Smithfield, R.I. — Following a nationwide search, Bryant University has appointed Gene Begin as its new chief marketing officer, effective January 30, 2026.
Begin brings more than 25 years of experience across higher education and industry, with a track record of building strong partnerships, elevating institutional brands, and driving engagement and growth. At Bryant, he will play a central role in advancing brand strategy and supporting the university’s long-term priorities.
“Gene brings significant experience and ability to build strong partnerships, elevate brand awareness, and drive engagement — all important to advancing Bryant’s priorities,” says Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “His leadership will play a key role in implementing our new brand strategy and strengthening the university’s reputation as we work toward the ambitious goals outlined in Vision 2030.”
Most recently, Begin served as managing director of education at Connelly Partners, where he launched and scaled the agency’s first education vertical. Previously, as vice president for marketing and communications at Wheaton College, he led a comprehensive brand redesign and website transformation and partnered closely with enrollment leadership to bring recruitment marketing in-house, contributing to significant gains in applications, deposits, and net tuition revenue. Earlier in his career, Begin spent 15 years at Babson College, where he founded the institution’s first digital marketing team and led several high-impact initiatives, including a full website redesign.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Bryant community at a moment of such transformative momentum,” Begin says. “Bryant’s unique intersection of business, liberal arts, and health sciences, combined with its proven standing in the top 1 percent for ROI, offers a powerful narrative that resonates deeply in today’s competitive landscape. I look forward to partnering with leadership, faculty, and staff to amplify these outcomes, utilizing the roadmap of Vision 2030 to expand our reach and deepen our impact on the students we serve.”
Begin assumes leadership of the Office of Marketing and Communications following a period of strategic direction and brand development led by Edinaldo Tebaldi, Ph.D., who will continue to serve as Bryant’s vice president for strategy and institutional effectiveness.
About Bryant University
For more than 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers an integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1 percent national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, QS Stars, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, and College Factual. Bryant.edu