TicketsA Cincinnati native, Brendan Bergen joined the University of Cincinnati Foundation as an advancement writer in January 2026. He is a marketing and communications professional with more than a decade of experience connecting brands with audiences through effective media relations, strategic communications, digital storytelling, creative content, and social media.
An award-winning writer, Bergen has helped elevate institutional reputations through audience-centered storytelling, partnering with campus leaders, faculty, student-athletes, and staff to surface authentic stories that build trust, strengthen institutional narratives, and deepen engagement with key stakeholders.
Prior to arriving at UC, Bergen served in a variety of marketing and communications roles in higher education and college athletics, including stops at Xavier University, DePaul University, Wake Forest University, and Case Western Reserve University.
Across his career, Bergen has earned national recognition for his writing and creative work. He has been recognized five times in the College Sports Communicators Stabley Writing Contest and contributed to significant growth across digital platforms.
From 2019–2024, the social media efforts he helped lead at Xavier were recognized as top-50 nationally for engagement in Division I higher education by Rival IQ. During his time in athletics communications, platforms under his oversight consistently ranked among the top of the BIG EAST Conference for audience growth and interaction. Earlier in his career, his work contributed to Xavier Athletics being named one of the nation’s “Top Teams in Visual Communication” at the non-FBS level and earning a National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) Award for Best Social Media Promotion. Across roles, his work has driven measurable gains in organic audience growth, website traffic, and digital engagement.
Bergen holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Dayton (’09) and a master’s degree in new media studies from DePaul University (’14). He completed a PRSA certificate in crisis communications in 2023 and is a graduate of C-Change Class 20 through the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.
He lives in Pleasant Ridge with his wife, Andrea, their two children, Parker and Nellie, and their dog, Ruthie.