Aggieland by the Sea Welcomes New Marketing and Communications Director
Texas A&M University at Galveston is excited to welcome Toni Mooney Smith as the campus’ new marketing and communications director.
Mooney Smith, who brings more than 20 years of higher education experience, accepted the position from Galveston Campus Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Col. Michael E. Fossum earlier this year. She comes to the Aggie island campus from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, where she served as chief marketing and communications officer (CMCO), leading a team of fourteen staff dedicated to developing and managing the university’s brand strategy, digital and web development, communications, media relations, social media, enrollment marketing, creative services and more. In addition to day-to-day operations, Mooney Smith supported national and global strategic initiatives, including international educational and experiential partnerships, leading to new audiences and non-traditional marketing opportunities.
Galveston Campus Director of Marketing & Communications
Fossum noted that he looks forward to working with her to develop and build a cohesive brand, stating, “We are Texas A&M, mixed with some sand and saltwater.” He also looks forward to refining our messaging and sharing our marine and maritime mission on a larger scale.
“We’re excited to welcome Toni onboard. Her wealth of knowledge and professional expertise, particularly in higher education, will help us share the fantastic and unique opportunities available only to our Sea Aggies. The Galveston Campus is home to the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and a number of programs in the College of Engineering, making us the nation’s premier marine and maritime educational, research and training institution. As drivers of the blue economy, our sea-grant mission creates a unique but rewarding marketing challenge that Toni is excited to tackle.”
Prior to her role at Carnegie Mellon, Mooney Smith served as the inaugural vice chancellor for marketing and communications and chief brand strategist at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, as well as executive director of strategic communications and marketing for the University of Houston’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Mooney Smith also has a wealth of experience in the private and medical sectors, as well as government experience from the Office of the Texas Attorney General, where she served as deputy director of communications.
In her various positions, Mooney Smith has been pivotal in implementing global marketing and communications strategies that have propelled her, her institutions, and her teams into the spotlight.
- She was named among Cision’s 2025-2024 Top 50 Women Leaders in Education.
- At Rutger’s University, her strategic brand strategy, digital marketing campaigns and targeted media placements resulted in increased enrollment for several schools, reversing the prior year’s double-digit enrollment decline.
- She and her team at Rutger’s were recognized for more than a dozen awards of excellence in brand marketing, digital campaigns, media and news writing, from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
- At the University of Houston, Mooney Smith developed a strategic plan to increase media pitches and mentions, increasing university media mentions by 40%.
- She was awarded multiple National Council for Marketing and Public Relations Paragon Awards.
“I’m thrilled to become part of an organization that embodies the spirit of leadership, service, and community—values deeply rooted in the traditions of Texas A&M University at Galveston,” said Mooney Smith. “I look forward to making meaningful contributions and embracing the opportunities ahead!”
Mooney Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Houston, where she excelled as a Division I athlete on the Women’s Basketball Team. She achieved elite status as a member of the prestigious University of Houston 1,000-Point Club (Lady Coogs). Additionally, she was the first-round draft pick by the Houston Shamrocks of the Women’s American Basketball Association (WABA), coached by the legendary Elvin “The Big E” Hayes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
Along with her undergraduate degree, Mooney Smith earned a master’s in communications from Northwestern University. She also holds professional certificates from the Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership in Education and The University of Texas at Austin Executive Issues in Crisis Management. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America and CHIEF, a national professional network for women executives.
Toni and her husband, Morris, an executive with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, make their home on the island, nestled in the west end of Galveston Island.