Differentiating Our Institutions

Suzan Brinker
Co-founder & CEO of Viv Education, LLC
Fractional CMO at Assumption University

Dr. Suzan Brinker is a co-founder and the CEO of Viv Education LLC, a Boston-based women-owned consulting firm and marketing agency for colleges and universities. She serves as a Fractional CMO at Assumption University parallel to her role at Viv. 

Suzan has 10+ years of experience in U.S. and global higher education marketing and enrollment. Before founding Viv, she served as Director of Marketing at both Penn State World Campus and Northeastern University. 

Nicole Szymczak
Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for MSU Health Sciences

Nicole Szymczak is the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for Michigan State University Health Sciences. 

Prior to this inaugural position, Nicole led communications for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Her first role in higher education was in 2010, leading the transformation of an in-house agency for Lansing Community College. 

Rob Zinkan
Vice President for Marketing Leadership at RHB

Dr. Rob Zinkan is Vice President for Marketing Leadership at RHB and helps colleges and universities achieve greater relevance and organizational capability. He brings 25 years of experience in higher education with a focus on reputation and resource development and intra-organizational alignment.

Rob is co-author of What Makes a Strategic Plan ‘Strategic’? and co-editor and contributor to Inside Higher Ed’s Call to Action blog. He also teaches graduate courses in strategic communications and higher education leadership.