Zeel Patel joined the University of Oregon in July 2024 and serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing within Enrollment Management. In this position, she oversees marketing and communications initiatives associated with prospective undergraduate students and their families, as well as current student initiatives driving revenue and retention.

With over 25 years of leadership and award-winning experience, Zeel has held senior leadership roles across higher education and in the private sector, delivering transformative results in each position. In higher education, she led marketing and communications at Colorado State University’s College of Business and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, developing data-driven strategies that increased enrollments, enhanced diversity initiatives, and elevated institutional brands. 

In the private sector, Zeel served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Cardno’s Americas Region, where she integrated branding and revenue efforts across 13 acquisitions in three countries. She also held various leadership positions at HDR Engineering where she was responsible for business development and marketing to achieve $21 million in annual revenue.

Zeel holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Finance from the University of Alberta, as well as advanced certifications in digital marketing and brand strategy.