COD President Robert L. Breuder Named National Pacesetter of the Year
College of DuPage President Robert L. Breuder has been named 2013 National Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.
The award recognizes a community college president or CEO who has demonstrated special leadership and support in marketing and public relations. Dr. Breuder, who was also named 2012 Pacesetter of the Year for NCMPR District 3 in November, was recognized at the NCMPR’s national conference in Chicago.
Dr. Breuder’s arrival at the College in 2009 brought about a renewed emphasis on marketing and communications. During his four-year tenure, he has created a senior management team position to oversee marketing, media relations and community relations, ensuring greater awareness of the College among the residents of District 502 and beyond.
“Over the past four years, we’ve made major footprints in the marketing area, stressing the critical importance of telling our story,” he said. “The College recognizes that we must separate ourselves from the competition, getting the word out often and in every way that works.”
Among Dr. Breuder’s accomplishments is the complete redesign of the College’s website, including a mobile version, allowing current and prospective students to more easily navigate key COD resources.
Additionally, Dr. Breuder oversaw the creation of “impact,” the College’s district-wide magazine; instituted a yearlong study of COD’s customer services practices; and transitioned the institution from general advertising to creative direct marketing, Web marketing and social media.
Laurie Jorgensen, Director of Marketing and Creative Services, applauded Dr. Breuder’s forward-thinking approach.
“As a marketer, it is a blessing to have such a phenomenal product to promote, and yet another to have the support of such a visionary leader,” she said. “Dr. Breuder understands how critical marketing is to the success of College of DuPage now
and in the future.”
In addition to his marketing efforts, Dr. Breuder’s other milestones since 2009 include fostering the development of 50 new programs and certificates, as well as 21 program accreditations. He has overseen the development of innovative “3+1” partnerships with area universities that allow COD students to complete all work toward 13 bachelor degree programs on the COD campus. He has also stewarded the College through a massive $550 million construction and renovation process with an expected completion in 2014.
In addition to the National Pacesetter Award, the College earned a number of NCMPR awards, including: a Gold Paragon Award – Newsletter (Impact magazine); a Silver Paragon Award – Brochure/Flier (COD Viewbook); A Gold District 3 Medallion Award – Newsletter (Impact magazine); a Gold District 3 Medallion Award – Media Success Story (Force-on-Force Demo in Homeland Security Education Center); and a Silver District 3 Medallion Award – Print Advertising Series (“Unexpected” campaign).
NCMPR's prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges. It is the only national competition of its kind that exclusively honors excellence among marketing and PR professionals among the 1,600-plus two-year colleges in the U.S. These awards are based on demonstrated creativity, originality and unique approaches to problem-solving.
The District 3 Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges in District 3 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Canadian province of Ontario). It's the only regional competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges.
Recently, College leaders have developed a plan to further enhance the College’s marketing efforts and recently launched a branding study with Ohio-based Ologie.
The result will be an even stronger connection with parents, potential students, current students, donors and District 502 community members.
With more than 26,000 students, College of DuPage is the largest community college in Illinois and third largest of the state's public colleges and universities. Click here for a complete list of Significant Institutional Outcomes.