Pomona College has named Eric Abelev, a seasoned leader with extensive experience in higher education and global communications, as the College’s new Chief Communications Officer (CCO). He will assume the role effective July 23, 2025.
Abelev brings to Pomona more than 20 years of strategic communications experience, with a significant track record of building and managing successful teams, delivering compelling integrated campaigns, and elevating the reputations of institutions and their most influential voices.
Abelev most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Executive and Community Communications at the University of Southern California (USC), where he led a team of communications and marketing professionals, overseeing leadership communications, strategic planning, and executive social media. He also steered the response to some of the institution’s most high-profile crises.
Before that, Abelev led communications for two former USC presidents, handling both proactive and reactive media, building comprehensive thought-leadership initiatives, and providing direct, data-informed counsel. His work helped reshape the public narrative on critical issues like access and affordability, significantly enhancing the university’s regional and national profile. Since leaving USC last year, he has worked on several higher education consulting projects, spanning global reputation management, international student recruitment, and political risk mitigation.
“Pomona College is a remarkable institution whose faculty and administration put student belonging, experience, and success at the heart of every endeavor,” Abelev says. “Under President Starr’s stewardship, the College is exceptionally positioned to demonstrate the enduring value of the liberal arts in shaping the next generation of leaders, scholars, artists, and engaged citizens. I’m incredibly excited to collaborate with Pomona’s talented students, professors, and staff on this and many other important initiatives.”
As a member of Pomona’s executive leadership team, Abelev will report directly to President G. Gabrielle Starr. He will oversee the College’s award-winning Office of Communications, responsible for institutional storytelling, media relations, strategic communications planning, internal messaging, digital and social media, crisis management, and advancing Pomona’s institutional voice.
“Eric’s deep expertise in building successful campaigns, combined with his proven leadership through complex institutional challenges, makes him an exceptional choice for Pomona,” says President Starr. “His strategic vision and passion for storytelling align seamlessly with our commitment to elevate and celebrate the achievements of our talented academic community. I am excited about the impact Eric will have in helping Pomona advance its ambitious goals and narrative.”
Prior to USC, Abelev worked for a decade in Asia in both consultancy and in-house settings. He oversaw internal and executive communications for STAR TV, working regionally across Greater China, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. He also led MSLGROUP’s regional corporate practice from its Hong Kong office, managing a slate of multinational clients across the retail, finance and higher education sectors. His international experience uniquely positions him to support Pomona’s global engagement initiatives.
Abelev holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada where he majored in Political Science and Sociology / Anthropology. He also earned an Executive MBA from the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business (Hong Kong campus).
Abelev succeeds Katharine Laidlaw, who stepped down last month to attend to family matters.