(Oct. 27, 2020) - Displaying the quality of talented leadership at Oakton College, Andrea Lehmacher, Ed.D., director of Marketing, has been named the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 Communicator of the Year. The award, presented at a virtual ceremony on Oct. 22, recognizes demonstrated leadership and ability in the area of two-year college communications.
Lehmacher, of Lemont, becomes one of seven finalists for the national Communicator of the Year Award. The NCMPR will announce the winner in March 2021 at its virtual national conference.
“I am truly grateful, humbled and honored to receive this award,” Lehmacher says. “I want to thank my Oakton team and family for all that they do and the difference they make; it is truly appreciated! NCMPR provides tremendous resources and support.”
The Communicator of the Year Award is presented annually in each of NCMPR’s seven districts. The District 3 region includes community and technical colleges in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Lehmacher started at Oakton in December of 2019. At Oakton, she leads institutional initiatives designed to elevate Oakton’s reputation and increase brand awareness. During her tenure, she oversaw the creation of a brand identity guide that markets and communicates the values of the College. Additionally, Lehmacher is co-leading a redesign of Oakton’s website, which is scheduled to go live in 2021.
Prior to Oakton, she served as the senior director of marketing strategy at Elgin Community College for over six years. Her community college professional experience also includes serving as director of marketing and creative services at Joliet Junior College from 2007-2013.
She credits graduating from the College of DuPage with an associate of applied science degree in criminal justice for fostering her love for education.
“The work we do in education is bigger than ourselves,” Lehmacher says. “It is about impacting students’ lives and making a difference in our communities. I truly believe this because I am a proud community college graduate. My experience has helped shape who I am today.”
In addition to her current position at Oakton, Lehmacher is a lecturer at National Louis University, where she provides doctoral-level online instruction in strategic enrollment management and higher education to students across the United States. Lehmacher earned her doctorate degree in higher education and organizational change from Benedictine University. She also received both a master’s degree in communications and training and a bachelor’s degree in media communications from Governors State University.