Spring Break
Director of University Relations named
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: News
Darcie Shinberger has been named director of University Relations at Western Illinois University effective Feb. 15, according to Dan Hendricks, vice president for advancement and public services.
Shinberger, a member of Western's University Relations staff since March 1994, was named assistant director of University Relations in March 2007. She has served as interim director since Nov. 19, 2007, following the retirement of John Maguire.
She began in the University Relations office as a public information specialist and editor. Prior to joining the Western staff she was a reporter for the Peoria Journal-Star and the Macomb Journal.
"Darcie's transition to director of University Relations will be seamless and smooth since she has been serving in this interim role since November," Hendricks said. "She has proved herself a valuable member of the advancement and public services administrative team, and I look forward to working with her in this important communication role."
As the University Relations director, Shinberger will supervise the university's public relations program and help promote Western's mission to the public, working with media outlets; community leaders; state and federal officials; university administrators, students, faculty, staff and alumni; as well as the public. The office develops and produces a wide array of news releases, publications and other forms of communication, including the upper levels of the university Web site, to disseminate information about the university, its programs, faculty, students and alumni. The director supervises the Visual Production Center, a Western service center providing photographic and other visual presentations for faculty, staff, students, alumni and community organizations in support of the institution's mission.
Shinberger's responsibilities also include administration of Western's media relations programs and the VPC and policy adviser to the university administrators regarding Western's public relations, community relations and news media programs. She is the university spokesperson and is responsible for crisis communication management.
Shinberger, a member of Western's University Relations staff since March 1994, was named assistant director of University Relations in March 2007. She has served as interim director since Nov. 19, 2007, following the retirement of John Maguire.
She began in the University Relations office as a public information specialist and editor. Prior to joining the Western staff she was a reporter for the Peoria Journal-Star and the Macomb Journal.
"Darcie's transition to director of University Relations will be seamless and smooth since she has been serving in this interim role since November," Hendricks said. "She has proved herself a valuable member of the advancement and public services administrative team, and I look forward to working with her in this important communication role."
As the University Relations director, Shinberger will supervise the university's public relations program and help promote Western's mission to the public, working with media outlets; community leaders; state and federal officials; university administrators, students, faculty, staff and alumni; as well as the public. The office develops and produces a wide array of news releases, publications and other forms of communication, including the upper levels of the university Web site, to disseminate information about the university, its programs, faculty, students and alumni. The director supervises the Visual Production Center, a Western service center providing photographic and other visual presentations for faculty, staff, students, alumni and community organizations in support of the institution's mission.
Shinberger's responsibilities also include administration of Western's media relations programs and the VPC and policy adviser to the university administrators regarding Western's public relations, community relations and news media programs. She is the university spokesperson and is responsible for crisis communication management.
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