I am pleased to announce that Matt G. Nagel, APR has been appointed to the position of UC San Diego Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO), effective March 1, 2025. After completing a successful tenure as Interim CCMO and serving as Senior Executive Director of Public Relations since March 2021, Matt has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise, and has proven himself to be well-suited for this critical position.
As a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, Matt will continue to provide executive-level communications leadership, counsel and vision for the university’s comprehensive communications and marketing efforts. In this role, he will continue to lead University Communications, the university’s award-winning, full-service department dedicated to advancing UC San Diego’s reputation and brand, as well as Health Sciences and Athletics communications. He will also oversee and collaborate with UC San Diego Health, Advancement and Admissions communications.
Matt is an experienced higher education strategic communications professional with more than 20 years of increasingly senior leadership roles. His experience includes leading cross-functional teams and managing media relations, crisis and issues management, organizational development, strategic planning, public relations, and integrated marketing and communications initiatives within the industry. He previously served in high-level communications leadership and institutional spokesperson roles at globally recognized research universities, including Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Matt received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science from the University of Toledo and a Master of Arts in Communication Arts from Austin Peay State University. He is a member of the National Press Club and the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselor to Higher Education Advisory Group (CHEAG), and he earned an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2010.
As part of an overall assessment of the department’s structure, we have determined that the Senior Executive Director of Public Relations position in University Communications will not be backfilled following this appointment. This decision not only streamlines operations but also provides significant budget relief during a time of fiscal constraints. The ability to consolidate leadership responsibilities without additional hiring aligns with broader cost-saving measures while ensuring the department remains well-positioned to meet institutional communication needs.
Please join me in recognizing Matt G. Nagel’s many accomplishments and congratulating him on his continued service to UC San Diego as he begins his tenure as CCMO. We are eager to support Matt’s efforts to propel our university to even greater heights, leveraging the solid foundation he has established to drive priority initiatives and elevate UC San Diego’s prestige and distinction locally, regionally and globally.
