Biography

An innovative marketing executive, Maria Slade, BA, MHA, has more than 25 years of experience leading marketing, communication and public relations in mission-driven organizations—particularly in the nonprofit sector through work with community hospital systems and academic medical centers. Throughout her career, Maria has been known for building strong, collaborative teams, delivering award-winning campaigns and guiding organizations through complex challenges with clarity and vision.

As associate vice chancellor of Marketing, Maria oversees a multifaceted, interdisciplinary marketing organization that manages Rowan University's brand and produces institutional marketing campaigns and programs. She also leads the planning, development and execution of university marketing and promotional initiatives, generating revenue by achieving enrollment, fundraising and auxiliary business objectives.

Previously, Maria served as vice president of Regional Marketing & Communications for Jefferson Health, where she oversaw daily marketing and communications operations for Jefferson’s regional divisions, including nine community hospitals serving Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County and Southern New Jersey. As senior level point of contact to regional presidents, hospital operations executives, and clinical leaders, Maria led the planning and execution of regional and/or hospital-specific marketing and communications initiatives.  

Prior to this role, Maria served in positions of progressive responsibility and leadership at Aria Health (now part of Jefferson Health and formerly Frankford Health Care System) in Northeast Philadelphia, managing marketing, public and media relations, internal communications, strategic planning and community outreach initiatives. In these positions, she applied a range of experience to direct marketing efforts, including the branding of Aria Health, as well as the evolution of Aria’s digital properties and social media platform. 

Prior to her tenure at Aria, Maria served as a media representative in the Public Relations Department and led marketing projects at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City, Philadelphia. In this role, she achieved local and national media coverage for new medical treatments, breaking medical news and clinical research studies. 

Since 2022, Maria has also helped grow Rowan’s Healthcare Management & Administration program in the School of Professional Studies as an adjunct professor and curriculum designer. As she provides instruction and learning opportunities tailored to our students' unique needs, she also enjoys serving as an advisor and mentor to them as they move through their academic journey and plan future careers.

Maria holds a BA in Communication from La Salle University and an MHA from the University of Phoenix. 

When not sharing Rowan’s brand story, Maria enjoys quality time with her family, writing and home decorating – especially with oil and watercolor paintings by her daughter and art educator, Taylor (B’23).