Brad Armstrong was named interim executive director of the Brandcenter in Richmond as the school continues its search for a permanent replacement for Helayne Spivak, who is departing in June and focusing on special projects, reports Richmond BizSense, which added that Don Just, who had been sharing leadership duties with Spivak as managing director, is no longer serving in that role and back teaching full time.

According to Richmond BizSense, “Armstrong, a 35-year industry vet and former partner at The Martin Agency, serves as an adjunct professor for the Brandcenter and is president of consulting firm Armstrong Partners. He started as interim director Feb. 1.”

In addition, it reported that more than a dozen “Brandcenter alums worked on spots that aired during the Super Bowl this year: Alex Ledford and NJ Placentra (Bud Light, Wieden + Kennedy NY), David Canavan (Pringles, Grey NY), Adam Calvert (E-Trade, MullenLowe Boston), Husayn Raza (T-Mobile, Laundry Service), Allison Hayes (Jack Links Jerky, Carmichael Lynch Minneapolis), Tim Anderson (Hyundai, Innocean LA), Richard Beahm and Marc d’Avignon (Toyota, Saatchi & Saatchi LA), Chris Colliton and Kevin Weir (Tourism Australia, Droga5), and Jordan Eakin and David Sloan (Blacture, McKinney). Spots by Matt Meszaros and Lauren Albee (Starbucks, 72andSunny LA) and Stasean Ridley (Bravo network, Zambezi) ran during pre-game.”

According to Wikipedia, The VCU Brandcenter (often called Brandcenter, formerly known as VCU Adcenter) is a graduate program in business, with a concentration in branding at Virginia Commonwealth University . The VCU Brandcenter offers students a master’s degree to complement the advertising portfolio students create. The program is known within the advertising industry for its intensity. However, students who graduate from the program earn valuable real life experience to develop brands on a global scale.