Hiring announcement: Director of Marketing Research and Insights

External Relations is pleased to announce Sandra Johnston as the new Director of Marketing Research and Insights, starting March 1, 2022. 

Sandra comes to the University of Alberta after operating her own market research consultancy, Johnston Research, for the past 16 years. Working with all levels of government, public and non-for profit companies, and advertising agencies across Western Canada, Sandra has developed an excellent reputation for conducting market research to explore how perceptions and experiences influence opinion and motivate behavior. She has extensive experience in the areas of program evaluation, communications testing and creative assessments, brand evaluations, policy development, and municipal planning. 

Before starting her own firm, Sandra worked with Edmonton International Airports where she was responsible for the management and strategic development of the ETea—a partnership of the 3,500 employees and 65 companies at the Edmonton International Airport, dedicated to improving the customers’ user experience.

Career highlights for Sandra include working with four different post-secondary institutions in Alberta to support the development of brand and communication strategies, conducting cross-Canada research to identify opportunities to develop female-friendly remote worksites, and creative testing dozens of award-winning social marketing campaigns.

Sandra has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. She is excited to be returning to the University to be part of the development of an integrated market research and insights team.