College of Southern President Dr. Brad Gottfried. (Submitted photo)
LA PLATA, Md.—College of Southern Maryland President Dr. Brad Gottfried has been selected for the 2014 District 1 Pacesetter Award by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) for his strong focus on the college’s marketing, communications, advocacy and fundraising campaigns.
“NCMPR presents an annual Pacesetter Award in each of its seven districts to a community college chief executive who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to marketing and communications at his or her college, and who has demonstrated strong personal leadership in the institution’s outreach endeavors. Congratulations [to Gottfried] on this well-deserved honor,” said NCMPR District 1 Director Mary De Luca.
“Much of CSM’s success can be attributed to Dr. Gottfried’s passion for lifelong learning and his embrace of the college’s role within the community,” CSM Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dorothea Holt Smith wrote in her nomination letter.
“Through his leadership, he promotes an inclusive culture where everyone is encouraged to assist with the college’s success through innovative communications and personal testimonies,” Holt continued. “A recent enrollment and public awareness campaign that gained state and national attention highlighted his major concern for the student loan debt crisis. The “Get Real” campaign promoted the advantages of attending a community college, especially the potential savings, which at CSM is $29,000 when compared to starting at a four-year college. He supported this campaign with consistency and passion. In addition, Dr. Gottfried’s leadership has resulted in many beneficial partnership opportunities, from articulations with four-year institutions, to collaborations with local and national agencies, to increased advocacy with local, state, and federal elected officials.”
“As CEO for nearly eight years, Dr. Gottfried has transformed the college, its students and the community through his ability to communicate and demonstrate a vision of a stronger Southern Maryland. He consistently communicates the values of CSM and the focus on student access, success and achievement. His devotion to student access and success is demonstrated through the creation of his personal endowed and annual scholarship funds at CSM,” added CSM Foundation Chair Christine Rush, a 1987 graduate of the college.
Gottfried assumed a leadership role in conducting market research, and communicating and collaborating with local industries significant to regional workforce opportunities, such as naval bases, defense contractors, CEOs, educators and funders to create an innovative Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (ISTEM) Strategic Plan and interactive website. These partnerships have resulted in growth of a STEM pipeline through new programs, partnerships and activities.
“When our region’s largest employer, the Naval Air Warfare Division, Patuxent River experienced difficulty hiring engineers, Dr. Gottfried worked with the U.S. Navy, University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering and Southern Maryland Higher Education Center on what is a ‘national model of collaboration,’ educating newly trained engineers for careers with the Navy and associated contractors,” said CSM Vice President of Advancement Michelle Goodwin. Communicating and marketing this success, CSM was awarded a National Science Foundation S-STEM grant to provide STEM scholarships and support services.
Gottfried is considered a trailblazer in supporting the college’s growing social media presence, created more than four years ago, and in assuming the CEO lead in Maryland among its 16 community colleges to raise funds and create awareness during a 24-hour online giving campaign.
"I am honored to be selected as the 2014 recipient of the District 1 Pacesetter Award by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. I share this honor with the entire CSM team who work so hard to advance our institution and our region. They set a high standard that serves us well," said Gottfried.
Gottfried will be presented with the Pacesetter award at a luncheon on Oct. 13 at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center at the National Harbor. He is one of seven finalists for the national Pacesetter Award to be presented at NCMPR’s conference in Portland, Oregon next March.