Dr. Stephen Marshall, Media and Communication professor at East Tennessee State University, and his team at Armadillo World Headquarters have been awarded the Clio Music Bronze award.

Marshall is an award-winning professor of Media and Communication at East Tennessee State University and Chief Marketing Officer of the ETSU Research Corporation. A social entrepreneur and lifelong musician, his work connects storytelling, technology, and place-based development to build sustainable music ecosystems and purpose-driven community initiatives.  

He leads projects including the Appalachian Music Collective and the relaunch of Armadillo World Headquarters, reimagining the iconic Austin music venue as a purpose-driven social enterprise that supports musicians and artists while strengthening local music ecosystems through live performance, community engagement, and innovative revenue models. With more than 20 years of experience across academia, marketing, and technology, he is a recognized thought leader in brand strategy, digital literacy, and experiential education.

Their project, “Armadillo Forever: Preserving Austin’s Music Community,” brought home a Clio Music Bronze, an honor recognizing outstanding achievement in music marketing and creative work.  

Upon winning the award, Marshall stated, "I'm so proud to represent the ETSU College of Business and Technology and the ETSU Research Corporation. Earning a Clio is one of the highest marketing achievements one can get in our profession. I'm thrilled to have my work now featured in the Clio case library I've been teaching with for years. It's a great signal to why students study with us.”

Marshall’s achievement highlights the opportunity ETSU students have to learn from award-winning faculty who are actively shaping the media, marketing, and creative industries.