Director's Advisory Council
In 2025, the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication launched the Director's Advisory Council, a group of alumni, industry leaders and philanthropists willing to meet biannually to discuss the school's strategic plans.
Currently, the Council roster includes:
Elisia Cohen — Director, Hubbard School
Martin Brandt — CEO, TrueBrand
Lynn Casey — CEO (ret). Padilla
Jill Giefer — Head of Enterprise Research & Experience Measurement, Best Buy
Lili Hall — CEO, Knock
Kyndell Harkness — Head of Culture and Community, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Michael Hill — Editor (ret.), Washington Post
Lisa Hills — Executive Director, Minnesota Newspaper Association
John Himle — CEO, Himle LLC
Deborah Hopp — President, MSP/MSPC Communications
Stan E. Hubbard — CEO, Reelz/Hubbard
Joseph Johnston, Jr. — Director of Public Affairs, Hubbard Broadcasting
Josh Jones — Design Director, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Dave Lee — Retired, WCCO Radio
Chris Matt — Vice President of Marketing, UnitedHealthcare
David Mona — Chairman (ret), Weber Shandwick – Minneapolis
Jay Novak — Senior Vice President (ret), Aethlon Capital
Wendy Paulson — Executive Director, Minnesota Broadcasters Association
Jorg Pierach — Founder, Fast Horse
Marsha Pitts-Phillips — CEO & Founder, MRPP & Associates Communications
David Royle — Executive VP Programming and Production (ret), Smithsonian Channel
James Schweigert — President, Gro Alliance
Jennifer Schweigert — Owner, Schweigert Fitness, LLC
Jennifer Stoltenow — Senior Director, Global Brand Strategy, Creative & Design, Solventum
Kathy Tunheim — CEO & Principal Tunheim
K. (Vish) Viswanath Lee Kum Kee — Professor of Health Communication, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Ellen Wartella — Al Thani Professor of Communication (ret.), Northwestern University
Charlie Weaver — Executive Director & Co-Publisher, The Minnesota Daily (ex-officio)