Dr. Alaina Leverenz doesn’t just teach marketing – she brings it to life.
With an infectious enthusiasm and a belief that curiosity drives success, she has found her purpose in the classroom, inspiring students in Columbia College’s Robert W. Plaster School of Business to pursue their goals with confidence.
“I’m a very enthusiastic person, and I take that same energy into the classroom,” Leverenz says. “I think passion and curiosity are contagious.”
Leverenz, who joined the Columbia College faculty in 2024, earned her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Missouri and her Master of Arts in Applied Communication from Indiana University-Indianapolis. She worked for more than a decade in the marketing and strategic communications field, including as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Heart of Missouri United Way.
“I think for a lot of my career, I was looking for that thing that would help me feel fulfilled and feel like I was living in my purpose,” she says. “I think now that I am in the classroom and teaching every day, I do feel like I am reaching my full potential as a professional.”
In addition to teaching several Marketing courses, Leverenz serves as the director of the Plaster School of Business’ Center for Social Media and Alumni Communication.
She prides herself on blending conceptual knowledge with real-world application.
“If you’re a prospective student wanting to come study Business at Columbia College, this is absolutely the best place for you,” Leverenz says. “The Robert W. Plaster School of Business really focuses on quality inside the classroom but also really quality co-curricular experiences.”
Drawn to the college by its small class sizes and close-knit community, Leverenz focuses on building trust-based relationships with her students while continually refining her teaching approach.
“I can teach the same class 10 times and it will not be the same,” she says. “I could have the same homework assignment from multiple students and I will get different interpretations. It really motivates me to come help other people reach their dreams and goals, because I’ve reached mine, so the least I can do is help inspire them, connect with them and get them to where they’re going.”
She values the wide variety of students studying Business across the institution’s main campus, Online Program and Columbia College Global locations.
“We reach students where they’re at and help them get where they want to be,” Leverenz says.
