Advancement, external affairs aligned by function

 
Gardner

WSU Advancement and External Affairs (AEA) will be organized into six broad functional areas in a reorganization plan announced by Vice President John Gardner.

 
The areas are:
  • Alumni Relations
  • Marketing/Communications
  • Development
  • Finance
  • Government Relations
  • Economic Development and Global Engagement
 
The teams will be led either by a single person or a small group, all reporting to Gardner.
 
Further refining two key areas, Development and Marketing/Communications, will begin immediately to ensure an internal structure and leadership that best support all of WSU. Much expertise in both areas exists across the campuses, colleges and units.
 
 
Bottom-up and flat
“I’d like to facilitate a bottom-up approach for us to take a fresh look at working relationships,” Gardner said. “I’ve heard so many good ideas, and unfortunately we can’t pursue them all. But we will set a course to organize ourselves to surface the best talent and to implement the flattest and most nimble working structures that reinforce priorities and accountability to each other and the institution we serve.”
 
AEA results from an administrative reorganization announced by WSU President Elson S. Floyd last month. University Relations, the WSU Foundation and the Office of Economic Development and Global Engagement were brought together, with Gardner as vice president.
 
 
Team, unit leaders
Tim Pavish will remain in charge of Alumni Relations and the WSU Alumni Association. His knowledge of WSU and years of professional experience will be tapped across the division in advising on marketing and communications.
 
The Marketing/Communications unit will be led jointly by Tammey Boston, University Events and Outreach; Trevor Durham, Development Marketing and Communications; Mary Read, University Publishing; John Sutherland, Marketing and Creative Services; James Tinney, Internal Communications and chief communications officer for the Office of the President; and Darin Watkins, External Communications.
 
The team leaders in Development are Devon Anderson, Corporate and Foundation Relations; Mike Connell, Gift Planning; Cheryl Harrelson, Annual & Special Gifts, Stewardship, and Special Events; Mark Hermanson, Constituency Development Programs; and Gil Picciotto, Leadership Gifts.
 
Government Relations will be headed by Colleen Kerr, recently appointed as chief legislative officer. This group will have a role in crafting strategic communications across the division with the objective of helping to align the university’s public and private endeavors.
 
Marketing/Communications, Government Relations and Development will have reporting lines to the president’s office, along with reporting to Gardner.
 
The Finance unit will be led by Kevin Harvey, Finance for the WSU Foundation.
 
The Economic Development and Global Engagement unit will be co-led by Prema Arasu, Keith Jones and Brett Rogers, who head International Programs, WSU Research Foundation and Office of Intellectual Property Management, and Washington State Small Business Development Centers respectively.