An award-winning communications professional with more than 19 years in higher education administration at West Virginia University is stepping into a new role later this year.
Becky Lofstead, director of News and Information Services, will assume the new position of executive director of internal communications, with responsibilities primarily focused on two specific areasHuman Resources and Finance and Administration.
She will assume this new role when her current position, director of News and Information Services, is filled. The search for her successor will begin immediately.
Once a director is named, she will continue to report to the Vice President for University Advancement and Marketing, Christine Martin, in support of WVU s overall integrated marketing and communication effortsin addition to her primary focus on communications strategies for HR and finance.
Its been my privilege to work at the News Service for 19 years,Lofstead said.I will miss my colleagues and the relationships I have built with the news media around the state and nation, but I also look forward to other opportunities and challenges within the WVU family.
I have great mentors and friends here, and am extremely flattered that Ive been asked to lead this new effort aimed at enhancing internal and external communications in these two important areas,she added.
Vice President Martin commented,The last several years have seen unprecedented growth, dynamic change and increased regional, state and national prominence at WVU . That growth has created a significant need for increased excellence in internal communicationsparticularly in the areas of human resources and administration and finance. Beckys skills, her institutional knowledge and her understanding of higher education communications will guide the critical strategies necessary to build and redefine our new internal initiatives. While she will change the focus of her work at WVU , Becky will remain a critical member of our overall communications team.
Margaret Phillips, WVU s new vice president for Human Resources, added,Beckys expertise and talents will allow us to better communicate important information to WVU employees and our various publics. Our office deals with everything from training and development opportunities to employeeshealth benefits and salaries. We want to do a better job communicating our services and this institutions value as an employer of choice. There is a critical need in HR to develop a strategic communication plan and I am very excited that Becky will be spearheading the development and implementation of that plan
Vice President for Finance and Administration Narvel Weese said,From public safety and parking to facilities and services, my units have a great need for a skilled communicator. We are looking forward to fine tuning our communication efforts under Beckys leadership.
At N&IS, Lofstead oversees the public relations operation and serves as primary spokesperson for WVU on breaking and general news affecting the campus.
Recently, one of her initiatives, the Student Video Diaries project, captured a national Marcom Creative Award, and News Services support of the Mountaineer Fan Center at the 2006 Sugar Bowl captured the Council for the Advancement and Support of Educations silver award in the special events category.
Prior to joining WVU in 1987, Lofstead was Lifestyles Editor at The Dominion Post and also worked as the Public Relations Director at Fairmont State University. She is a 1976 WVU journalism graduate and 2006 graduate of Leadership West Virginia.
A search for Lofsteads replacement will begin immediately. Vice President Weese will lead the effort.