January 12, 2022
Subject: LEADERSHIP UPDATE
Dear Members of the Kent State University Community,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Ward as Kent State University’s next vice president for university communications and marketing. As a key member of the senior leadership team, he will lead the university’s overall communications, branding and marketing efforts and direct the Division of University Communications and Marketing (UCM). He joins Kent State on July 1, 2022.
Stephen’s breadth of experience and impressive accomplishments, including most recently as vice president for communications and marketing at Hawaii Pacific University, demonstrate his impact as an innovative, collaborative leader. He has also served in university communication leadership roles at Grand Valley State University, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Among other roles, Stephen spent five years on Capitol Hill on the staffs of two U.S. representatives from Michigan. Throughout his career, he has led the development and execution of successful core messaging, branding and marketing strategies that have advanced institutional missions and priorities.
His appointment follows a national search chaired by Peggy Shadduck, Ph.D., vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies. Our thanks to the colleagues who served as members of the search committee and to the many staff, faculty and students who participated in campus interviews in December.
As a university community, we owe a debt of gratitude to Rebecca Murphy for her leadership and dedication as interim vice president since January 2020. She will continue to serve in this capacity through June 30, after which she will return to her position as senior associate vice president for strategic communications and external affairs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca and the talented UCM team for providing effective, timely communications throughout the pandemic along with supporting the ongoing communications and marketing needs of a large, complex university system.
I look forward to working with all of you as we tell the many compelling stories of Kent State and enhance our effectiveness and profile as an award-winning, student-ready university dedicated to access and completion for all.
Sincerely,
Todd Diacon
President
December 1, 2021
Subject: Finalists Selected for Vice President for University Communications and Marketing
Dear Members of the Kent State University Community,
I am pleased to announce our search committee has completed the initial phase of its national search, recommending three finalists for the position of vice president for university communications and marketing. These individuals were judged by the committee as well aligned with key opportunities and challenges for our next vice president.
Next week, the candidates will participate in campus visits, which will include a virtual public presentation and interviews with faculty, staff, students, administrators and direct reports of the vice president. In their public presentations, they will discuss the following topic: Higher education faces many opportunities and challenges today and into the future. Please speak to these opportunities and challenges and share your philosophy and vision as a communications and marketing leader. Attendees will be invited to ask questions following the presentation.
I encourage you to attend these meetings and to provide your input on the candidates through the survey link below. Our thanks to the search committee led by Peggy Shadduck, Ph.D., vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies, for getting us to this juncture in filling this important leadership position.
Candidate and Presentation Information
TODD M. WOODWARD
Former Vice President, Global Communications
Herman Miller Group
Public Presentation
Monday, Dec. 6
11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
REBECCA S. MURPHY
Interim Vice President, University Communications and Marketing
Kent State University
Public Presentation
Wednesday, Dec. 8
11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
STEPHEN P. WARD
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Hawaii Pacific University
Public Presentation
Thursday, Dec. 9
11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
October 4, 2021
Subject: Search for Vice President for University Communications and Marketing
Dear Members of the Kent State University Community:
I am writing to update you on our national search for Kent State’s vice president for university communications and marketing, and to request your input in identifying opportunities, challenges and desired characteristics for this key member of the senior leadership team.
This national search is chaired by Peggy Shadduck, Ph.D., vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies. Serving on the search committee are Sean Broghammer, Ph.D., interim vice president for enrollment management; Taléa Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D., associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students; Leigh Greenfelder, associate vice president for communications and outreach in the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement; Pamela Grimm, Ph.D., chair of Faculty Senate and professor of marketing and entrepreneurship; Michael Lehman, Ph.D., director of the Brain Health Research Institute and professor of biological sciences; Bob Louis, assistant vice president for new media communications; Suzette McQueen, executive senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator; Amy Reynolds, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication and Information; and Zhiqiang Molly Wang, Ph.D., provost’s fellow and professor of chemistry and biochemistry. The committee is charged with recruiting and screening top candidates and recommending three finalists for campus interviews.
I encourage you to complete a community survey that will assist the search committee in completing the position profile. Your participation also will be appreciated in the public sessions during virtual campus interviews late in the semester.
Sincerely,
Todd Diacon
President
Kent State University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.