Dillard University Selects Hill & Knowlton for Re-branding Initiative

NEW YORK, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Dillard University, a historically black university (HBCU) in New Orleans has selected Hill & Knowlton to work on major re-branding campaigns and initiatives.

Established in 1869, Dillard University has a proud legacy of academic excellence, social justice and resilience and is firmly positioned as one of the most prestigious HBCU's in America. Dillard University demonstrated this resilience in the aftermath of Katrina when, despite severe damage from Hurricane Katrina, it managed to uphold its traditional commencement ceremony presided over by internationally renowned educator and philanthropist Bill Cosby.

Dillard University is strengthening its PR and marketing arsenal in order to solidify its story of student success, which stems from the school's identity as a leading university with strong ties to its history and heritage.

"As we continue to look ahead and plan our future in the 21st Century, we sought to partner with a firm that had outstanding expertise in marketing and strategic planning and could best position the Dillard University brand in both the national and international educational arena. H&K provided the best program for our needs," said Marvalene Hughes, PhD President, Dillard University.

H&K will provide strategic positioning and branding of the Dillard University visionary platform. H&K will also assist Dillard University with a capital campaign named Advantage Dillard! which aims to secure over S70 million dollars to increase this institution's standing among the nation's universities, continue to rebuild the beautiful, oak-filled campus, attract top faculty, and recruit the best and the brightest students in the country. In addition, H&K's thriving digital practice will integrate creative online and interactive technologies with their overall campaign.

"We are delighted to be working with a university of this caliber. This is a new era for Dillard University in terms of their student offering and their contribution to the international community and we are honored to be a part of that," said MaryLee Sachs, US Chairman H&K.

H&K is proud to add Dillard University to its roster of clients in the field of education, which include University of South Florida, University of Illinois and UCLA. H&K has provided these institutions with branding, media relations, and crisis communications.

Advantage Dillard! launches on May 9th at the Pre-Commencement Scholarship Benefit Concert in New Orleans.

About Hill & Knowlton

Hill & Knowlton is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered New York with 72 offices in 41 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP NASDAQ: WPPGY, one of the world's largest communications services groups.