in helping our agency think innovatively about cross-division collaborations — like using digital analytics to enhance our research offerings. Bob is a proud graduate of Wittenberg University where he earned his B.A. in Political Science.
Katie Schwendeman has been promoted to Art Director. Previously a Senior Designer, Katie has been at SimpsonScarborough for nearly three years and is respected across the entire agency not only for her incredible design skills but also for the thoughtfulness and strategic insights she brings into all of her work. In her new role, she's excited for the opportunity to mentor our junior-level designers and to help inform the vision for not only our own brand but our agency's point of view on the future of design — and how that future impacts our work. Katie holds a B.F.A. in Advertising & Graphic Design from Columbus College of Art & Design.
Luke Deady has been promoted to Associate Creative Director, Design. Previously our ACD of Digital, Luke has been with SimpsonScarborough for more than two years where he has continually raised the bar on making our creative work better optimized for digital, and our digital work more creative. In his new role, he'll be able to play more of a leadership role within this dynamic, singular team and will continue to progress our thinking in how we approach design. Like Katie, Luke also holds a B.F.A. in Advertising & Graphic Design from Columbus College of Art & Design.
Rachel Thomas joins our team as a Senior Copywriter where she'll bring her diverse skillet in digital content strategy, creative concepting, and multimedia storytelling to craft compelling narratives across a variety of mediums that stand up in any space— digital or print. Rachel holds an MPhil in Latin and Greek Languages & Literature from the University of Oxford and earned her BA in Classics from Ohio University. Prior to joining our team, Rachel was a content designer at WillowTree, working on projects for Edwards Jones, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Synchrony Bank, and Dairy Queen. Once a professional student, she's delighted to apply the same set of skills and narrative instinct within a field so close to her heart. Rachel's based in Indianapolis, IN.
Thomas Poole joins us as a Junior Research Analyst, where he'll assist our research team on a variety of client projects from survey instrument design to quantitative analysis. Thomas is a recent graduate of UNC Chapel Hill where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. He’s excited about taking his love for statistics and research and applying it to higher education, an area he's passionate about. Thomas is based in Raleigh, NC, and is already becoming known for his infectious enthusiasm and positive attitude.
Andrea Green joins us as an Integrated Media Specialist where she supports our rapidly growing Media team by planning & implementing multifaceted campaigns that integrate media types to tell a brand’s story. She's a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology where she earned her B.S. in New Media Marketing, though she credits her time at her local community college as one of the most impactful decisions she made in her educational journey. When not working, you’re likely to find her kayaking or playing volleyball in Rochester, NY.
Cassie Golda joins our team as a Media Analyst where she’ll help connect the dots about how clients' media campaigns are driving results for their institutions. Like Andrea, she’s a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration - International Business. Prior to joining our team, Cassie was a Measurement Strategist at Butler/Till. She joined us because she shares our conviction that higher education changes the world & wanted to be a part of that change. She has a dog named "Millie Mac" after the late rapper Mac Miller, and lives in Rochester, NY.
Emily Barriball joins us as a Junior Copywriter where she'll focus on integrating data & creativity to weave brand messages that connect with audiences. She attended the University of Denver where she earned her BA in Political Science. Emily previously worked in the nonprofit industry but made the jump to higher education because of the rewarding nature of the work and her love for the SimpScar culture. Emily's currently based in Phoenix, AZ, though one of her favorite memories is when she lived in NYC and would camp out every weekend to snag SNL tickets.
—
We're incredibly proud to have such talented & genuinely good people working alongside us as we try and advance the industry we care so deeply about. Be sure to reach out and congratulate these individuals on their well-deserved promotions & new roles. And stay posted on our careers page as we look to add several more roles in the coming months.