Jeff Girod, an 18-year UC Riverside communications professional, has been named the associate vice chancellor and chief communications and marketing officer for the University. He will start in the role on July 13.
For the past eight years, Girod has led communications for the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, or CHASS. He was director of CHASS marketing and communications from 2018-2022, and then advanced into the role of assistant dean, marketing and communications.
"Jeff brings deep knowledge of UC Riverside, a strong understanding of our students and region, and nearly two decades of experience advancing marketing and communications across the university,” said Chancellor S. Jack Hu. “As UCR continues to grow in visibility, his experience will help us tell our story."
Prior to his time at CHASS, from 2008-2018, Girod was senior visual content manager for the former Student Affairs Marketing and Communications team. Before joining UCR, he was a reporter and columnist for The Press-Enterprise newspaper for eight years.
"It is a profound privilege to take on this responsibility,” Girod said. “As a proud UCR alumnus who has served this campus in CHASS, Student Affairs, and UCR Staff Assembly, I know firsthand the transformative power of our Highlander community. I am eager to partner with Chancellor Hu and our talented communications team to elevate UCR's visibility, ensuring our institutional excellence is recognized from California to the global stage."
During his time at CHASS, Girod led the first-of-its-kind Los Highlanders Spanish-language recruitment campaign, created a high-profile State of the College outreach event, and partnered with the University of California Office of the President on digital campaigns to drive state and federal advocacy for Humanities Day and Social Sciences Days.
In 2024, Girod received the Kevin McCauley Outstanding Staff Award from the Council of UC Staff Assemblies and has received five UCR Brand Excellence Awards, or “Scotties.” He is a member of the UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative; the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE; the American Marketing Association, and Toastmasters International.
Girod was president of the UCR Staff Assembly in 2021 and 2022 and is an incoming member of the UCR Alumni Board of Directors. He has a number of community involvements, including as a board member of Feeding America Riverside and past chairperson and current board member of the Highgrove Community Council, reporting to Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina. In the past, he was a global health equity advocate for the United Nations Foundation.
He has a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara, having transferred to UCSB from Pasadena City College, and a Master of Fine Arts from UCR. Girod is a longtime resident of Riverside, where he lives with his wife of 23 years, Emily, a first-grade teacher at nearby Emerson Elementary, and their two sons, Jack and Matt. Outside the office, he is an active youth sports coach and enjoys surfing with his son near Huntington Beach.
The central Communications and Marketing team includes the divisions of news and content; executive communications; digital; brand and creative; and video and photography. The team is responsible for media relations, crisis communications and issues management, internal communications, research news, newsletters including Inside UCR and UCR Life, and the UCR magazine. The unit also oversees university marketing, central social media channels, and UCR’s website. It provides campus support for matters involving university brand, style standards, videography and photography, analytics, and digital compliance, including for UC system initiatives.
Girod, whose first day will be July 13, assumes the leadership role last held by Johnny Cruz, who served at UCR for eight years before departing in August for the University of Arizona. John Warren, senior news and content director for Communications and Marketing, has served since August in an interim capacity.
The search advisory committee included Michael Richards, associate chancellor (chair); Kendall Burks, communications director, Research, Innovation, and Economic Development; Pamela Coe, communications director, Health, Well-being & Safety; Kate Dorff, manager, external relations & protocol for the School of Medicine; David Edgerton, director of national reputation & marketing for central Communications and Marketing; Emily Engelschall, associate vice chancellor, Enrollment Services; Mark Long, dean of the School of Public Policy; Sarah Nightingale, assistant director, content and publications for central Communications and Marketing, and Mia Rose Tuifua, ASUCR executive vice president.
