Meet the Team

Our team tells the story of this great university, its proud history, its active research, remarkable faculty and the life-changing experience it provides to undergraduate and graduate students.

Within University Marketing and Communications are teams with deep experience in strategic communications and university media relations, editorial content and news, digital marketing, advertising, web and digital communications, university magazine, visual communication and design, photography and videography, executive communications, online enrollment marketing and athletics marketing and sports media relations.


University Marketing and Communications Leadership 

Provides vision and direction for university-wide strategic communications and marketing, and oversees internal and external communications that enhance the university's goals, mission and brand equity.

Kristin Ede
Senior Director of Enrollment Marketing
kristin.ede@sjsu.edu

Michelle Frey
Senior Director of Creative Strategy
michelle.frey@sjsu.edu

Michelle Smith McDonald
Senior Director of Media Relations
michelle.smithmcdonald@sjsu.edu


Strategic Communications and Marketing
Editorial Content and Storytelling

Campus-wide storytelling, including: editorial content, brand messaging, style and writing guidelines, strategic communications and content strategy for SJSU’s enterprise-wide print and digital platforms, including Washington Square magazine and SJSU NewsCenter; marketing and communications strategy and development for divisions and colleges

Julia Halprin Jackson
University Writer and Copy Editor, Managing Editor of Washington Square
News beats: Humanities & Arts, Social Science, Education and Student Affairs
juliah.jackson@sjsu.edu

Cassie Myers
University Writer and Copy Editor
News beats: Science, Health and Human Sciences, Engineering and Research and Innovation
cassie.myers@sjsu.edu

Marcus Ismael
Marketing and Communications Program Manager
Focus area: Facilities Development and Operations/Housing
marcus.ismael@sjsu.edu

Sam Kamangar
University Advancement Marketing and Communications Program Manager
sam.kamangar@sjsu.edu

Adriana Avila
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business Marketing and Communications Program Manager
adriana.avila@sjsu.edu

Rhoda Shapiro
Student Affairs Marketing and Communications Program Manager
rhoda.shapiro@sjsu.edu


Media Relations

Media relations, crisis communications and reputation management, including the development of university statements and key messages to news media worldwide through relationships with local, national and international media outlets.

Michelle Smith McDonald
Senior Director of Media Relations
michelle.smithmcdonald@sjsu.edu
408-924-1207

Robin McElhatton
Assistant Director of Media Relations
robin.mcelhatton@sjsu.edu
408-924-1749


Digital Marketing and Web Communications

Digital marketing and communications strategy, brand messaging, content marketing, website design, SJSU web guidelines, social media engagement, email marketing, digital campaigns, display and video advertising, paid search, SEO and analytics. 

Anna Augustowska
Director of Digital Marketing and Communications
anna.augustowska@sjsu.edu

Brian Anderson
Social Media Manager
brian.anderson@sjsu.edu

Trevor Phillips
Digital Content Analyst
trevor.phillips@sjsu.edu


Visual Communication and Design

Visual storytelling and design strategy, creative support for faculty and staff, SJSU visual identity and guidelines, campus-branded spaces, events and affiliate visual resources, professional video, photography, project requests, lockup requests, and brand permissions.

Michelle Frey
Senior Director of Creative Strategy
michelle.frey@sjsu.edu
408-924-1474

Roman Goshev
Digital Production Project Manager
roman.goshev@sjsu.edu
408-924-1171

Pourya Nadimi
Senior Visual Designer and Art Director
pourya.nadimi@sjsu.edu

Jonathan Wang
Visual Communications Designer
jonathan.wang02@sjsu.edu

Javier Duarte
Senior Multimedia Production Specialist
javier.duarte@sjsu.edu

Robert Bain
University Photographer
robert.bain@sjsu.edu

Jonathan Meyer
Multimedia Specialist, Video Production
jonathan.meyer@sjsu.edu


Executive Communications

Development of executive communications and thought leadership content and materials for the Office of the President, including speeches, blog posts, presentations, website content, op-eds and social media posts.

Michelle Smith McDonald
Senior Director of Media Relations
michelle.smithmcdonald@sjsu.edu
408-924-1207


SJSU Online Enrollment Marketing

SJSU Online brand guidelines and messaging, enrollment funnel communications strategy, storytelling, website design, CRM management and email marketing, direct mail, integrated digital advertising campaigns, video production, social media strategy, and enrollment marketing analytics.

Kristin Ede
Senior Director of Enrollment Marketing
kristin.ede@sjsu.edu
408-924-2423

Brian Cheung Dooley
Associate Director, SJSU Online Marketing and Communications
brian.cheungdooley@sjsu.edu
408-924-3315

Marc Montenegro
User Experience/Web Designer and Developer
marc.montenegro@sjsu.edu

Tiffany Thaoxaochay
CRM Engagement Lead
tiffany.thaoxaochay@sjsu.edu


Professional and Global Engagement Marketing

Supports the outreach and recruitment of students for professional education, winter and summer intersession, and open university through integrated, digital marketing and communications.

Jim Hsia
Associate Director
jim.hsia@sjsu.edu

Cindy Chin
Marketing Specialist
cindy.chin@sjsu.edu

Jeanette Mai
Marketing Specialist
jeanette.mai@sjsu.edu

Momina Manzoor
International Marketing Specialist
momina.manzoor@sjsu.edu

Cindy Tang
International Marketing Specialist
cindy.tang@sjsu.edu


Athletics Marketing and Sports Media Relations

UMC works closely with Athletics Communications to promote a university-wide environment that elevates the Spartan brand and builds champions in the classroom, in competition and in the community. 

Meet the Creative Services and Digital Media team and the Media Relations team.