Sheila W. Rathke
Assistant Provost for Strategic and Program Development
Sheila Wells Rathke is the Assistant Provost for Strategic and Program Development at the University of Pittsburgh. She brings to this newly-created role 25 years of experience in the private sector as a marketing executive and business leader. She specialized in strategic and marketing communications planning for clients that have included entrepreneurial and high tech firms, corporations, professional services firms, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. As part of her chief of staff duties at the global marketing services company Young and Rubicam, she also served as the director of the corporate foundation. In addition, her experience includes restructuring and running several marketing subsidiaries in the $50-100 million sales range with up to 100 employees.
Executive Management Positions
- Chief Operating Officer, Y&R 2.1, New York City (1999-2001)
- Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO, Young & Rubicam Worldwide, New York City (1995-99)
- Chief Executive Officer, Burson-Marsteller Canada (1993-95)
- Executive Vice President & General Manager, Burson-Marsteller, Pittsburgh, Pa. (1987-1993)
Advisory Activities
- Pittsburgh Public Service Fund Board, Communications Committee (2005-Present)
- Board of Directors, Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA (2002-Present)
- A Better Chance, New York, NY (1996-2001)
- New York Philharmonic Orchestra, New York, NY (1996-99)
- Board of Directors, Young & Rubicam Canada (1994-95)
- Board of Directors, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA (1992-95)
- Board of Directors, Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, Pittsburgh, PA (1987-93)
- Board of Directors, Burson-Marsteller Americas (1988-94)
- Pittsburgh Historical Society, Capital Campaign Committee
- Trustee, University of Pittsburgh (1974-80)
Honors and Recognitions
- Legacy Laureate, Career Achievement Award, University of Pittsburgh, (2000)
- Distinguished Alumnus, University of Pittsburgh (1992)
- Member of teams that were given highest-level industry awards—Addy, Effie, Silver Anvil—for strategic and creative work done for such clients as Eli Lilly, American Express and Sun Microsystems
Selected Publications/Presentations
- The Marketing Evolution. (2005). The Bank of Ireland, Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland.
- Bulls, bears and brands. (1996). Sloan School of Management fellows, New York, NY.
- Corporate planning: Techniques and applications. (1995). Densu Worldwide, Tokyo, Japan.
- The challenges of global marketing. (1995). The Committee for Economic Development, New York City.
- Corporate positioning for competitive advantage. (1993). The Empire Club of Canada, Toronto.
- The creative impulse. (1992). International Association of Business Communicators, Pittsburgh, PA.