Integrate 2019. "The Future of Marketing Communications" - Panel discussion at the Media Innovation Center with Hugo Perez, Jessica Modkins, Leo Morejon and Nathan Pieratt, moderated by Whitney Drake. (Photo by Andrew Pickens)
The Integrate Conference returns to the WVU Media Innovation Center June 4-6.
Integrate is a multi-day conference where communications and marketing professionals can attend presentations and networking sessions led by top experts. Participants can sharpen their skills, discover innovative strategies and gain inspiration from leading industry professionals.
“Integrate brings together creative and communications professionals from across the country to exchange ideas and explore the emerging trends and strategies shaping our industry,” said Cindy Hart, assistant dean of Online Programs at the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media. “The conference fosters meaningful collaboration, hands-on learning and lasting connections that extend well beyond the event.”
This year features speakers and workshops on branding and design, artificial intelligence, data analytics, building an audience and communicating in a crisis. There are several opportunities to have professional headshots taken and many chances—formal and informal—to network.
On Friday evening, there will be an awards dinner to recognize winners of the Alexia Vanides Online Teaching Award. Students nominate instructors in the online marketing communications master’s degree programs who have positively impacted their educational experience. Alexia Vanides received the first online teaching award in 2009; after her passing in 2011, the award was renamed in her honor.
For those interested only in attending the Friday night dinner on June 5, separate tickets are available.
Integrate 2022. David Hazelton (right) awarding Amy Teller the Alexia Vanides Teaching Award at the Media Innovation Center. (Photo by Andrew Pickens)
The conference officially begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 4, with a welcome mixer for all attendees. Conference registration and optional professional headshots begin at 3 p.m. that same day.
There are also two pre-conference workshops beginning at noon Thursday.
“Crisis Communication Bootcamp: Translating Theory into Rapid Action” by Julia Fraustino, an associate professor of Public Relations in the WVU Reed School of Media and Communications, guides participants through real-world scenarios, message development, spokesperson skills and rapid response considerations.
“Bake-Off for a Modern Marketer: Building an AI-Powered Campaign” by Joe Gura, the director of Global Partner Enablement and Customer Events at Microsoft and instructor in the WVU Digital Marketing Communications program, will put participants through a “marketing bake-off,” where they must work collaboratively to develop campaign strategies and activation plans using generative AI tools.
View the full schedule at https://integrate.wvu.edu/schedule.
A WVU Integrated Marketing Communications graduate, Mallory Weaver will be attending Integrate for the fifth time. She’s looking forward to learning how others in the industry are approaching challenges and opportunities in the field.
“Each year brings new insights,” she said. “One of the biggest things I’ve taken away from past conferences is it’s important to stay adaptable and open to new perspectives. Integrate consistently highlights emerging trends and real-world applications, which has influenced my work and my mindset.”
Integrate 2019. Conference attendees network during a break. (Photo by Andrew Pickens)
Weaver’s favorite part of Integrate is its connectivity and the way it brings together people from different marketing and communications fields.
“There’s something really energizing about being in a space where ideas are shared so openly and conversations continue beyond the sessions themselves,” she said. “Integrate continues to be an important space for both my personal and professional development. It’s not just about attending sessions—it’s about being part of a community that values learning, collaboration and forward-thinking ideas.”
The All Access Pass includes all Integrate 2026 events and the Friday awards dinner, while the Conference Only Pass covers all events except the dinner. Neither pass includes the pre-conference workshops, which require separate registration and payment and do not grant access to other conference events.
For more details or to register for the 2026 conference, visit integrate.wvu.edu.