University of Iowa names new VP

University of Iowa officials today announced Tysen Kendig, associate vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, has been chosen as the UI's new vice president for strategic communication. He will start Feb. 15.

"As a public university, we are responsible for keeping Iowans and people beyond our state informed about our missions, aspirations, and accomplishments, and I'm very pleased to have Tysen Kendig's leadership in telling our story," UI President Sally Mason said in a statement. "He brings an innovative and collaborative approach perfectly suited to a major institution with a wide variety of constituents and communication goals."

Kendig, who previously served as assistant director of public information at Penn State, succeeds Jude West, professor emeritus of management and organizations, who has served as interim vice president for strategic communication at the UI since 2008.

UI officials have taken some heat for planning to fill the VP job despite state budget cuts and a bad economy. But Mason has said the position is too important to the UI's mission. The UI's peers in the Big Ten Conference all have vice presidents who oversee communication, external relations and marketing, UI officials said.

The vice president for strategic communication is the UI's chief communication officer, reporting to the UI president. In that role, Kendig will establish communication plans and policies for the university and offer leadership and counsel on marketing, crisis management and outreach initiatives.  Kendig will oversee the Office of University Relations, the Center for Media Production, University of Iowa Television, the UI Alumni Association and Hancher Auditorium.