August 31, 2026 Marketing and Communications Update
In this issue, we have updated the brand anthem content package, and we have the Red, White and Blue Game content package. We will be adding stories and content packages featuring people, programs, research, faculty and former students throughout the fall to continue the efforts behind telling the world about how together, we create so much good.
Howdy, University MarComm Community,
The excitement and energy of having our students on campus again is all around us. What an enjoyable experience. We want to thank all of you for your work, support and time over the past few weeks as you shared stories, engaged and helped us launch our new brand commercial, together. Our new brand anthem made its national broadcast debut during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., to millions of viewers and received a lot of positive feedback. We look forward to its continued success. Also, we want to say thank you to every team member who assisted us in finding talent, helped us coordinate scenes and worked with our teams to produce this year’s anthem. You and your teams are part of what made the launch a success, and we are grateful for how we are able to work together. Below is the content package for the Red, White and Blue Game and the 2026 brand anthem. We will continue to update the brand anthem throughout the year. Please review these packages and find ways to share, engage and/or tell stories that relate to these moments.
We are pleased to announce that Nick Birdsong has joined the Division of Marketing and Communications team as its Director of Social Media. Nick brings valuable experience from the professional sports industry through his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Nuggets. In his previous role, Nick contributed to a fast-paced, highly visible brand environment, supporting storytelling, audience engagement and communications efforts. His background will be an asset as we continue to elevate Texas A&M University’s social channels and share the stories of the people, programs and traditions that make our university distinctive. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Nick as he begins this new role with Texas A&M.
2026 Brand Anthem Content Package
This fall marks a truly historic year for Texas A&M. As we welcome the new academic year, we are preparing to celebrate major milestones that reflect who we are as an institution, what we stand for and the impact Aggies continue to make in Texas, across the nation and around the world. The anthem is more than a celebration of Texas A&M; it is a reflection of our shared commitment to working together for the good of our communities. For 150 years, Aggies have lived out this commitment through service, leadership and a shared responsibility to build a brighter, safer world. It is a reminder that the strength of our nation depends on people willing to show up for one another and work together for good. Please use the photos, stories and graphics packages to share this video and the stories in the video on your channels and with your audiences.
We will be adding stories and content packages featuring people, programs, research, faculty and former students throughout the fall. We have launched Lyle Lovett and Logan Lednicky content packages on the MarComm site, as starting profiles to share. Through this newsletter and on our site, we will continue to share packages for you all to use for your channels to continue to engage throughout the year.
Red, White and Blue Game Content Package
For 150 years, Aggies have stood for the nation through leadership, courage and selfless service. This year’s Red, White and Blue Game gives the Aggie community an opportunity to carry that tradition forward while creating a permanent tribute to one of its own. Maroon Out is selling the official Red, White and Blue Game shirts, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the renovation of the Memorial Student Center’s Hall of Honor to recognize Matt Williams ’25. Williams, a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during a 2008 mission in Afghanistan. He is the ninth Aggie to receive the nation’s highest military honor.
View the Red, White and Blue Game content package
Available Communities of Practice
Design Counsel
Design Counsel is a creative space for Texas A&M’s visual storytellers — a place to share ideas, spark inspiration and help shape what’s next for creativity and collaboration across the university. Each meeting dives into a new topic in marketing and communications, with lots of room to learn from one another and offer support.
The next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 30, in Rudder 301. Please RSVP using the link below.
For more information, please contact Melissa Loudermilk, Designer for Brand Services, at mloudermilk@tamu.edu or via Slack or Teams.
Register for upcoming meetings
Internal Communications Community of Practice
Internal communications covers a wide array of responsibilities and expectations among our faculty, staff, students and even external affiliates, and we are here to help! Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 10 to 11 a.m., as we rotate to our next key topic and offer flexibility in the second half hour to troubleshoot, answer questions and identify ways to support your needs.
This month, we will focus on matching messaging to the most effective channel, using practical examples to help you decide which platform is best for your content. Then, let us help you ensure your content is successful with a straightforward checklist that guides you away from common mistakes and helps you confidently hit publish or send.
Join the Aug. 19 Internal Communications office hours
Aggie UX Training and Support
The Division of Marketing and Communications Web team hosts virtual office hours every third Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. These sessions include a different demo every month for using Aggie UX in Cascade, WordPress and Figma. Other practical advice for creating web content, applying best practices and using the Aggie UX design system is available on the MarComm site, including a list of on-demand online trainings. Be sure to sign up for Aggie UX-specific communications by joining the Aggie UX email list.
Research Communicators Network
The Divisions of Research and Marketing and Communications cohost a biweekly meeting for communicators to connect, share updates and collaborate around promoting Texas A&M’s research enterprise. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for everyone who attends, and we encourage you to send a representative if you do not have someone already participating from your unit, college or school.
When: Every other Tuesday, 10 a.m.
This informal virtual gathering is open to all communicators supporting research initiatives and researchers themselves. It’s a chance to ask questions, get feedback and align on research messaging across the university.
Contact Tim Doty, Assistant Vice President for National Media and Public Relations, or Rusty Cawley, Director of Research Communications, to be added to the calendar invitation.
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