Who we are: Harlan Teller
Welcome to “Who We Are,” our exciting new series on the University Marketing blog. This series showcases the diverse and talented individuals behind our marketing team. Each installment features a Q&A that delves into the unique stories, roles, and perspectives of our team members, illustrating how each person’s unique contributions shape the identity and success of University Marketing. Join us as we explore the faces and stories that make our team truly exceptional.
Who is University Marketing?
Harlan Teller is University Marketing.
Job title and brief description
Chief Marketing Officer, which makes me responsible for the development, enhancement, and leveraging of our brand for the benefit of the institution and our many internal clients who depend on our brand presence and strength to further their own objectives.
Where are you located?
My wife Marsha and I live in Prescott, equidistant from downtown Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Chino Valley.
Can you tell us about a hobby or pastime outside of work and what draws you to it?
Music is something that has been a big part of my life, first as a performer years ago and then working with my three sons, who all became accomplished musicians.
What’s one book you’ve read or movie you’ve watched recently that had a significant impact on you, and why did it resonate with you?
My friend Paul Helford, who teaches film at NAU, asked me to co-moderate a discussion at the Cline Library with Paul’s Cline Library film series co-director Paul Donnelly about David Lynch’s deeply disturbing and surrealistic Mulholland Drive, which I hadn’t seen for years. On rewatch, which followed my getting deeply into Lynch’s catalog, I’m convinced that the film is one of the great movies of the 21st century and a great example of a sub-genre of film noir that I’d call “LA neo-noir.” It’s a great, multi-layered film featuring an astonishing performance by, at the time, relative unknown, Naomi Watts. We had a great turnout that night, and most of the audience stayed for a very stimulating discussion.
Share a fun or unusual fact about yourself that most colleagues might not know
Not sure it’s unusual, but I did perform in coffee houses in and around my alma mater, Northern Illinois University, for most of my time as an undergraduate. Having to perform in front of audiences helped me overcome some timidity I had in high school and set me up very well for a career in which I’ve had to make probably more than a thousand presentations.
If you could travel to any destination in the world, where would you go and why?
My wife and I are heading for Spain next spring and looking forward to it, but what we’d both most like to do is to travel the country and see a lot of parts that we haven’t yet explored. Years ago, I wanted to cover Jack Kerouac’s route that he recounts in his classic Beat Generation book On the Road, starting from the Midwest, winding around the Rocky Mountain states, heading for the West Coast and into Mexico. Probably not going to happen, but I still hold out hope of following the Mississippi River from Minnesota down to one of our favorite cities anywhere, New Orleans. Frankly, I think Marsha and I are more into the journey than the destination.
What’s your go-to way to unwind and de-stress after a busy day at work?
Reading, usually histories or historical fiction. Listening to podcasts. Watching movies.
Can you share a memorable personal achievement or milestone you’re proud of, unrelated to your job?
Raising three great sons, all of whom have had success in their chosen fields and are three of my best friends. They’re well into their twenties and thirties, and they still ask me for advice from time to time, which I find very rewarding.
What do you love about NAU?
I enjoy being at the center of a lot of action, leading a great team, and building something that I hope will be sustainable over time. NAU is a dynamic place with a bold mission, and being part of a leadership team that is looking to successfully prosecute that mission is highly energizing.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about UM, yourself, or anything else?
I’m proud of what our team has accomplished over the past four years and the way that our responsibilities have changed and expanded over that time. We have a dedicated, mission-driven team here in University Marketing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead it.
- Harlan Teller