ADWEEK and Texas A&M have teamed up to launch a year-round media and events partnership called ADWEEK at Texas A&M. The university will become a regular stage for marketing and business leaders, as ADWEEK establishes itself at College Station throughout 2027.
“What ADWEEK is building with us is unusual in higher education, and we are fortunate to have this opportunity,” said R. Ethan Braden, Texas A&M’s vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. “It gives people a chance to experience the breadth of Texas A&M firsthand, see the impact of our work, and better understand where we can be useful to them.”
This partnership will also extend to SXSW in Austin, the PGA Championship in Frisco, and Brandweek, ADWEEK’s flagship marketing conference, which moves to Dallas in 2027 following two years in Atlanta.
ADWEEK’s creative and strategic studio, ctrl+A, will also support the partnership through original content and storytelling that brings Texas A&M’s people, perspectives, and innovations to audiences beyond College Station.
The first major event is ADWEEK University Spotlight: Texas A&M as a Force for Good; A Marketing Leadership Summit on Brand, Trust, and the Future of Marketing. It takes place March 4-5 in College Station, part of Texas A&M’s 150th anniversary. About 250 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local business leaders will join a select group of CMOs and senior marketing executives to discuss key marketing issues like brand, trust, AI, and customer experience.
Mays Business School and the newly named Arch H. Aplin III ‘80 Department of Marketing will also co-host that summit.
Texas A&M’s recognizability has surged in recent years. Higher education research firm American Caldwell’s July ranking put it sixth globally for university visibility, up from 21st in 2024, and second among U.S. public universities.
“Major universities are widely recognized but often narrowly understood,” said ADWEEK CEO Will Lee. “People may know the football team, a ranking, or a few academic strengths without seeing the larger enterprise behind them.”