Cindy Pollard has been appointed associate vice president of the University of Missouri System’s Office of Strategic Communications, UM System President Gary Forsee announced today. Pollard has more than 30 years of experience in the communications field, 10 of which are in higher education.
“Cindy’s breadth and depth of communications experience, particularly in the field of higher education, makes her an outstanding choice for this position,” Forsee said. “She has a wonderful reputation for implementing strategic communication initiatives in complex organizations and engaging various audiences. I am pleased to welcome her to the university leadership team.”
Pollard will begin her duties with the University of Missouri System Sept. 22, 2008.
Pollard most recently led the marketing and communications department at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she created a brand program for the state’s historic flagship, land-grant research university. She also provided strategic communications assistance for the university’s top administration, fostered new relationships with various Nevada organizations and initiated timely, cost-effective campus communications.
Prior to joining the University of Nevada, Reno, Pollard was director of public relations for Tufts University in Massachusetts, where she built a new public relations team to create a strategic approach to achieving national and international visibility. She also has worked as director of public relations for Sony Electronics in the New York City area; director of corporate affairs and marketing services for Mercury Communications LTD in London; and international public relations director for AT&T in New Jersey, among others.
Pollard received a Master of Arts Degree in International Communication and a certificate in Spanish as a research tool from The American University in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Journalism Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Pollard is currently national chair of Counselors to Higher Education of the Public Relations Society of America. She is an executive committee member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Council on Strategic Communications and Advancement. She also serves as a member of the Communications Council of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“I am honored to accept this leadership position at the University of Missouri,” Pollard said. “As a graduate of MU and a member of its communications council for the past five years, I am familiar with many of the challenges facing public higher education in Missouri. I look forward to working with the staff to ensure the university’s great messages are heard and understood throughout the state and beyond.”
High-resolution photos are available here:
https://umsystem.edu/ums/news/releases/images/pollard_cindy_color.jpg (color, 4MB)
https://umsystem.edu/ums/news/releases/images/pollard_cindy_grayscale.jpg (grayscale, 3MB)
Reviewed 2011-05-06