Brian Whitson

Bio

Brian Whitson leads University Communications at William & 玛丽, the nation's first university.

As Chief Communications Officer and Senior Associate Vice President, Whitson serves as the university's senior communications strategist, has the lead on coordinating presidential communications, and is responsible for the offices of Content & Strategy, Media Relations and Web & Design. This includes university-wide media relations and public relations programs, the William & 玛丽 News, national news outreach, the university website, social media, and online and print publications. Brian serves as chair of the university's Emergency Communications Team and is a member of the President's Cabinet and Executive Leadership Team.

A respected source and thought leader in higher education, Whitson has been published in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Inside Higher Ed, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Virginian-Pilot, among others. He has been quoted in most national publications, including the Washington Post, the Associated Press, NPR and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Whitson received his B.S. in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University where he completed the News Editorial track within Mass Communications. Before coming to W&M in 2003, Whitson worked as a daily newspaper reporter for nearly a decade. His last journalism position was covering higher education for the Daily Press in Newport News.

Whitson and his wife, Monet, have two adult sons, Morgan and Garrett, and two spoiled Boston Terriers, Riley, and Mo. Riley & Mo Whitson have more than 1,500 followers on Instagram.