NNU MarCom

Kendra is the Director of Brand Stewardship at Northwest Nazarene University. She’s an NNU Church Music graduate with an emphasis in Youth Ministry.

Kendra’s introduction to the business world came through her employment at a Hallmark store, stocking greeting cards and arranging display windows while in high school. During college, she used her interest in music and youth and traveled for the University as a student PR member, making contact with Northwest churches and enjoying the energy and activities of youth camps and abroad with Northwesterners. After graduation, she worked for the University as an Admissions Counselor for three years, covering the Rocky Mountain and Northwest districts.

Kendra loves coffee and chose the challenge of starting and owning a coffee shop for nine years, a clever way to help satisfy her coffee addiction. Ninety percent of her shop employees were NNU students. For eight years, she was a co-leader for worship at NNU’s neighboring church, Nampa College Church, after which she moved to NNU’s School of Business in sales and marketing.

As the Director of Brand Stewardship, Kendra is responsible for guiding and protecting the University’s brand, not only in how it looks, but in how it is experienced. She oversees the visual and creative direction of the University’s promotional content while helping ensure that every expression of the NNU brand communicates the University’s identity, mission, values, and personality. Her role involves developing innovative concepts, leading creative efforts, ensuring consistency in branding, and collaborating with the team to create meaningful and engaging campaigns that connect with prospective students and the broader NNU community.

As Brand Manager for the University, Kendra safeguards NNU’s brand identity and helps guide how the University is represented across platforms, environments, communications, and experiences. This includes the use of logos, colors, tone, messaging, visual identity, and other brand touchpoints. Her focus is not simply on creating consistency, but on creating a cohesive brand experience that feels authentically NNU and resonates with the people the University serves. She continually evaluates and adjusts keep the brand relevant and aligned with the University’s mission and values.

Living in Uganda for three months while working through the challenging process of adopting a daughter was the fulfillment of a childhood dream and is her constant joy. She has discovered a new love of roaming the Cotswold countryside in England. She’s energized by the challenge of making a space feel refreshing and hospitable. Her life’s reflective and influential words are: daughter, family, friendships, journaling, downpour, dark coffee, minimalistic décor, distant journeys, and designing spaces.