Bio
Brian J. Gillette is a Teaching Professor in the Department of English at Iowa State University, where he teaches courses in business and professional communication. An award-winning educator, he is the recipient of the 2024–25 Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Teaching and is known for creating highly engaging, student-centered classrooms that emphasize real-world application and measurable skill development.
Before joining Iowa State, Gillette spent more than 25 years in executive leadership roles in the insurance and financial services industry, including serving as Vice President of Sales at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Group Benefits, Ltd. His professional experience informs his teaching, allowing him to help students develop the communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills required for success in complex organizational environments.
Gillette is also an accomplished professional speaker, having delivered more than 1,000 presentations over the course of his career. His work centers on the idea that effective communication is a strategic discipline and that a leader’s ethos is always on trial. In addition to his teaching, he leads departmental initiatives focused on student recruitment and engagement and regularly collaborates with industry partners to enhance student learning and career readiness.