Chief Communication and Marketing Officer
University of Nebraska-Lincoln • 202 ADMS • Lincoln NE, 68588-0424 • 402-472-2211 • jcoll2@unl.edu
Jim Coll has served as University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s chief communication and marketing officer since November 2023.
He arrived on UNL’s campus with 20 years of experience in higher education public relations, marketing and crisis management. Coll had served as the chief communications officer at the University of Southern Mississippi since 2010. His experience also includes five years as a journalist, working in weekly newspapers operated by Pittman Communications, followed by six years in leadership roles with the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association.
In his most recent position, Coll led an Office of University Communications team of 24, directing USM’s marketing and public relations efforts while serving as a key member of the president’s senior leadership group.
Coll led the USM team to new benchmarks for media mentions, social media engagement and advertising effectiveness. Awards earned by the Office of University Communications team during his tenure include the Southern Public Relations Federation’s Best of Show Award; the Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s Judges’ Choice Award; and the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s Grand Awards for Electronic and Print Media.
Coll’s individual honors include the senior practitioner award from the Southern Public Relations Federation, an honor bestowed on veteran public relations professionals with high ethical standing.
Coll earned a doctorate in mass communications from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2021 and is a past president of the Downtown Hattiesburg Association.