Follett Higher Education names chief marketer

Follett Higher Education has named its first ever female chief marketer in the company’s 150-year history.

The nation's largest campus retailer has promoted Leann Fowler, senior VP of academic marketing & communications, to the role of chief marketing officer. In the new position, she will lead all aspects of Follett’s marketing strategy with a focus on enhancing the customer experience and driving “engagement and excitement” across both B2B and B2C channels.

Fowler has been with Follett since 2022, and has served as senior VP since May of 2023. She has more than 20 years of experience in the world of higher education and publishing, having held several marketing roles at VitalSource from 2017 to 2021 and at John Wiley and Sons for nearly 12 years.

"Since joining Follett in 2022, Leann has quickly demonstrated her strong marketing expertise and ability to drive meaningful results,” said Emmanuel Kolady, CEO of Follett. “Her forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of the higher education landscape have been instrumental in shaping our strategy. Leann’s focus on building effective teams and aligning our marketing efforts with both campus and consumer needs positions her well to lead Follett’s next phase of growth. Her leadership will enhance how we communicate our value to campus partners, while creating personalized, engaging retail experiences that directly connect with students, families, alumni and fans."