Whitworth Welcomes Joe Hughes as Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Hughes comes to Whitworth from The College of Idaho where he served for the past seven years as the assistant vice president of marketing & communications. Prior to that position, he was the director of athletic marketing and a major gifts officer in the college relations department.
“I am very pleased that Joe Hughes accepted our invitation to lead the university’s marketing & communications team, and additionally, serve on the president’s cabinet,” Whitworth President Scott McQuilkin says. “He has been an achiever in each of his professional appointments, leading with a spirit of warmth, collaboration and creativity. We look forward to the ways in which Joe will help us share Whitworth’s story, and particularly the exceptional experience to be had by students.”
Hughes graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in journalism. He went on to have a successful career for nearly 20 years as a television news anchor and reporter in Oregon and Idaho.
Hughes has deep connections to Whitworth as all three of his children graduated from the university.
"It is an incredible honor to join Whitworth University, a prestigious school that has meant so much to my family and me,” Hughes says. “As a proud Whitworth parent of three graduates, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of its Christ-centered, mind-and-heart education on individual students, their peers, families and communities. I am thrilled to join a dynamic leadership team that is deeply committed to Whitworth’s mission and am humbled to work alongside such a talented group of professionals in marketing and communications. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am blessed to help propel the inspiring story of Whitworth and its people forward."
For nearly 10 years, Hughes and his wife led an Awana ministry for their church where he regularly played keyboards for worship services.
In his spare time, Hughes can be found in the stands watching his favorite sports. He became a devoted tennis fan after all three of his children played for the Whitworth Pirates. He also loves college football, volleyball and basketball.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu
