John Nicoletti

John James Nicoletti has a 30-plus year background in communications, public affairs, and issues management with extensive experience in sports and entertainment, local government and entrepreneurial start-ups. He has helped develop campaigns through creative and visual design and targeted messaging that has raised brand awareness and increased sales.

Nicoletti leads ASU's Cronkite Agency as its executive director and professor of practice, after the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication combined two of its award-winning programs, the Public Relations Lab and Digital Audienes Lab, to form a new integrated strategic communications agency. The Agency allows its student-members to develop communication strategies and implement comprehensive campaigns for local, regional and national clients, while leveraging the expertise of the Agency’s faculty leaders. The agency also integrates the RWJF Southwest Health Reporting and Communications Initiative, part of a multi-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which will create a public relations campaign, community education outreach and digital marketing strategies aimed at the Spanish-speaking parents of young children in the Southwest.

Prior to ASU, Nicoletti was Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications of InStride, a learning services enterprise designed to achieve significant social impact through partnerships with universities and employers. John managed the company’s media relations, public affairs, brand development, as well as issues management, internal and executive communications.

Before joining InStride, Nicoletti worked for The Walt Disney Company for more than 11 years for both the company’s Parks and Resorts and Walt Disney Studios segments, leading various external and internal communications functions throughout his tenure. 

Prior to Disney, Nicoletti was the external affairs manager and chief spokesperson for the city of Anaheim, California’s 10th largest city. 

Nicoletti has been an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer at numerous southern California universities including Pepperdine – Malibu, Chapman University, CSU-Fullerton, and the University of Southern California.

A graduate of UCLA (B.A., English) and Pepperdine University (M.A., Communications), Nicoletti is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.