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SFA’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship names director of new in-house advertising agency

University Marketing Communications
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June 29, 2026
Wood attended the ACE building groundbreaking June 22 with, from left, Monica Loa, ACE associate director; Dr. Amy Mehaffey, entrepreneurship faculty fellow and lecturer in SFA’s Department of Management and Marketing; Dr. Raymond Jones, director of SFA’s entrepreneurship academic program; Dr. Todd Brown, SFA associate vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships; and John Chambers, ACE recruiting and marketing specialist.

Tim L. Wood, pictured fourth from left, has been named entrepreneur in residence and director of a new in-house advertising agency for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. Wood attended the ACE building groundbreaking June 22 with, from left, Monica Loa, ACE associate director; Dr. Amy Mehaffey, entrepreneurship faculty fellow and lecturer in SFA’s Department of Management and Marketing; Dr. Raymond Jones, director of SFA’s entrepreneurship academic program; Dr. Todd Brown, SFA associate vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships; and John Chambers, ACE recruiting and marketing specialist.
 


NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University will launch one of Texas’ few university-based, in-house advertising agencies this fall, giving students the opportunity to build their portfolios, develop professional skills and produce work for real clients before they graduate.

Housed in the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and led by advertising agency director and entrepreneur in residence Tim L. Wood, the student-powered agency will bring together students from across academic disciplines to offer advertising, branding and marketing support for athletics, fine arts and other campus events, as well as ACE partner businesses and name, image and likeness campaigns.

“This ad agency will foster collaboration, innovation and experiential learning, presenting students with work they can turn into industry-ready portfolios based on actual NIL campaigns and partnerships established through ACE,” said Dr. Todd Brown, SFA associate vice president for academic affairs. “We are excited to see this newest endeavor led by Tim Wood, who will bring professional agency experience, leading our students through authentic advertising campaigns.”

Wood joins ACE following decades of agency experience in marketing and creative direction as well as six years of managing his own freelance marketing services with WoodThink Creative. Throughout his career, he has worked with major brands including The Home Depot, Chick-fil-A and DieHard Batteries. Wood is a graduate of the University of Kentucky’s communication program and Miami Ad School’s Portfolio Center.

“This startup agency is so completely exciting,” Wood said. “The stories we can tell about SFA are amazing, and the students’ ability to learn their craft in a real agency environment will give every day an incredible energy. We’re going to do great work, learn a lot — me included — and have fun along the way. I can’t wait to get started.”

As advertising agency director, Wood will oversee students in developing integrated marketing campaigns for athletics, fine arts, student engagement and other campus partners, working closely with SFA’s University Marketing Communications department to ensure brand consistency and maximize each campaign's reach. He will also guide students as they manage client relationships and projects for businesses that partner with ACE.

The agency will be open to students of all majors. Programs that may be particularly applicable include entrepreneurship, journalism, public relations, advertising, creative writing, graphic design, film, studio art, communication studies, marketing and commercial photography.

The launch of the agency follows several recent ACE initiatives, including a new alumni business directory; the SFA One Hundred, which recognizes the fastest-growing businesses led by SFA alumni; and the Purple Spikes business succession program. It also comes on the heels of the June 22 groundbreaking for the future Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship building, which brought together state and local officials; representatives from The University of Texas System; SFA students, faculty and staff; and Greg Arnold ’87, CEO of TAC - The Arnold Companies and the center’s namesake.

For more information on ACE, visit sfasu.edu/ace.