Brett Ashworth
Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing
William “Brett” Ashworth was named Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing for the Texas Tech University System in October 2016. In his role, Ashworth works directly with Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell, as well as system and university leadership, overseeing communications and marketing efforts as a member of the Chancellor’s executive cabinet.
Ashworth is also responsible for overall communications, messaging, marketing and branding for the Texas Tech University System with a goal of increasing statewide and national awareness. He manages the Office of Communications and Marketing at the Texas Tech University System and collaborates directly with the communications and marketing teams at each of the four component institutions.
Ashworth has more than two decades of experience in public relations and communications strategy in the military and higher education.
Previously, Ashworth served as the Vice President for Communications and Marketing at The Citadel in South Carolina, where he was responsible for strategically communicating the college’s institutional priorities and overseeing its internal and external communications and marketing functions. He also served as the primary spokesperson and leader of crisis communications planning and execution, as well as the leader of government relations at The Citadel.
Ashworth is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. His final military assignment was at the Pentagon where he served as director of Air Force media relations. In this role, he was the Air Force’s primary spokesperson and advisor to senior Air Force leadership, including the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff. He also commanded an Air Force recruiting squadron that included 102 people covering four states and 106,000 square miles. His other assignments include public affairs duties at all levels of the Air Force and two overseas deployments following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One deployment was to Afghanistan where he served as the strategic communications advisor to the Afghan government.
Ashworth earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas State University and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a Master of Science in Integrated Strategic Leadership from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
A native of Irving, Texas, Ashworth and his wife Katy are the parents of triplets, Kara, Libby and Drew.
Contact Brett at (806) 742-0057 or brett.ashworth@ttu.edu.