Chad Mezera
Chad Mezera is the Assistant Dean of Online Programs for the College of Creative
Arts and Media at West Virginia University (WVU). In this role, he oversees all
online courses offered by the college and leads the online programs support team.
Currently, the college offers master’s degree programs in
Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC),
Data Marketing Communications and
Digital Marketing Communications, as well as
graduate certificate programs/specializations in Creative Strategy, Data
Marketing Communications, Digital & Social Media, Creative Strategy, Healthcare
Marketing, Higher Education Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications, and
Public Relations Leadership. He also supports the College’s undergraduate online
courses, including bachelor's degree program in
Integrated Marketing Communications and minors in Advertising, Entertainment
Media, Event Planning, Health Promotion, Public Relations, Sport Communications
and Strategic Social Media. In total, Mezera currently oversees 127 unique online
courses offered in over 250 sections each academic year and taught by 120 academic-practitioner
instructors. He also leads planning and delivery of the college's
Integrate conference.
In 2015,
the IMC program was named the “Outstanding Online Program” by the Online Learning
Consortium (OLC), the leading professional organization devoted to advancing
the quality of online learning worldwide. The OLC annually recognizes the program
for its proven record of excellence, as demonstrated by its success in providing
expanded access, learning effectiveness and high levels of student and faculty
satisfaction, in a cost-effective manner.
In 2020,
the IMC program was recognized as a "Program of Excellence" by the West
Virginia University Board of Governors for meeting criteria in five categories,
including distinction (external recognition), faculty achievement, graduate success,
and strong curriculum assessment.
Mezera has been instrumental in the development and launch of many of the college's online programs, including a digital marketing communications graduate certificate program in 2009, undergraduate minors in strategic social media in 2013, and entertainment media and event planning in 2014, master of science in data marketing communications in 2016, certificate programs in digital & social media, higher education marketing, healthcare marketing, data marketing communications, creative strategy and public relations leadership in 2019, master of science in digital marketing communications in 2020, and bachelor of science in integrated marketing communications in 2021.
Mezera serves on numerous university committees, including the WVU Graduate Admissions Strategic Action Council, Veterans Advisory Committee, and Reed College of Media Leadership Team and Graduate Committee. The longest continuously-serving member on the WVU eCampus Advisory Council, he was active on the council since its inception in 2006 through dissolution in 2019.
Before coming to WVU in 2005, Mezera led the internal corporate communications function of a major government IT solutions provider. Prior to that, he planned and executed national and regional marketing campaigns for a non-partisan think tank focused on developing and teaching best practices in federal, state and local government. Mezera promoted the think tank’s centers of excellence in law enforcement, government contracting, technology and environmental policy.
In 2017, Mezera established the IMC & DMC Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is specifically designed to support graduate students in the WVU Reed College of Media’s marketing communications graduate programs.
Mezera earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and a master’s degree in journalism from WVU and is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society promoting scholarship in journalism and mass communication. He is also a MBTI Certified Practitioner.
For more information on the online programs offered by the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media, visit:
Master’s Degree Programs:
- Data Marketing Communications Master’s Degree Program
- Digital Marketing Communications Master's Degree Program
- Integrated Marketing Communications Master’s Degree Program
Graduate Areas of Emphasis and Certificates:
- Creative Strategy
- Data Marketing Communications
- Digital and Social Media
- Healthcare
- Higher Education
- Integrated Marketing Communications
- Public Relations Leadership
Bachelor's Degree Program:
Undergraduate Minors: