Anthony James Cece

Brand Strategist. Digital Transformation Leader.
Champion of User-Centered Design.

Award-winning marketing leader building brands that advance access, equity, and excellence in higher education.

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01

My Story

Twenty-nine years ago, I walked into the University of Michigan as a first-generation transfer student from Henry Ford Community College, pursuing degrees in Art & Design and English. Making that leap was as scary as it was transformational. The dual education I received—grounded in both creative practice and liberal arts inquiry—fundamentally shaped how I think about storytelling, design, and the transformative power of education.

Today, as Director of Marketing for the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, I am a senior leader of an integrated marketing organization building brands and digital experiences that connect students, alumni, donors, and the public to the transformative power of a liberal arts education.

Over 25 years at Michigan, I've learned that great marketing in higher education isn't about selling—it's about authentic storytelling that honors institutional mission while driving measurable outcomes. I believe the best work happens at the intersection of creative courage and strategic rigor, where research-driven insights meet equity-centered design principles, and where talented teams feel empowered to do their best work.

My journey from community college to leading award-winning marketing initiatives at one of the world's great universities shapes everything I do. I understand firsthand the barriers that students face, the transformation that education enables, and the responsibility we have to ensure everyone has access to opportunities that can change their lives.

"From community college to leading award-winning marketing initiatives at one of the world's great universities."
02

What I Do

Brand Development & Strategy

Building comprehensive brand systems from research through implementation—from institutional rebrands serving thousands to focused program identities that enable transformational gifts.

Digital Transformation

Leading enterprise-scale web initiatives that balance creative ambition with technical requirements, accessibility compliance, and user experience across complex organizational ecosystems.

Creative Team Leadership

Building high-performing teams grounded in psychological safety, collaborative problem-solving, and the creative courage that produces nationally recognized work.

Equity-Centered Design

Championing inclusive storytelling, authentic representation, and design practices that advance access and opportunity for historically underserved communities.

Strategic Communications

Connecting marketing to institutional priorities—student recruitment, alumni engagement, donor cultivation, faculty research dissemination, and reputation management.

03

Select Work

LSA Brand Refresh

Led three-year college-wide brand transformation (2020-2023) navigating pandemic disruptions to deliver research-driven brand system. Anchored work in 18-month research initiative including longitudinal surveys across nine stakeholder groups, competitive analysis, and DEI consultant partnership. Developed comprehensive 115-page brand guidelines and implementation infrastructure supporting 160+ academic units.

Recognition: 2024 CASE Circle of Excellence Award, Best of District V

View Brand Guidelines →
LSA Brand Guidelines
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Kessler Presidential Scholars Program

Spearheaded strategic repositioning (2016-2017) that transformed underperforming scholarship into comprehensive support ecosystem for first-generation students. Developed brand pillars, messaging architecture, and visual identity system articulating program vision to donors and stakeholders.

Impact: Strategic repositioning directly enabled $50M+ transformational gift and established program model that has since expanded nationally.

Visit Kessler Scholars →
Kessler Scholars Program
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Digital Transformation at Scale

Currently leading enterprise AEM redesign encompassing 130+ websites and thousands of pages serving 30,000 students, faculty, and staff plus 200,000+ alumni. Comprehensive modernization addresses accessibility compliance (WCAG standards), evolving web standards, and user experience across complex ecosystem.

Previous achievement: Led complete CMS migration from Vignette to AEM (2013-2015).

LSA Web Environment
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LSA Opportunity Hub

Developed brand identity and strategic positioning for new career exploration center serving 24,000 undergraduate students with focus on equity and access for historically underserved populations. Created comprehensive brand system including mission/vision, brand pillars, tone, and visual identity.

Visit Opportunity Hub →
LSA Opportunity Hub
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04

Recognition & Leadership

Awards

  • CASE Circle of Excellence Grand Gold Award (2025) – LSA Magazine Cover (rare distinction)
  • CASE Circle of Excellence Award, Best of District V (2024) – LSA Brand Guidelines
  • UCDA Best In-House Design Team
  • Multiple CASE and UCDA Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards for excellence in magazine design, video production, feature writing, electronic communications, design series, special events, and fundraising materials

University Leadership

  • U-M Brand Refresh Advisory Committee
  • U-M Executive Marketing Council
  • U-M Digital Asset Collaborative (DAC) Implementation Team
  • U-M Enterprise HTML Email Solution Team

Education

  • BFA, Art and Design (Cum Laude)
    Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, University of Michigan
  • BA, English
    College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan
  • Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate (Level 3)
05

Let's Connect

I'm passionate about the role marketing plays in advancing access, equity, and excellence in higher education. If you're working on challenges at the intersection of brand, digital innovation, and institutional mission, I'd welcome the opportunity to connect.