Ethan Cooper

Ethan Cooper

Strategy Director Student Communications · Clemson University

Greenville, SC

In My Own Words

Hi, I’m Ethan, a Marketing Strategy Director with 10+ years of experience leading innovative teams, shaping impactful brand strategies and crafting compelling stories. I specialize in guiding brands through the ever-evolving marketing landscape, blending creative visions with strategic thinking to deliver impactful campaigns.

I’ve had the opportunity to lead several cross-functional teams in my career. Collaborating with talented designers, marketers, and data experts to develop solutions that cut through the noise. From digital content planning to experiential installations, I have overseen and developed end-to-end creative processes, ensuring that every campaign not only speaks to the audience, but also aligns with the greater goals of the business.

I thrive on turning big ideas into action. Whether it’s revitalizing a brand, launching a new product, or developing comprehensive go-to-market strategies, my approach is rooted in the mix of creativity, analytics, and consumer insights, always ensuring that our marketing efforts not only inspire but also drive measurable results.

I’m passionate about mentoring and empowering teams to think boldly and execute flawlessly. I believe the best results comes from a collaborative, inclusive environment where fresh ideas are encouraged and nurtured.

Key areas of expertise: • Brand Strategy & Positioning • Integrated Campaigns & Content Creation • Digital & Social Media Marketing • Creative Leadership & Team Development • Analytics Based Decision Making • Market Research & Trend Forecasting

If you’re looking for a creative leader who can drive both innovation and results, let’s connect.

Work Experience

Strategy Director – Student Communications

Clemson University

2024 – Present

Lead student-focused marketing strategies that bring the university’s story to life across digital, social, web, email, and traditional channels. Drive a data-informed approach grounded in research, insights, and results. Build scalable systems that align team planning with strategic goals while mentoring a high-performing, cross-disciplinary marketing team.

Digital Strategy Manager

Clemson University

2023 – 2024

Led student-focused marketing initiatives for the Division of Student Affairs to boost engagement, retention, and the overall student experience. Developed multi-channel campaigns across social, web, email, video, and print to elevate awareness of Student Affairs programs and services. Directed content strategy and staff for social and video channels, integrating data insights to measure and refine impact. Built reporting systems and best-practice processes, and managed targeted media buying, including paid social campaigns.

Marketing Strategist

Clemson University

2019 – 2023

Partnered with the Division of Student Affairs creative team to shape strategies and campaigns that advanced the division’s brand and growth goals. Collaborated with campus partners to build targeted messaging for key university initiatives, including career development, wellbeing, leadership, and engagement. Oversaw market research, data analysis, digital creative direction, media buying, and client presentations from concept to execution.

Creative Technology Manager

EP+Co

2018 – 2019

Clients include: Verizon; Denny's and Mens Wearhouse.

Oversaw cross-functional Creative Technology projects, aligning development scopes with campaign performance and engagement goals. Served as the bridge between creative tech, account, design, and strategy teams to deliver seamless website, app, and experiential launches. Led iterative development cycles tied to strategic objectives, and produced detailed documentation, user guides, and QA processes to ensure a smooth, high-quality user experience.

Marketing Coordinator

Volunteers Around the World

2017 – 2018

Directed marketing strategy and execution to amplify messaging, engage donors, and drive organizational growth across college campuses. Managed multi-channel campaigns spanning web, email, social, and print to strengthen audience connections. Produced engaging content, graphics, and videos to elevate brand storytelling. Built and managed a digital ad buying program to expand outreach through targeted social campaigns, leveraging analytics and SEO insights to optimize performance and guide ongoing strategy.

Staff Associate

Young Life

2013 – 2017

Education

Master of Business Administration - MBA

Clemson University

2020 – 2023

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

University at Buffalo

2009 – 2013