University of Portland

Michael Lewellen

Marketing & Communications, Vice President for Marketing & Communications

Michael Lewellen

Email:

Phone:
503.943.7824

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Michael Lewellen is the first executive to hold the position of Vice President for Marketing and Communications at the University of Portland (UP) in its 121-year history. He joined the University in July 2019, and oversees Marketing, Public Affairs, Internal Communications, Advertising, Social Media, Graphic Design, Printing/Mailing Services and Portland magazine, the institution’s alumni publication. 

Prior to joining UP, Lewellen served for seven years as Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Portland Trail Blazers, directing the NBA franchise’s corporate communications, business communications and public engagement strategies. His role also included leadership of public and civic affairs, and media communications concerning Rip City Management, Moda Center, Rose Quarter and Veterans Memorial Coliseum. 

Lewellen's award-winning career over the past 41 years features leadership positions with Nike, Turner Sports, Fox Sports Net, Black Entertainment Television, NBC Universal and Heart of Florida United Way; and includes specialties in media strategies, reputation management, sports and entertainment publicity, crisis response and brand communications. A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Lewellen holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Arkansas State University and is an accredited public relations practitioner through both the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).  In 2020, the Oregon Chapter of PRSA honored Lewellen with the William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the public relations profession – the first-ever African-American practitioner to receive that recognition.   

Locally, Lewellen was elected as the 2023 President of the University Club of Portland, the first African-American president in the 125-year history of this private professional and social club. He is also a board trustee of the Legacy Health Foundation; and the immediate past chairman of the board of directors for the Urban League of Portland, Oregon’s oldest Black nonprofit organization. Lewellen is also the father of three children – Brandi, Elliott (deceased) and Ethan; and has three grandchildren.