Brand Identity

Marketing & Communications Conference | September 10-11, 2025

ucr-communications-conference-2025

UCR Marketing & Communications Conference 2025

Don’t miss UC Riverside’s third annual Marketing & Communications Conference, September 10-11, on the 3rd floor of the HUB. 

Join us for two days of outstanding content, where you can learn from and interact with marketing and communications experts from across the campus, other universities, and outside industries. Immerse yourself in discussions on branding, storytelling, digital marketing, events planning, public relations, and more. 

Best of all, the conference is free for qualifying UCR employees and includes free continental breakfast and lunch daily, plus social and networking opportunities! 

Please note the preliminary agenda and session timings below are subject to change based on speaker availabilities.

HUB level three map
UCR Staff and Students - Register Here

Don't Miss the UCR Brand Excellence Awards “The Scotties”

Scotty Bobblehead

Join us for the Sept. 10 lunchtime presentation honoring the UCR Schools, Colleges, Departments, and Units whose marketing efforts and communication assets best represent the UC Riverside brand through strategy, storytelling, and imagery. Four winners (one from each category) will receive a limited edition Scotty bobble head! Then you, the audience will have the chance to vote to see which of our four winners will be voted Best in Show and take home the Golden Scotty!

  • Marketing/Promotion - Static (Print or digital brochures, books, ads, etc.)
  • Marketing/Promotion - Interactive (Websites, email, social media)
  • Apparel, Branded Items & Giveaways (T-shirts, tote bags, etc.)
  • Video, Photography & Sound (Video, podcast, still photography, etc.)
Erica Colaianne

Erica Colaianne
Director of Social Media, University of Michigan

 

Day One Keynote Speaker

Erica Colaianne is the Director of Social Media at the University Michigan, where she leads the social communications team that creates dynamic content every day for audiences of more than 2.6 million. Through her work cultivating engaged communities and building trust with audiences, she leads strategies that successfully meet audiences where they are while demonstrating the impact of the university and highlighting the most exciting aspects of the Wolverine experience. In her five years at Michigan, she has implemented communications plans to celebrate student achievements, tell compelling research stories, and consistently keep university leadership informed of audience feedback and sentiment.

10–10:45 a.m.
HUB 302

DAY ONE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 10, 2025 

Shawn Shahani

Shawn Shahani
Head of Strategy for Apple TV's Content Design Team

 

Day Two Keynote Speaker

Shawn Shahani is Head of Strategy for Apple TV’s Content Design Team – helping bring Apple TV+ entertainment to millions of people inside the Apple TV app. His career has spanned a wide variety of industries – including entertainment marketing, advertising, brand transformation, and fashion retail – but has consistently focused on how storytelling and design. Shawn is also a UC Riverside alum (’08) – graduating with a Bachelor’s in Art History / Business Administration and serving as the Editor in Chief of the Highlander newspaper for two years.

10–10:45 a.m.
HUB 302

DAY TWO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 11, 2025