Kelly Hiller

Purdue’s CMO Is Elevating the University’s National Profile

When challenges arise, Kelly Hiller, Purdue’s Chief Marketing Officer, looks to her wrist where a tattoo reads, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” A nod to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s now-iconic moment of defiance, the phrase has become a personal mantra for Hiller as she pushes boundaries in higher ed marketing. In 2024, Hiller and her team launched a series of bold, record-breaking campaigns that dramatically boosted Purdue’s national visibility and consistently outperformed ROI targets. Among the standout efforts: a Total Solar Eclipse partnership with NASA and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that generated more than 292 million media impressions and earned 100% positive sentiment and “In Our STEM Era,” a Swiftie-inspired activation tied to Taylor Swift’s Indianapolis tour that drew more than 10,000 attendees. The combined effect? Purdue was ranked the No. 1 most recognized public university in the country.

By Laura Entis