Update — Friday, July 10: In an email to OU Daily, OU Marketing and Communications provided a statement sent from President Joseph Harroz Jr. to the university's executive officers on Wednesday, July 8.
"In the last three years under Jen’s leadership, MarComm has helped raise the reputation and perception of the university, producing award-winning marketing campaigns, growing our social media presence, and promoting the various initiatives and projects that will carry OU forward," Harroz wrote. "We wish her the best of luck going forward."
Harroz wrote the university will launch a national search to fill Hollingshead's position immediately.
Read our original coverage below.
OU’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Hollingshead has resigned after three years at the university.
In a press release Wednesday, the University of Texas at Dallas announced Hollingshead as its new vice president for communications and marketing effective Sept. 1.
Prabhas V. Moghe, University of Texas at Dallas president, noted Hollingshead’s experience.
“(Hollingshead) has led major perception research initiatives, guided institutions through sensitive and high‑profile moments, and developed brand platforms that resonate with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners,” Moghe wrote.
Hollingshead was appointed at OU in 2023. She led the charge for centralization of OU’s Division of Marketing and Communications as part of its strategic plan and further development of the OU brand.
In 2024, she oversaw the review and triage of 1,900 web pages in compliance with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s December 2023 executive order calling for a review of diversity, equity and inclusion in Oklahoma higher education.
Notable events at OU during Hollingshead’s tenure include the renaming and restructuring of OU’s former DEI office, the university’s transition to the Southeastern Conference and an OU student gaining national attention after contesting a failing grade on a Bible-based essay.
Also during Hollingshead’s time at the university was Norman City Council’s approval of the Rock Creek Entertainment District, which will include a new arena with OU athletics as an anchor tenant.
Prior to her time at OU, Hollingshead served at Rutgers University as vice chancellor of marketing and communications. She also served as the interim vice chancellor of marketing and communications and chief communications officer at the University of Missouri.
Hollingshead earned her bachelor’s in journalism and sociology from the University of Missouri and began her career as a reporter for the Columbia Daily Tribune. She earned her master's in business administration at Columbia College in Missouri.
