Ulysses Drinks named director, Administration, Communications and Marketing

In his new position, Drinks will ensure that marketing activities comply with university policies, procedures and principles. He will direct advertising programs, plan and recommend budgets, and coordinate administration personnel and some marketing-support people.

Ulysses Drinks, who helped shape Wright State’s advertising campaigns during his 26-year career, has been named Director of Administration, Communications and Marketing.

Formerly Director of Advertising and Business Services, Drinks helped develop the university’s Success Within Your Reach advertising campaign in 1996 and was on the team that worked on the marketing plan for the Tomorrow Takes Flight capital campaign from 2000 to 2004.

“That’s what I’m most proud of,” he said, of leaving his mark on the advertising campaigns.

Hired as a graphic designer in 1985, Drinks designed the university’s first graphic identity program and institutional graphics manual. In 1990, he developed the first logo for the Wright State Nutter Center.

Drinks was named senior graphic designer in 1996 and in 1999 was promoted to advertising manager.

In 2005, Drinks was named Manager of Marketing Strategy and Enrollment Support and in 2008 appointed Director of Advertising and Business Services.

In January 2007, Drinks developed the Open House advertising campaign, which led to a greater public awareness of the university and helped reverse a one-year enrollment decline in 2007.

In his new position, Drinks will ensure that marketing activities comply with university policies, procedures and principles. He will direct advertising programs, plan and recommend budgets, and coordinate administration personnel and some marketing-support people.

Drinks said the biggest challenge for him today is trying to make advertising decisions amid the growing number of communication channels—from print to television to social media.

“It’s a lot more complex,” he said. “Now, you have to really, really be strategic in where you’re placing the dollars in order to reach the target.”

Drinks obtained his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in communications design from the Pratt Institute in New York City.

He grew up in Cincinnati and currently resides in Kettering. He enjoys fishing and is a big football and basketball fan.