Scripps College President Lori Bettison-Varga today announced the appointment of Marylou J. Ferry as vice president for communication and marketing, effective August 22, 2011. In the newly created position, Ferry will lead the Office of Public Relations and Communication in heightening national and regional visibility for the College’s unique curriculum, highly accomplished faculty and students, and significant contributions to the preparation of leaders.
Ferry’s impressive media relations career spans corporate communications, public service, and higher education. As press secretary to Washington state governor Gary Locke, she led a team tasked with effectively communicating public policy and state issues; prior to that, Ferry served as vice president of public affairs for global marketing and communications firm Fleishman-Hillard and in similar roles for Nordstrom, ARCO, and Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls.
Recently, Ferry created strategies to promote the work of the University of Redlands’ Center for Educational Justice and developed the communication platform and collateral for The Campaign for Claremont McKenna.
Reporting to the president, Ferry is charged with taking the strong reputation Scripps College enjoys among liberal arts colleges and building it among important stakeholders in Southern California and across the country. Her duties will also include managing all new and traditional communication platforms such as publications, public relations, media outreach, social media, websites, and other marketing endeavors.
Ferry earned a BA in communications from the University of Puget Sound. A trustee of Foothill Country Day School in Claremont and an AYSO soccer coach, she lives in Claremont with her husband, Rick, and their two children.