Strategic Communications

Strategic Communications plays a leadership role in shaping, celebrating, and safeguarding the Beach brand. The unit supports the work of the URD division through its brand journalism, digital and print publications, social media engagement, paid media program, graphic design, digital development, news media outreach, and insights and assessment work. In service to the broader university community, the unit conducts market research and strategy development, supports emergency communications, helps develop strategies to mitigate reputational risks, establishes and enforces brand integrity guidance, manages university response to news media inquiries, and brings together decentralized communications professionals to enhance cross-university collaboration and coordination.

Unit Leadership

Jeffrey D. Cook
Associate Vice President
Jeff joined The Beach in February 2019 to lead the strategic communications and brand management unit and serve as the university's chief communications & brand officer. Previously, he held this and related organizational-advancement roles at a number of institutions, including two sister campuses of the California State University. Jeff also served as an adjunct instructor in marketing and other areas for 15 years. He earned his bachelor's degree from Hartwick College in New York and his master's degree in nonprofit management from the University of San Francisco.