Dara J. Royer

Dara J. Royer has been selected to launch and oversee Syracuse University’s newly integrated Division of Communications and Marketing as senior VP and chief communications officer, beginning Sept. 7. She currently serves as chief development and marketing officer at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization; she is Mercy Corps’ first-ever chief marketing officer. Royer previously spent five years serving as VP for brand marketing at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Before that, she was senior VP of corporate and community affairs at Cook Children’s Healthcare System in Fort Worth, Texas. Royer, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Indiana University, Bloomington, began her career in television news. The Emmy Award-winning producer worked in Traverse City, Michigan, and later in Las Vegas. Named one of PR News’ 2017 Top Women in Public Relations, Royer is also the recipient of the CMO Club’s 2016 Officers Award and was named Senior Marketer of the Year at the 2016 Max Awards, hosted by the Portland Chapter of the American Marketing Association.