VILLANOVA, PA — Villanova University appointed former university communications executive Liz Kennedy Walsh as vice president for university communication and marketing, returning a longtime administrator to oversee the institution’s brand, public affairs, and strategic messaging operations as competition for student enrollment and institutional visibility intensifies across higher education.
Walsh will assume the role Aug. 17, 2026, following a national search, the university announced.
She will serve on the president’s cabinet and oversee Villanova’s centralized communications and marketing functions, including public relations, digital strategy, publications, social media, and advancement communications.
Walsh currently serves as senior vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications at St. Joseph’s University, where she oversees marketing, enrollment, and financial aid operations.
Her appointment returns her to Villanova after previously serving as associate vice president for university communication and marketing from 2007 through 2021, a period during which the university expanded its centralized communications operations and institutional branding efforts.
Villanova President Rev. Peter M. Donohue said Walsh’s experience in reputation management, executive communications, and institutional positioning distinguished her during the search process.
The appointment comes as colleges and universities face growing pressure to strengthen enrollment pipelines, manage public perception, and compete for national visibility amid demographic and financial challenges affecting higher education.
Walsh said her previous experience at Villanova and her connection to the university’s Augustinian mission influenced her decision to return.
At St. Joseph’s, Walsh led communications related to enrollment initiatives and institutional integration efforts following the university’s merger with the University of the Sciences.
Walsh earned a bachelor’s degree in English and communications from the University of Scranton in 1987 and a master’s degree in theatre from Villanova University in 1989.
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