An award-winning communications professional with expertise in both traditional and new media has been tapped to lead West Virginia Universitys News and Information Services unit.

As the new director of NIS , Danial Kim will oversee WVU s media relation efforts, as well as serve as primary spokesperson for the University and help strategically position WVU nationally with the media, said Christine Martin, vice president for University Relations.

Mass media and media relations have undergone enormous changes and faced enormous challenges in the last few years,Martin said.Dan will play a significant role in shaping and building a communication team ready not only to face those challenges, but to help lead change and innovation.

Kim brings 16 years of executive leadership to the position, including managing media relations for a large, nonprofit organization; developing and implementing branding and strategic marketing plans; creating award-winning innovation in communications; and overseeing new media platforms and strategic planning for a large media company.

Kims broad range of experience in television, newspapers, magazines and new media will help NIS move its communications efforts to the next level, said Becky Lofstead, assistant vice president of communications at WVU .

Were delighted that Dan Kim has joined the WVU University Relations team as head of News and Information Services,Lofstead said.His extensive background in media relations, integrated marketing and communication and new media will be assets to our cross-functional work of telling the WVU story to our internal and external audiences.

Kim most recently served as vice president of communications for Image Media, where he created new media platforms to help professionals and businesses connect with new clients, developed an interactive Web site, auction site, podcasts, RSS , forums and private social networks.

Prior to that, he was vice president of media integration from 2005-07 at Detroit Media Partnership. A member of the executive committee, he worked with new media, product development and the special publications unit.

From 2000-05, Kim was editor and publisher for the American Bar Association. As a member of the senior management group, he led overall strategy and budget management at the worlds largest professional association; developed a strategic communications plan, leading to the creation of the award-winning eReport, a digital publication; oversaw the editorial mission, coverage and all content decisions; and managed day-to-day news operations.

While at the ABA , Kim also led a collaborative effort to form an alliance with four other national associations, creating the ProFive Media Network.

Before joining the ABA , he served as deputy executive director of the State Bar of Michigan, one of the countrys largest bar associations, from 1996-2000. He headed marketing and media relations, establishing a new marketing department, developing a strategic communications plan and creating a first-in-the-country digital publication for lawyersthe award-winning e-Journal. In addition, Kim was responsible for crisis communications, press releases, news events and media training.

Kims career has also included serving as publisher and editor-in-chief of Michigan Lawyers Weekly from 1992-96; a senior account executive for American National, a public relations firm in Los Angeles; a litigation attorney for one of Michigans largest law firms, Clark, Klein and Beaumont in Detroit, from 1990-92; and an associate producer and writer at WDIV -TV4, the NBC affiliate in Detroit.

He received a bachelors degree in communications from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1990.