Trinity University Welcomes Tom Evelyn as VP for Strategic Communications and Marketing

Trinity University welcomes Tom Evelyn as its next vice president for Strategic Communications and Marketing (SCM). Evelyn, a U.S. Navy veteran with more than 30 years of experience in integrated marketing communications and more than 20 years of leadership in higher education, will join the Trinity community in March.

Evelyn comes to Trinity from Furman University, where he served as the vice president for University Communications for more than eight years. During his tenure there, Evelyn was instrumental in elevating the university’s brand and professionalizing its marketing and communications. His leadership and thoughtful strategies contributed to Furman’s rise in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings. He was integral in creating the brand and messaging platforms for The Furman Advantage, an academic pathway for students that connects classroom and experiential learning with mentoring and advising, and Clearly Furman, the Campaign for Our Third Century. Combined, these efforts helped Furman double applications and fundraising while growing its national reputation.

“Trinity University has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence, and I am honored to be part of the team that will further enhance its national standing,” Evelyn says. “I am eager to collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to build on Trinity's strong foundation and ensure that the brand and messaging reflect the extraordinary education and experiences that Trinity offers. Together, we will work to elevate Trinity’s presence and impact in higher education.”

Evelyn has a proven record of success directing high-performing teams and creating compelling brand strategies that engage and inspire, both at private liberal arts and public research universities. Before his time at Furman, Evelyn served as the associate vice president for Strategic Communications and Marketing at the University of Florida and as vice president for Communications at St. Lawrence University, where he also oversaw the university’s NPR affiliate, North Country Public Radio. He also has served as the senior director of news and media relations at Bucknell University and as the interim assistant vice president and associate director of news and information at the University of Central Florida.

“Tom’s innovative leadership and deep experience in higher education will be instrumental in amplifying the impact of our mission,” says Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., president of Trinity University. “We are thrilled to welcome Tom as our new vice president for SCM at this defining moment for Trinity.”

Before his higher education career, Evelyn spent 10 years working as a reporter and editor at several newspapers in Florida and Georgia, covering a range of topics, including government and politics, criminal justice, technology, and health and medicine. He also served as a cryptologist in the U.S. Navy while stationed in Spain and aboard ships on missions in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Evelyn earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism with a philosophy minor from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in communication from the University of Central Florida, where he also served as a guest lecturer in journalism and public relations.

Evelyn succeeds Frank Guerra ’83, who has served as vice president for SCM since 2022.