Jennifer Pearce

Jennifer joined Emory & Henry College after a 12-year tenure in higher education at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. There, she managed a team of 13 in the Office of Marketing and Communications. Prior to Otterbein, she managed staff in public relations, sales, marketing and communications at The Longaberger Company, Cheryl&Company, both national businesses headquartered in Ohio, and at an Appalachian regional medical center in the southwest portion of Ohio.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Emory & Henry community and Southwest Virginia,” she said in a news statement. “The College has an amazing story to tell about its students, faculty and alumni. There’s a reason it’s listed as the best national liberal arts college in the region by U.S. News and World Report and one of only 40 colleges featured nationally in the book ‘Colleges that Changes Lives’ by Loren Pope.”

Since joining E&H in December 2017, she now leads the college’s strategic direction for Enrollment Management and External Affairs including the departments of Admissions; Marketing and Communications; ROTC; The McGlothlin Center for the Arts; and WEHC 90.7 radio station that serves five counties in the region.

“Emory & Henry has grown since its founding in 1836 and continues to be an economic contributor to the region with the strong talents of our graduates impacting the area as well as the world to bring about broad and bold change,” she said. “Our students are global thinkers and doers. They are eager to be engaged in the area through experiential learning, civic engagement and internships. We know business and industry are seeking out our students to impact their organizations based on their experiences while at Emory & Henry. They are prepared to enter the workforce or graduate school to further their passions.” 

Jennifer lives in Bristol, Va. with her husband Bill a middle school science and social studies teacher. They have two grown daughters who practice in the fields of politics, technology and healthcare marketing. All four are liberal arts graduates.

Jennifer was recently appointed to the board of People Incorporated of Virginia and is a member of 100+ TriCities Women Who Care.