Summary
Kerri Garcia Hendricks is the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications for the University of Nevada, Reno. Kerri began her role as executive director in April of 2019, after serving as the director of communications. She came to the University with more than three decades of public relations, communications and marketing experience in the private sector. Her career has spanned the corporate communications, advertising agency and non-profit arenas, including entrepreneurial experience as founder of a well-regarded public relations consultancy.
At the University, Kerri leads the University’s branding strategy to protect the University's reputation and advance its national and international stature. She leads a dynamic team of individuals in the Office of Marketing and Communications that serve as an expert resource to University employees and partners by producing compelling, brand-centric messaging and creative. The team ensures the University story is heard across all channels — from print, digital, web and social to government, media and public relations, internal communications, issues management and crisis communications – developing strategic content for diverse audiences, including the campus and local communities, prospective students, alumni, business partners, media and higher education peers.
Prior to joining the University, Kerri’s experience included serving as community relations and communications manager for Microsoft in Reno. Her experience has been in diverse industries serving as Director/Vice President of Public Relations for two of the largest advertising and public relations agencies in the state of Nevada, R&R Partners and the Rose-Glenn Group managing clients in various industries ranging from gaming, tourism, healthcare, politics and law, to retail, banking, home building, mining and engineering. Before her agency work, she was Director of Entertainment and Public Relations for Harrah’s Entertainment, Northern Nevada, and Media Relations Manager for Washoe Health System (now Renown Health).
Born and raised in Nevada, Kerri attended the University on a full-ride tennis scholarship and is a member of the only University women’s tennis team to win a conference championship to date. She received her degree from the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism in 1992. After many years, she returned to her alma mater roots to contribute to its rich tradition while looking toward its future of growth.
Kerri is active on several community boards and committees, including serving as a member and past president of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. She is a past president of the Nevada Women’s Fund, WIN (Western Industrial Nevada) and the Public Relations Society of America, Sierra Nevada Chapter board of directors, as well as a recipient of the chapter’s prestigious Golden Spike Award of excellence in public relations and commitment to the community. She has also served on the University’s Alumni Council and the Northern Nevada Hispanic Chamber.