# Tanya Kreinin

> Tanya Kreinin is the University of Toronto's assistant vice-president of brand strategy and chief marketing officer, leading institution-wide brand, marketing, advancement communications, and reputation work. After beginning her career on the agency side and helping create the Boundless campaign platform at J. Walter Thompson, she joined U of T and went on to build an enterprise brand operation for a decentralized, three-campus university. Her work includes the Defy Gravity platform, a renewed university Brand Portal, advancement campaigns, alumni advocacy, mentorship, and industry judging.

- **Role:** Assistant Vice-President, Brand Strategy and Chief Marketing Officer at the University of Toronto
- **Organizations:** University of Toronto, J. Walter Thompson, AMA Toronto, Council for Advancement and Support of Education
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts, University of Haifa, Piano and vocal studies, Conservatory of Music, St. Petersburg, Russia
- **Known for:** Built U of T's first enterprise-wide brand platform and established an in-house agency model integrating creative work, data and institutional purpose., Led the institution-wide Defy Gravity brand platform developed through consultation across the university community., Led advancement communications and marketing connected to U of T's $4 billion Defy Gravity fundraising campaign.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2014** — Worked on the agency side in brand strategy and integrated marketing, including as Senior Director, Brand Strategy and Integrated Marketing at J. Walter Thompson, where she led development and public launch of the Boundless campaign brand platform.
- **2014** — Was serving as acting senior executive director of Advancement Communications and Marketing at the University of Toronto and co-publisher of U of T Magazine.
- **2016** — Served as executive director on U of T advancement communications work marking the expansion of the Boundless campaign.
- **2018** — Appointed Assistant Vice-President, Brand Strategy and Integrated Marketing, effective October 1, with dual responsibilities across university communications and advancement.
- **2021** — Served on the Provost's Advisory Group on Lifelong Learning Opportunities.
- **2022** — Helped launch Defy Gravity, U of T's institution-wide brand expression, after consultation with students, faculty, staff, alumni and prospective students.
- **2024** — Led the evolution of U of T's Brand Portal, which received an IABC/Toronto OVATION Award of Excellence in digital communications.
- **2025** — Presented with Emma Nguyen at CASE on turning alumni into brand advocates and received a Simcoe Hall Vice-Presidential Staff Award.
- **2026** — Continued as U of T's Assistant Vice-President, Brand Strategy and Chief Marketing Officer, served on the university Rankings Advisory Committee, and was listed as a Strategy Awards judge.

## Achievements

- Built U of T's first enterprise-wide brand platform and established an in-house agency model integrating creative work, data and institutional purpose.
- Led the institution-wide Defy Gravity brand platform developed through consultation across the university community.
- Led advancement communications and marketing connected to U of T's $4 billion Defy Gravity fundraising campaign.
- Received a 2025 Simcoe Hall Vice-Presidential Staff Award.
- Credited on the 2018 This Is The Place innovation and entrepreneurship campaign, an IABC/Toronto OVATION Award of Excellence winner.
- Led the renewed U of T Brand Portal, recognized with a 2024 IABC/Toronto OVATION Award of Excellence for digital communications.
- Her work has received recognition from Cannes Lions, Clio, Effie, CMA, IABC, CASE, CCAE and AMA programs.
- Serves as an industry speaker, mentor and award judge.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — U of T's current senior administration chart continued to list Kreinin as Assistant Vice-President, Brand Strategy and Integrated Marketing.
- **2026-05** — Listed as a Strategy Awards judge and described as leading U of T's global brand, advancement communications and reputation strategy.
- **2026-02** — Named as a member of U of T's Rankings Advisory Committee.
- **2025-11** — Scheduled as a speaker at the Digital Customer Experience Summit in Toronto.
- **2025-06** — Presented the CASE session From Alumni to Advocates with Emma Nguyen.
- **2025-04** — Named among recipients of a 2025 Simcoe Hall Vice-Presidential Staff Award.

## Links

- Website: https://www.utoronto.ca
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyakreinin

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tanya-kreinin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-24