Nicki Eden Kollar

About Nicki Eden Kollar

I’m a brand strategist, marketing leader, and storyteller who believes in the power of consistency, creativity, and a well-placed dash of joy. As director of brand and digital marketing at Valparaiso University, I lead a team of five in bringing our brand to life – from big-picture strategy to the tiniest typography detail – ensuring everything we create reflects our mission with authenticity and heart.I’m a strategic thinker and systems builder at my core. I love connecting creativity with structure – developing brand strategy, refining workflows, and designing content ecosystems that help teams do their best, most inspired work.With a background spanning marketing, design, writing, and digital content, I’m just as comfortable leading a university-wide campaign as I am diving into analytics or brainstorming our next great story.Currently pursuing my MBA, I’m focused on growing as a leader and expanding how marketing can drive organizational transformation and brand connection.Outside the office, you’ll find me at live music shows, camping in the Midwest, or hanging out with my two cats — Hensley and Yukon — who, yes, have very distinct personalities.Let’s connect if you’re into thoughtful strategy, bold branding, or simply making things better.

Experience

1. Director of Brand & Digital Marketing

   Valparaiso University

   Dec 2025 — Present · Valparaiso, IN, US

   Lead the university’s brand and digital marketing strategy, ensuring consistency, clarity, and impact across web, social, paid media, and storytelling in a highly competitive higher education landscape.• Own and evolve the institutional brand system — guiding visual identity, voice, and messaging to support recruitment, reputation, and long-term growth.• Direct digital marketing efforts across SEO, GEO, social media, analytics, and emerging platforms, with a strong focus on performance, discoverability, and audience behavior.• Assisted in a full-scale, award-winning website redesign, including information architecture, UX, visual refresh, and AI-enabled search tools, resulting in improved engagement, accessibility, and usability.• Partner closely with IT, enrollment, academic leadership, athletics, advancement, and external agencies to deliver integrated, data-informed campaigns and digital experiences.• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of marketers, designers, and writers, emphasizing clarity of roles, strategic thinking, and sustainable workflows.• Establish governance and best practices for brand usage, accessibility, and digital content to ensure compliance, scalability, and efficiency across the institution.• Translate complex institutional goals into clear, actionable marketing strategies that balance creativity with measurable outcomes.

Education

• Valparaiso University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Marketing

• Valparaiso University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA