NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University (WVU) is reorganizing its University Relations to prioritize enrollment and communications strategy. This follows the announcement on September 3 that Sharon Martin, chief marketing officer and vice president for University Engagement, will be leaving for a new opportunity.

University Relations currently includes Marketing, Creative, Communications, Outreach, Enrollment Management, Alumni Relations, and operations for the WVU Purpose Center. It also maintains a close partnership with Health Sciences Center Communications. The reorganization will see University Relations renamed as Strategic Communications and Marketing to better reflect its core competencies.

Heather Richardson, assistant dean for Strategic Communications in the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics since 2019, will lead the refocused unit as interim vice president for Strategic Communications and Marketing. Richardson brings nearly two decades of communications and marketing experience, including ten years in higher education. Before joining WVU, she worked at a public relations agency developing strategies for Fortune 500 companies.

Richardson will report to President Gordon Gee and oversee the University's Marketing, Creative, and Communications teams while maintaining her role with the Chambers College Strategic Communications team during her interim appointment.

“Heather has built an impressive record of success leading marketing and communications in the Chambers College,” Gee said. “She has earned the respect of her colleagues both inside and outside of our University as a collaborative, strategic leader and change agent.”

Enrollment Management will become its own unit under Steve Hahn's leadership as interim vice president for Enrollment Management. Hahn is a senior director in Huron’s Higher Education Strategy practice and reports directly to Gee through a temporary arrangement with Huron. He previously led Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2013-2020.

“Steve has extensive experience developing and driving strategic enrollment activities at similar state flagship institutions,” Gee said. “We are very fortunate that Huron was willing to loan us such an experienced individual.”

Brand and Trademark Licensing will be repositioned under Associate Vice President Erin Newmeyer within the Strategic Partnerships unit to enhance revenue generation strategies. Newmeyer currently oversees auxiliary contracts for WVU including Barnes & Noble, Bright Horizons, PNC Bank, Sodexo, and Erickson Alumni Center.

Ann Bailey Berry will lead an engagement and events team aligned with Government Relations under Associate Vice President Travis Mollohan. Berry’s focus will include enhancing partnerships across West Virginia in line with WVU’s land-grant mission.

The WVU Alumni Association led by Kevin Berry will report directly to Gee while working closely with Chief Financial Officer Paula Congelio.

The WVU Purpose Center will move to the Office of the Provost under Senior Associate Provost Mark Gavin starting October 1. The office is exploring synergies between the Purpose Center and Career Services functions.