Sheri Irwin-Gish

To improve the UNL College of Business Administration’s core programs and attract the best students to Nebraska requires a creative marketing strategy that promotes the college’s strengths. Sheri Irwin-Gish was hired as CBA’s Executive Director of Communication and Marketing to do just that. Irwin-Gish’s main priority is developing and implementing a marketing plan for UNL in the Big Ten.

“Sheri brings a wealth of experience in marketing and communication to our college,” said Dr. Donde Plowman, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of CBA. “The energy she brings to work each day has already begun to position us for greater success. Sheri not only knows Nebraska but she knows higher education and can bring out the best in what we have to offer Nebraskans and people throughout the world.”

Irwin-Gish will also be responsible for communication with faculty, alumni, advisory boards, staff and supporters of the college; ensuring timely content for the media and the website; coordinating the college’s strategies for rankings and creating promotional materials and advertisements. She also works with the newly formed CBA Young Professional Advisory Board.

Some of Irwin-Gish’s initial plans have been to work with Big Ten partners to look at their marketing strategies while at the same time bringing out the best of what makes Nebraska a one-of-a-kind experience for students and the state.

A Nebraska native from Humphrey, Irwin-Gish earned her master’s degree in mass communication from the Journalism College at UNL. She received her bachelor’s degree from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. Her enthusiasm to return to UNL was a key ingredient on her taking the new job at CBA.

“The opportunity to promote the College of Business was one I could not pass up. Since I took business courses when earning my master’s degree, returning to CBA is a little like coming home. There are so many great things happening here and so many incredibly talented people. The ways to promote this college are limitless,” Irwin-Gish said.

Previously, Irwin-Gish worked for the Nebraska State College System Office in Lincoln as associate vice chancellor for communications, marketing and system relations. During her 11 years there, she led the system-wide strategic planning process with the Board of Trustees and college representatives, and two subsequent strategic planning reviews.   Prior to that, she worked at Doane College in Crete, where she started as the publications coordinator, designing publications for the college before being promoted to assistant public relations director.

Irwin-Gish is currently Chair-Elect for the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI. In July 2012, she will become District Chair. An avid CASE volunteer, she has been involved with the annual conference planning for more than 15 years and has served on the Board of Directors as sponsorship chair, membership chair and secretary.

She is also an ambassador for the Lincoln Chamber and a member of the Young Professional Group in Lincoln.

Irwin-Gish and her husband, Lenny, who is a mathematics teacher at Lincoln High School, have two children. Their son, Creighton is four and daughter, Berkleigh is two.

Please contact Irwin-Gish with questions about the College of Business Administration at sirwin@unl.edu or (402) 472-3382.