The Brandcenter is collaborating with the 4A’s to revive the highly regarded Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies (IAAS) program in the Mid-Atlantic region. The program is designed to accelerate the growth of early-career agency talent and is now returning after a hiatus in the region.
Under the leadership of Brandcenter Executive Director Vann Graves and Associate Director of Extension Programs Sharon Rauch, Brandcenter will partner with 4A’s Program Director Jeanette Palmer to bring this professional-development offering back to the Mid-Atlantic.
“IAAS has been a game-changer for rising professionals in other regions. Reviving it here gives our region’s talent the chance to engage, collaborate, and sharpen their skills in an integrated agency setting, right on our doorstep.”
Vann Graves, Ed.D. Executive Director, Brandcenter
The 8-week hybrid cohort will accommodate 20–30 participants in Spring 2026, blending virtual sessions with two onsite meet-ups. Participants will be grouped into multidisciplinary teams, tackle a live-client brief, and ultimately deliver a pitch, replicating the real-world agency environment.
Registration will open in early to mid-January and is open to early-career professionals (1–5 years of experience) across disciplines: account, strategy, media, creative, digital and social. The program will emphasize cross-discipline collaboration and team launching of a campaign from brief to pitch.
“This program reflects the Brandcenter’s commitments to accessibility in ad education and preparing the next generation of agency leaders. By partnering with the 4A’s, we’re making an investment in the region’s creative ecosystem.”
Sharon Rauch, Ed.D. Associate Director of Extension Programs, Brandcenter
This regional revival of the IAAS builds on the program’s success in other markets and marks an exciting moment for agency talent development in the Mid-Atlantic. Interested participants and agencies are encouraged to stay tuned for registration details and the full schedule.