Allison Otu, MBA is a visionary executive leader renowned for driving organizational success through impactful branding strategies and community engagement initiatives. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU), Otu is pivotal in leading ASU Law's endeavors to scale and elevate programs while fostering strategic partnerships and expanding targeted efforts.
Over the past 20+ years, Otu has held various influential positions in higher education and healthcare, showcasing her expertise in executive communications, brand and community engagement. Her higher education journey began in 2012 at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix leading outreach and communications and then assumed the role of Executive Director for Corporate and Community Relations at the University of Arizona Health Sciences. Joining various roles at ASU as Executive Director of Brand Engagement and Communications for the Walter Cronkite School for Journalism and Mass Communication and Arizona PBS and Associate Vice President of Outreach in Educational Outreach and Student Services, she led an expanded team to elevate brand awareness and orchestrate strategic engagement opportunities, leaving an indelible mark.
Otu's remarkable achievements include founding and organizing signature programs such as the University of Arizona’s Connect2STEM annual event, which garnered widespread acclaim as the largest STEM outreach event in Phoenix. Under her leadership, Connect2STEM attracted over 41,000 attendees over seven years and garnered 29.5M media impressions. Notably, the event received prestigious accolades, including the Best in Show at the 2021 Public Relations Society of America Impact Awards and first place at the 2022 Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Institutional Advancement Awards for Excellence.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Otu is deeply committed to community impact and serves in board positions in prominent organizations such as the Arizona School for the Arts, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. Recognized for her leadership, Otu was appointed by City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to the Phoenix Women’s Commission in 2019, where she currently serves as the affordable childcare subcommittee co-chair.