May 1, 2023 – The RW Jones Agency is excited to welcome Jennifer deCoste, Ph.D. as its new Senior Vice President and Managing Director overseeing a practice around strategic planning, coaching, and change management. Upon arrival, deCoste will spend time working on several select initiatives helping institutions with long-range planning and mission-driven campus climate work.
“Colleges and universities are looking for trusted partners and that is Jen deCoste,” said Sean Rossall, chief executive officer at the RW Jones Agency. “She has dedicated her entire career to serving higher education leaders and institutions. Her background, coupled with her desire to focus intensely on helping institutions build cultures that thrive, makes her a tremendous asset to higher education and our firm.”
Dr. deCoste comes to RW Jones from Credo Higher Education where she was Vice President for Leadership Strategies. Over the last seven years, her work facilitated engagement around strategic planning, implementation and leadership development with chancellors, presidents and boards.
“I am incredibly excited to join RW Jones as the agency’s reputation in higher education is unmatched and unquestioned, especially among those of us in the consulting space,” said deCoste. “What I am most excited about is building a practice with an organization that is nimble, strategic and makes meaningful change happen on campus, building on the exciting work RW Jones is undertaking around climate and the long-time work in communication.”
DeCoste has spent nearly 30 years working in higher education. She has served multiple roles at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville both as an Assistant Chancellor for Institutional Strategy, Planning and Diversity and as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement. She has also been an administrator and faculty member at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., as well as Penn State University. She holds a B.Mus. in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music an M.S. in Counseling from the University of Hartford and a dual-title Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and Women’s Studies from Penn State University.
“Dr. deCoste is a natural leader with a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience in higher education,” said Scott Willyerd, managing partner of the RW Jones Agency. “As more institutions obtain data about their campus climates they are increasingly asking questions about how to solve the challenges. With her background in strategic planning and passion for equity and service, Jen will help turn concepts into realities.”
DeCoste starts with the agency on May 15, 2023. Reach her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
