Chris Knudson is chief marketing officer and director of the Strategic Marketing & Communication Office at Wartburg College, where he has served since 2016. With more than two decades of experience in higher education marketing, communication, design, and digital strategy, he provides strategic leadership for the college’s institutional brand, marketing initiatives, and communication efforts.
Throughout his career at Wartburg, Knudson has held leadership roles spanning creative strategy, digital communication, web development, and marketing. He has also served as a senior lecturer for 11 years, teaching courses in graphic design, public relations, and business. As chief marketing officer, he has led teams of up to 11 creative, printing, and mailing professionals and managed a six-figure marketing budget while guiding major institutional initiatives that strengthen Wartburg’s reputation, enrollment, and engagement.
Among his signature accomplishments are leading the development and launch of Wartburg’s Experience More brand, as well as a new institutional logo and comprehensive visual identity. He also served on the leadership team for The Wartburg Commitment, an innovative pricing model and value proposition designed to expand access to higher education and experiential learning. More recently, he has led the marketing strategy for new graduate programs in health and human performance, building on the successful launch of Wartburg’s first master’s degree in leadership.
Knudson has been recognized nationally for his leadership and expertise in higher education marketing and communication. From 2007 to 2024, he served as a volunteer leader with the Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) District VI, holding both Cabinet and conference leadership positions. In 2020, CASE national leadership selected him as a co-chair of the organization’s first virtual international All Districts Conference. The event attracted more than 19,000 registrants, making it the largest CASE event in the organization’s history at the time. In 2025, he was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award from CASE VI.
His commitment to community leadership extends beyond higher education. Knudson has served on the boards of the Iowa Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Waverly Chamber of Commerce and Main Street. In 2023, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Main Street Iowa recognized him with a leadership award for his strategic contributions to Main Street, economic development, and the Waverly community.
A frequent national presenter, Knudson has shared his expertise on branding, strategic planning, digital communication, design, and public relations with professional audiences across the country. He has also contributed chapters to two college-level textbooks alongside nationally recognized communication leaders.
Knudson holds a Master of Arts in public relations from the University of Northern Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and online communication from Wartburg College. He lives in Waverly with his husband, Corey.
