Keith Paul

Bio

Keith Paul serves as the college’s Chief Marketing Officer, leading CCRI’s strategic marketing, brand management, and communications functions to strengthen enrollment, elevate the college’s reputation, and share the transformative impact of a CCRI education. A collaborative and mission-driven leader, he brings a commitment to innovation, transparency, and data-informed strategy aligned with the college’s strategic priorities.

Most recently, Keith served as CMO at Northern Essex Community College, where he modernized the college’s marketing strategy and integrated corporate education into broader institutional outreach. He previously spent more than two decades leading creative, high-performing marketing and communications teams across higher education, Fortune 100 companies, and startup environments. An early adopter of online learning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he taught there for more than a decade and twice received recognition from UPCEA for his work in online education. He has also held leadership roles with NCMPR and the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.

Keith holds a BA in Sociology from UMass Amherst and an MS in Management with a focus on Strategic Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has earned professional certificates in Consumer Marketing (Northwestern), Modern Journalism (NYU), Human-Centered Strategy (IDEO), and Design Theory (RISD), along with certifications in Project Management, Marketing Management, and Appreciative Inquiry.