Vision
University Relations is an innovative leader in higher education communications and brand management, continually working to grow the positive impact of one of the nation’s top public research universities by supporting and advancing its land-grant mission in new ways.
Mission
We enhance relationships between the university and the public by building understanding and support for the university’s land-grant mission, work and enormous positive impact to Arkansas and the world. We do this by developing and leading the university’s communications, marketing and brand strategy, collaborating with partners across campus to inform, engage and inspire.
Teams & Contacts
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations
The associate vice chancellor for University Relations leads communications and marketing efforts for the U of A, working to enhance the reputation of the university by advancing its mission and strategic priorities, strengthening its brand, and creating awareness and understanding of its significant positive impact on multiple stakeholder groups in Arkansas and beyond.
Mark Rushing
Associate Vice Chancellor
Integrated Communications
The Integrated Communications team guides university communications strategies, marketing campaigns and other essential messaging efforts. With unified strategic direction and messaging, this team actively collaborates and shares resources among its four content-producing areas to advance the university’s communications priorities.
Kim Brown
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Integrated Communications
Marketing Communications
The Marketing Communications team plans and implements state and national marketing and advertising campaigns for the university, as well as supports high-priority internal initiatives and other campus needs. The team includes specialists in video, photography and design.
Jennifer Holland
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
Digital Strategy
The Digital Strategy team oversees the university's web presence, content management and calendaring systems; governance and oversight of university web guidelines; as well as the coordination of web programmers and designers across campus.
Chris Nixon
Director of Digital Strategy
Research and Economic Development
This team reinforces the positive impact of the university’s research and economic development activity, highlighting the discoveries that solve problems, lead to commercialization and create jobs, as well as showcasing the university’s $2.2 billion annual impact on the state’s economy, talent development, community engagement and other efforts to expand economic opportunity in Arkansas.
Andy Albertson
Director of Research and Economic Development Communications
Media Relations and Core Communications
The Media Relations and Core Communications team supports the flow of university news and information to internal and external audiences. The team includes specialists in media relations, social media and editorial content.
John Thomas
Director of Media and Core Communications
Operations and Brand Support
The Operations and Brand Support team is responsible for managing the university’s brand standards, helping coordinate campus requests for support and acting as a liaison between campus and communications-related vendors, as well as key event support. The team also provides administrative support, equipment and project management for University Relations.
Roy Cordell
Senior Director of Operations and Brand Support
Administrative Support
The Administrative Support team manages the key operational aspects of University Relations, from foundational budgeting, staffing and scheduling needs to providing assistance with events and projects. The team is also the primary point of response to incoming calls, feedback and other outreach from campus and beyond.
Production Support
The Production Support team assists with the video, audio and other production aspects of planning, staffing and implementing major campus events, including commencement. The team also works to provide options for smaller events and equipment requests, including outsourcing and rentals when appropriate.
Public Information
Like other public entities in Arkansas, the university is subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and is dedicated to ensuring accountability by coordinating public records requests in a timely manner. The campus public records coordinator works closely with colleges and units across campus, along with the requesting parties, to ensure adherence to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Rebecca Morrison
Campus FOIA Coordinator
Administrative Communications
The senior director of Administrative Communications leads strategic communications for many of the university’s key support units, including Human Resources, Facilities Management, Parking and Transit, IT Services, the U of A Police Department, finance and other related areas within the Division of Finance and Administration.
Justin Freeman
Senior Director of Administrative Communications
Executive Communications
The Executive Communications team provides strategic communications guidance and support to leadership in the chancellor’s office, provost’s office and many of the academic and administrative units reporting to those offices.
Ron Gordon
Director of Executive Communications
Our Principles
University Relations employees are skilled professionals who value the purpose that guides our work: supporting the U of A’s mission. Our innovative and collaborative culture allows us to excel at what we do: leading unified communications efforts, providing strategic communications guidance and resources, and strengthening university relationships. We are team players who always keep the best interests of the university in mind.
We capitalize on our deep institutional knowledge, our diversity of talent and our service-oriented culture to support the mission of the U of A in many ways.
We are:
- Skilled Professionals
- Innovators
- Collaborators
We keep these principles alive in our daily routines and interactions with each other, as well as integrating them into our hiring, onboarding and evaluation processes.
We even put reminders on the walls of the stairwells where we work.