Johnny Cruz

Johnny Cruz is chief communications and marketing officer at the University of Arizona, leading the university’s central marketing and communications division.

Cruz has more than 25 years of communications and marketing experience at public research universities and global nonprofit organizations.

Most recently he served as chief communications and marketing officer at UC Riverside and has held prior leadership roles at Make-A-Wish America, World Vision, and the University of Arizona. 
Cruz is a nationally recognized higher education leader and practitioner, speaking and moderating at national conferences on the topics of branding, marketing, communications, and talent management.

He is chair-elect of the Council on Strategic Communications executive committee for the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. 

In 2023, he was named one of the three finalists for national higher education marketer of the year by the American Marketing Association.