Peg Murphy
Peg Murphy is a recent addition to Columbia College Chicago’s full time faculty. She brings 25+ years of practical world experience and a commitment to training tomorrow’s marketing stars today.
Peg came to Advertising and Marketing from other disciplines (theatre & music), as many do – both at Columbia and in the “real world.” Advertising and marketing proved to be a terrific way to combine all of her creativity, passions and business realities. She obtained her B.F.A. and M.A. at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (while teaching a wide variety of undergraduate courses, directing, performing, contributing to local marketing plans, running special events and even playing piano & cello). Then, she looked to full time employment in the Chicago ad community.
Peg began her marketing career at a leading direct marketing firm and quickly worked her way up the ranks to an Account Supervisor managing such national accounts as: Motorola, AARP, Playboy and Spiegel. She was then recruited to work at a “high spin” creative boutique as an Account Director on such accounts as: Apple Computer, Boca Burger, Chicago Title & Trust, Crate & Barrel, Marshall Field, Nine West, True Value, United States Cellular, Walgreens, etc. As part of the management team, she became one of the youngest Vice Presidents in the agency’s history, choosing to leave as the firm became part of Euro Tatham RSCG.
Subsequently, Peg worked as the National Director of Corporate Communications for a specialty designer retailer on “store within a store” concepts featured at high-end department stores across the country (including Neiman-Marcus, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, Marshall Field’s, etc). She also set up her own marketing consulting business and continues to work with various smaller non-profit clients to this day.
At Columbia, Peg served off and on as an Adjunct Faculty member for several years and became an Artist in Residence full time last year. She has been asked to continue her full time appointment this year as an Instructor and is looking forward to a terrific year full of developing and new initiatives. Peg has been active in development of a student Ad Club, is currently piloting a new Consumer Insights class and contributing to hopefully, a repeat strong performance by this year’s Ad Practicum at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) national competition – last year’s team placed 7th in the nation!