PRESS RELEASES

Bryant Group Places Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the University of Oklahoma Foundation

April 6, 2026 – Dallas-based executive search and leadership consulting firm Bryant Group conducted a nationwide search led by the firm’s Vice President of Search, Sarah Hempen, resulting in Maria Kuntz of Boulder, Colorado securing the role of Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the University of Oklahoma Foundation.

Ms. Kuntz is a talented advancement communications professional whose career spans higher education and nonprofit organizations. Prior to her new role, she served as Director of Content Marketing Strategy & Communications for Advancement at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she led a team of 10–15 employees along with agency partners and freelancers in delivering strategic marketing and mission-driven storytelling to more than 360,000 constituents. She previously held roles with the CU Boulder College of Engineering and the University of Denver and served as the founding development director for Open Media Foundation. Her award-winning teams have earned recognition for integrated marketing, alumni communications, design and events.

Ms. Kuntz holds a master’s degree in international and intercultural communications from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree in French, international studies and theatre from Loyola University Chicago. She was also awarded a prestigious international Fulbright fellowship, during which she researched healthcare access for refugee and immigrant populations in Greece. Kuntz is currently completing her EdD in leadership for educational equity in higher education at the University of Colorado Denver.

“Maria Kuntz’s data-driven, mission-focused approach is a perfect fit for the University of Oklahoma Foundation,” said Jay Kahn, Senior Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Campaigns. “I look forward to seeing how her creativity and collaborative spirit inspire our alumni, donors and friends to make a philanthropic impact on the students, faculty and programs at OU.”

In her new position, Ms. Kuntz will lead the Foundation’s marketing and communications strategy, using research and data to ensure the right messages reach the right audience across platforms. Her depth of her experience and leadership prowess, combined with the talent of the existing MarComm team, will help the OU Foundation connect with donors and alumni in new and meaningful ways.

“Philanthropy, when paired with purpose, has the power to transform lives, institutions and communities,” said Ms. Kuntz. “The University of Oklahoma is on a powerful trajectory, with growing national visibility, a strong culture of pride and a deep commitment to advancing research, education and health. I’m excited to join the OU Foundation at a time when philanthropy can play such a meaningful role in accelerating that impact.”

About the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc.

Established in 1944, the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization that manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma. The Foundation plays a crucial role in ensuring the University’s continued success and impact by aligning donors’ passions with the University’s mission, acting as a catalyst to empower the delivery of excellence in higher education at the University of Oklahoma.

Advancing Great Leadership

Bryant Group, based in Dallas, Texas, and with associates located across the United States, specializes in executive search and leadership coaching for higher education, healthcare and nonprofits with an emphasis on advancement leaders and other executives. In 1988, Bryant Group founder Chris Bryant started one of the country’s first search firms specializing in philanthropy recruitment. Now under the leadership of CEO Sally Bryant, the woman-owned firm has a long history of recruiting, developing and coaching great leaders. Bryant Group has impacted more than 10,000 leaders and served more than 300 organizations across the US and Canada.