LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Brandi Wood, director of marketing and communications at Truett McConnell University, was awarded the Outstanding Newcomer Award at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Since joining Truett McConnell University, Wood has led efforts to expand national brand awareness for the university. Under her leadership, TMU produced professional commercial campaigns that aired on national platforms including Fox News, Hulu and Spotify. As a result of these efforts, the university experienced significant growth in digital engagement, with website traffic increasing from several thousand visits to more than one million within a year.
Wood also developed and launched Echos Alumni Magazine, the first alumni publication produced by TMU in more than 20 years. The magazine was created to strengthen communication and engagement between the university and its alumni community.
Shortly after Wood began her role, the university faced a highly publicized leadership crisis that resulted in the removal of its president. During this period, she led a communications strategy that emphasized the university’s students and mission. She launched the I AM TMU campaign, which highlighted student stories and served as the primary messaging platform for the university for more than two months. The campaign generated the highest engagement of any social media initiative in the TMU’s history.
The award recognizes Wood’s early leadership, adaptability and measurable impact in advancing Truett McConnell University’s communications and outreach efforts during a period of both growth and challenge.