Purdue Marketing launches rebranding as university’s internal marketing agency

Emily Richwine, senior director of creative services at the university’s in-house marketing agency, Purdue Brand Studio, oversees production of a new 10-minute short film called “Boilers to Mars.” (Purdue University/Greta Bell)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s award-winning marketing department has announced a strategic realignment designed to reflect its capabilities and role within the university. As of Friday (Sept. 13), the department officially begins operations as the Purdue Brand Studio, solidifying its position as a full-service, in-house marketing agency.

“Purdue Brand Studio is more than just a new name – it’s a recognition of our existing capabilities and a strategic move to align the university with the standards of marketing excellence found in major consumer brands,” said Kelly Hiller, the university’s vice president of marketing. “This shift allows us to more effectively leverage our strengths in creativity and brand strategy, which spurs us to innovate and enchant.”

“The reality is that our team is already operating at an agency level,” she said. “Now our next big step is to formalize that reality in a new way so we can best serve the Purdue brand and the land-grant mission.”

This role transition builds on Purdue Brand Studio’s track record of award-winning marketing campaigns and industry recognition and aims to enhance the team’s ability to deliver long-term value to partners in business-to-business and business-to-consumer ecosystems.

The announcement coincided with the premiere of “Boilers to Mars,” a feature film and marketing campaign, on Thursday (September 12).

The 10-minute film itself is a multi-layered marketing mission, following the academic and professional careers of four fictional Purdue students who meet during their freshman year and eventually become part of a historic first mission to Mars.

Purdue Brand Studio has secured support from SpaceKids Global for “Boilers to Mars,” a collaboration that speaks to the department’s stellar reputation. SpaceKids Global aims to inspire and empower young minds by introducing children to the variety of careers in space exploration and technology.

Praise and Partner

Purdue has received unprecedented attention directly related to the achievements of its marketing and communications department, including a number of novel awards and opportunities for the university.

In July, focused efforts to make the world aware of the importance and value of the Purdue brand culminated in the university being named the most recognized university among U.S. public universities and No. 9 in the world in the 2024–25 Global University Visibility Rankings.

The institutional spot “What Can You Imagine at Purdue?” has been viewed nearly 30 million times on YouTube, was named Best Motivational Video of 2023 by the Content Marketing Institute, and is one of PR Daily’s 2023 Content Marketing Campaign winners alongside brands like Pfizer and Elf Cosmetics.

In 2023, Purdue was named to Fast Company magazine’s list of Brands That Matter for the third consecutive year because the university executes its mission and ideals with intention and authenticity. Purdue was the first university on the list and remains one of the few colleges to hold this spot.

In April, the Marketing and Communications team partnered with two world-renowned brands, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASA, for the Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event, securing a visit from national media—including Good Morning America—and the largest single day of earned media exposure in Purdue history.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution that demonstrates excellence at scale. Ranked among the top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and scale that is unmatched. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue in a variety of modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person at the West Lafayette campus. Purdue University’s main campus is committed to affordability and accessibility, freezing tuition for 13 consecutive years. See how Purdue never stops taking the next big step—including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative—at

About SpaceKids Global

SpaceKids Global is a Florida-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and actively engage a statewide audience of elementary school students in STEAM activities, ensuring equal representation for girls and inspiring all to pursue careers in space exploration and technology. For more information, visit www.spacekids.global.