WVU Vice President for Institutional Advancement Carolyn Curry has accepted a position as vice president for development and university relations at Delaware State University, effective April 1. Curry’s appointment was announced Monday by DSU President Allen L. Sessoms.

At DSU , Curry will oversee strategic development as well as all branding, imaging and integrated marketing efforts of the institution.

In her eight years at WVU , Curry created, led and institutionalized a research-based integrated marketing strategy across all colleges, units and affiliates such as the WVU Foundation and WVU Alumni Association.

She also created and led the University’s recruitment marketing to targeted areas and populations. She also managed and guided mission-based activities for the University’s units, including events management, television productions, graphic design, web services, news services, printing and the Visitors Resource Center.

Significant accomplishments under her leadership include:

• Creating and implementing two successful recruitment marketing campaigns

• Leading the creation of WVU ’s state-of-the art Visitors Resource Center and web unit that oversees the University’s web presence, including a student-faculty platform, the Mountaineer Information Xpress (MIX)

• Standardizing and branding the University’s image and messaging across college units and affiliates for external audiences.

• Assisting WVU development efforts in creating complementary integrated marketing materials.

Curry also advised the president and top administration team on issues and crisis management, advocacy, media relations, government relations and strategic planning.

WVU President David Hardesty said DSU has acquired an executive with a proven track record for setting high standards and achieving them.

“Carolyn Curry could work at any land-grant institution in the country, and she’s had offers all over the U.S. More students are choosing WVU as their top pick in part because of her work here,”Hardesty said.”She is asked to present all over the countryto college presidents at their annual meetings and others groups.”

Curry said she will miss the WVU family, but looks forward to her position at DSU .

“I take great pride in knowing that our WVU Institutional Advancement team is second to none. Our work enhances all aspects of WVU ’s mission, and has positively lifted the image of this great institution. I will miss the constant push for excellence with President Hardesty and all my colleagues, who really are family to me,”she said.

Before coming to WVU in 1996, Curry spent four years as communications director for West Virginia’s then-Gov. Gaston Caperton. While in that position, she oversaw the Governor’s

Press Office, created and led several statewide marketing campaigns, and guided communications and issues-based strategies.

Curry has also been the public affairs director for the National Association of State Board of Education in Washington, D.C., director of school-community relations for the West Virginia Department of Education, and a media specialist and high school journalism teacher both in West Virginia and New Jersey.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English secondary education from West Virginia University in 1975 and a master’s degree in communications/public affairs in 1984 from Shippensburg University.

Curry will be joining her husband, Dan Curry, who is superintendent of the Lake Forest School District in Delaware.