Josh Jensen Appointed Vice President for Communications

July 9, 2021

Dear Oberlin Community,

I am pleased to announce that after a thorough national search, Oberlin has appointed Josh Jensen to the role of Vice President for Communications.

Josh is a tested strategic communicator who will build upon Oberlin’s current marketing and communications efforts. As the new leader of our Office of Communications, he will continue our work of positioning Oberlin for continued growth while supporting the institution and its leadership.

During his 22 years of communications experience, Josh has studied, taught, and worked in higher education institutions across the nation. He comes to Oberlin from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where he is the Vice President for Enrollment and Communications. He also was co-chair of Whitman’s COVID-19 Response Committee. He previously served in progressive leadership roles in communications at Connecticut College and Boston College. Prior to these higher educational institutions, Josh was a communications professional at various non-profits focused on domestic violence and youth advocacy.

In recent years, Josh helped Whitman College address difficult town-gown relationship issues, oversaw a rebranding of the college, and devised a marketing program that led to enrollment increases.

Equally important, I believe Josh’s expertise in enrollment marketing will help him support and complement Ben Jones, who will shift over from Communications to Admissions, where he will strengthen our enrollment marketing strategies. Ben led our Communications team for 13 years, and I am excited at the prospect of him bringing his experience to bear in an area critical to Oberlin’s future success.

Josh has degrees in music, business administration and higher education, making him well-suited for Oberlin. He earned a Bachelor of Music at the University of Hartford, Hartt School, an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and a PhD in Higher Education from Boston College.

I am grateful to Chief of Staff David Hertz for overseeing this search, and to the other members of the search committee for their leadership and guidance.

Josh’s first day at Oberlin will be September 13. Please join me in giving a warm Oberlin welcome to him when he arrives.

Sincerely,
Carmen Twillie Ambar
President