Ashley Hunter
Assistant Director of Marketing
Ms. Ashley Hunter brings diverse marketing and communications experience to Academic Search. Joining the organization in 2022, Ms. Hunter took on the inaugural role of Assistant Director of Marketing.
Ms. Hunter began her career as the Director of Marketing for the Rapid City Rush professional hockey team. Her role focused on all aspects of marketing for the team including the creation and management of in-game motion graphics, advertising, photography/videography, marketing materials, social media, and website. She grew the team’s social media following by 20 percent within her first year and led a redesign of the website to better match the team’s brand.
Following her role with the Rush, Ms. Hunter worked as a freelance graphic designer, where she created digital and print content for a wide range of clients. She worked on a wide variety of projects from the creation of logos to website design to mailers and stationery. Through this experience, she strengthened her client relations and business management skills.
Since 2015, Ms. Hunter has been co-owner of Hunter Detail with her husband. She manages the brand and marketing efforts including the company’s e-commerce website and social media channels. She also aids in business operations.
Most recently before joining Academic Search, Ms. Hunter served as the Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She began with BVU as Communications Coordinator and earned two promotions in her three-year tenure. During her time there, she worked with all departments on campus, with a particular focus on admissions and alumni engagement. She oversaw the university’s website, social media channels, and digital advertising along with managing project intake and production timelines. She was a member of the crisis communications team and the diversity, equity, and inclusion task force, and held an interim role on the President’s Council.
Through her various experiences, Ms. Hunter has a proven track record for improving processes and building strong brand identities. She has a keen ability to help tell an organization’s story through her marketing efforts.
Ms. Hunter earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communication and corporate communication from Black Hills State University and was the recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2022. She earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Buena Vista University.
