This spring, Carolyn Kogan joined the Virginia Tech Department of Marketing as an assistant professor of practice, following her previous role as an adjunct instructor. She is grateful for the opportunity to connect with students, foster an environment of respect, and create thoughtful, experience-based teaching.

headshot for Carolyn Kogan

Before joining the department, Kogan began her career in fine arts and visual communication. She earned her master’s degree at the Academy of Art, Architecture, and Design, where she focused on film and animation during the early rise of social media. Her creative work included producing short-form videos tailored to emerging digital platforms.

After graduate school, Kogan moved to Germany to work in education with a design group focused on sustainable agriculture. Their work was shared through social media channels, highlighting the intersection of design, sustainability, and communication. Upon returning to the United States, she began working independently with small businesses offering distinctive marketing services grounded in her design background. Her expertise spans branding, content creation, and visual storytelling.

Shortly after relocating to Blacksburg with her family, she began teaching at Virginia Tech.

Kogan views the classroom as a space for connection and purposeful dialogue. She values the opportunity to engage with students and support their sense of place and direction in a rapidly changing world. This semester, she is teaching four courses that reflect her dynamic approach to marketing and well-being:  Marketing Management (MKTG 3104),  Personal Well-being and Professional Success (MKTG 3134), Advertising (MKTG 3504), and Social Media and Content Marketing (MKTG 4164).

Carolyn Kogan teaching

Outside the classroom, she enjoys running while listening to podcasts focused on wellness and the evolving role of AI in marketing. These moments often spark new ideas that she brings directly into her teaching.

Looking ahead, Kogan is excited about the next chapter of Hokie Headspace, a student-led, student-produced storytelling podcast that she facilitates. The project is shifting from audio to live-action video, with plans to share episodes with high school students across Virginia. The aim is to create space for thoughtful conversations rooted in the concerns of this generation and this moment in time.

This semester, she is also advising the Student-Led Social Media and Content Marketing Webinar Series, a four-part initiative designed to help small businesses develop practical social media strategies. Students collaborate to present to real clients and mentor local high school students, gaining hands-on experience while giving back to the community.

Carolyn Kogan teaching

Kogan hopes to support the continued growth of Hokie Headspace as a meaningful resource for youth ages 16 to 22. She also envisions collaborating on a mentorship program for marketing students, facilitating small-group connections that foster personal and professional growth. She emphasizes that while AI can support skill development, meaningful mentorship remains inherently human, requiring presence, intention, and trust.

Outside her academic and creative pursuits, she has set her sights on running a full marathon after completing her first half marathon last fall.

The Pamplin College of Business Department of Marketing is pleased to welcome Carolyn Kogan.