VCU’s Interactive Marketing Institute Names Managing Director

By Tom Gresham

Anne A. Schaeffer, a well-known and experienced direct marketing educator, has been named managing director of Virginia Commonwealth University's Interactive Marketing Institute.

Schaeffer previously led the education, conference and councils events departments at the Direct Marketing Association. During her nearly 25-year tenure, Schaeffer was instrumental in creating the DM Certificate, the Insurance DM Certificate and the SEM Certificate, as well as in expanding the DMA's curriculum by more than 30 courses. She was responsible for numerous other educational events, delivering innovative and cutting edge information to thousands of direct marketers annually.

"We're incredibly excited to have Anne join IMI," said Judy Van Slyke Turk, Ph.D., director of the VCU School of Mass Communications, home of the Interactive Marketing Institute. "It's a great way to celebrate the Institute's 10th anniversary of delivering the most respected professional certification in direct marketing. I know she'll be a tremendous asset as we update the curriculum to reflect the challenges of the current economy and the opportunities that today's developing technologies present, while continuing to provide the most valuable DM education available anywhere."

Schaeffer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and English and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Bernard M. Baruch (CUNY). She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the Direct Marketing Idea Exchange and the American Society of Association Executives. In addition to her role as Managing Director of IMI, Schaeffer is the Membership Director of the Direct Marketing Idea Exchange and a marketing consultant to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.