VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley and Sharon Shaw

RICHMOND, Va. – The Adcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University announced today the appointment of one of the advertising industry’s top creative talents as managing director of the award-winning graduate advertising program. Rick Boyko, co-president and chief creative officer of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, Inc., will assume the position effective July 1, 2003.

Earlier today, Boyko announced his retirement from Ogilvy & Mather in order to take over leadership of the Adcenter, the VCU School of Mass Communications graduate program in advertising. As managing director of the Adcenter, Boyko will be responsible for financial and personnel management, as well as fundraising and outreach to individuals and firms in the advertising industry. 

"Rick Boyko is at the top of his game right now as one of the world's leading advertising creative directors, heading one of the industry's most renowned and accomplished creative departments,” said Mike Hughes, chairman of the Adcenter Board and president and creative director of The Martin Agency in Richmond. “Every serious professional in the business already studies Rick's work.  For a relatively small group of graduate students to have regular daily access to such an accomplished professional is probably unprecedented in advertising education."

Boyko began his advertising career as an art director at Leo Burnett, Chicago, where he worked on the United Airlines account. In the 1980s, he made his mark at Chiat/Day, Los Angeles. He then joined Ogilvy & Mather New York in 1989, where he worked on American Express and Duracell.  In 1997, Boyko was named chief creative officer and co-president of Ogilvy & Mather’s $1.5 billion flagship New York office. The following year, Boyko also was named North American chief creative officer.

“VCU prides itself on being home to a Nobel laureate and renowned experts in many fields,” said VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.  “In that vein, we are pleased with the world-class expertise and stature that Rick Boyko will bring to the VCU Adcenter.”

The VCU Adcenter’s unique master's degree program in advertising produces the most well-rounded and sought after young professionals in the industry.  The program combines a business-oriented strategic track with a creative program for art directors and copywriters in an agency setting. Teams of art directors, writers and strategy students work together to develop campaigns – a distinctive approach that sets the VCU Adcenter apart from other programs and has helped to secure its standing among industry and academic professionals as one of the top graduate advertising programs in the country.  

Boyko’s appointment is subject to the approval of VCU’s Board of Visitors, which meets Nov. 14.  He fills the position left vacant in July 2002 when Dr. Patty Alvey resigned to take over directorship of the Temerlin Advertising Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  

Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, Director of VCU’s School of Mass Communication, sees Boyko’s appointment as pivotal in positioning the Adcenter as the premiere “proving ground” for the industry’s future leaders. “The Adcenter is all about raising the bar of advertising practice,” she said.  “Rick has for many years epitomized ‘best practices’ in advertising, which makes him an ideal leader for the Adcenter.” 

Boyko has been a long-time advocate of advertising education. An active member of the VCU Adcenter Board since 2000, he was honored last year on behalf of Ogilvy & Mather for his company’s induction into VCU’s Founders’ Society.  Boyko is credited with helping to implement Young Guns – Ogilvy & Mather’s in-house mentoring program for young creatives joining the agency. He also currently sits on the board of The One Club, Creative Circus in Atlanta, and is on the Steering Committee for Art Center College of Design (his alma mater).