Meet the Team

Our team of visionaries 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, and online enrollment marketing.

UMC Leadership

Guisselle Nuñez

Senior Associate Vice President for
University Marketing and Communications

Email: guisselle.nunez@sjsu.edu  

Melissa Retana

Executive Assistant

Email: melissa.retana@sjsu.edu 

Kristin Ede

Executive Director of University Marketing

Email: kristin.ede@sjsu.edu

Michelle Frey

Senior Director of Creative and Brand Strategy

Email: michelle.frey@sjsu.edu

Michelle Smith McDonald

Senior Director of Media Relations

Email: michelle.smithmcdonald@sjsu.edu

Kamryn Williams

Director of Strategic Operations

Email: kamryn.williams@sjsu.edu


College and Program Marketing

Marketing and communications strategy and development for various divisions, colleges and programs.

Adriana Avila

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Lucas College and Graduate School of Business

Email: adriana.avila@sjsu.edu  

Marcus Ismael

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Facilities, Development and Operations/Student Housing

Email: marcus.ismael@sjsu.edu  

Sam Kamangar

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

University Advancement

Email: sam.kamangar@sjsu.edu

Rhoda Shapiro

Marketing and Communications Program Manager

Student Affairs

Email: rhoda.shapiro@sjsu.edu


Copywriting and Editorial

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.

Julia Halprin Jackson

University Writer and Copy Editor, Managing Editor of Washington Square

News beats: Humanities & Arts, Social Science, Education and Student Affairs

Email: juliah.jackson@sjsu.edu  

Cassie Myers

University Writer and Copy Editor

News beats: Science, Health and Human Sciences, Engineering and Research and Innovation

Email: cassie.myers@sjsu.edu


Creative and Brand Strategy

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

Roman Goshev

Digital Production Project Manager

Email: roman.goshev@sjsu.edu 

Pourya Nadimi

Senior Visual Designer and Art Director

Email: pourya.nadimi@sjsu.edu 

Jonathan Wang

Visual Communications Designer

Email: jonathan.wang02@sjsu.edu  

Javier Duarte

Senior Multimedia Production Manager

Email: javier.duarte@sjsu.edu  

Robert C. Bain

University Photographer

Email: robert.bain@sjsu.edu  

Jonathan Meyer

Multimedia Specialist, Video Production

Email: jonathan.meyer@sjsu.edu 


Digital Content and Social Media

Social media engagement, email marketing, online campaigns, content engagement analytics and strategy management. 

Brian Anderson

Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Email: brian.anderson@sjsu.edu  

Trevor Phillips

Digital Content Analyst

Email: trevor.phillips@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.

Sean Woodland

Media Relations Manager

Email: sean.woodland@sjsu.edu


Professional & 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 of Professional and Global Engagement Marketing

Email: jim.hsia@sjsu.edu  

Cindy Chin

Marketing Specialist

Email: cindy.chin@sjsu.edu  

Jeanette Mai

Marketing Specialist

Email: jeanette.mai@sjsu.edu  

Momina Manzoor

International Marketing Specialist 

Email: momina.manzoor@sjsu.edu  

Cindy Tang

International Marketing Specialist

Email: cindy.tang@sjsu.edu


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. 

Brian Cheung Dooley

Associate Director of SJSU Online Enrollment Marketing

Email: brian.cheungdooley@sjsu.edu

Marc Montenegro

Web Developer/UX Designer

Email: marc.montenegro@sjsu.edu

Tiffany Thaoxaochay

CRM Engagement Lead

Email: tiffany.thaoxaochay@sjsu.edu


Web and User Experience

Website development, SJSU web guidelines and governance, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Analytics. User experience research, web planning and design.

Rock Fredell

Assistant Director of Web Development and User Experience

Email: rock.fredell@sjsu.edu

Vacant

University Web Developer/User Experience Designer


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.