By Jeff Murphy,
July 22, 2019
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Following an extensive search, the 欧美视频
announces that Susan Nelson Smedley, Baytown, Texas, is joining UCM as Vice President
for Integrated Marketing and Communications. Smedley, whose professional career includes
nearly 20 years of higher education communications experience as well as executive-level
experience in private industry, begins her new role Aug. 16.
Smedley currently serves as Director of Marketing and Public Affairs at Lee College
in Baytown. As UCM鈥檚 vice president, she will be part of the president鈥檚 council and
oversee both the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications and KMOS-TV, the
university鈥檚 public television station. She will work with teams of creative and analytical
professionals to deliver high-quality services and materials that will help advance
the institution and support its mission.
UCM President Roger Best today announced Smedley鈥檚 appointment noting, 鈥淪usan brings
with her extensive private sector and higher education experiences which make her
uniquely qualified for this position. These experiences have provided her with tremendous
insight into the challenges facing UCM and higher education in general, and will greatly
inform our marketing and branding efforts. Susan's strong spirit of collaboration
and focus on student success align perfectly with the culture of UCM, and I look forward
to her joining our team. 鈥
Smedley joined Lee College in October 2015. Among her many accomplishments at the
college, she led the first phase of the system-wide effort to develop and implement
a fully integrated enrollment management plan that will evolve institutional culture
with a goal to better serve students. Additionally, she provided leadership in the
development of an integrated marketing communications plan that promotes enrollment,
and publicizes student and faculty successes, and developed a new program of web content
liaisons designed to keep all content on the college website current, accurate and
reviewed in weekly or bi-weekly cycles.
Other experiences in higher education include serving as Director of Communications
and Marketing at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma; Director of Marketing
and Public Relations, Executive Director of the Foundation, and Director of Institutional
Advancement at Coastal Bend College in Texas; and Community and Industry Liaison,
Director of Career and Industry Development at Platt College in Oklahoma, where she
worked within Oklahoma City and statewide.
Smedley brings to UCM statewide perspectives in workforce development as it relates
to education and training. This is supported by her experience as a member of the
executive board for the Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board and service at
the State of Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Also benefiting from a professional career that includes work in real estate and
serving as president and chief executive officer for a pre-engineered metal building
company, Smedley said she looks forward to her new role at UCM.
鈥淲hen assessing an environment, especially one that is new to me, what excites me
most is opportunity and the identification of opportunity -- how can I work to assist
the institution in identifying new opportunities within an expanded landscape with
the talents and assets we already have in place? How can I bring my experience and
perspective to bear in a way that benefits everyone, beginning with the student? To
that end, I am so very honored and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of what
is happening at the 欧美视频 under the guidance of Dr. Roger
Best.鈥
She added, 鈥淚 believe he is a strategic, pragmatic, compassionate and global thinker
that has the conviction of vision to truly expand the future of UCM. That is the kind
of leadership and strategic vision I want to be a part of. There's no doubt in my
mind I've found it here at UCM. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in my
selection for the opportunity. I'm eager to get to work.鈥
Although Smedley spent most of her life in Texas, she welcomes the opportunity to
move to the Midwest.
鈥淚t didn't take long to fall in love with the community of Warrensburg,鈥 she said.
鈥淓veryone I've encountered here has been so kind and hospitable. My son and I are
looking forward to calling Warrensburg home.鈥
Smedley graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1986 with a Bachelor of
Science in Advertising in addition to the University of Texas鈥 nationally top-ranked
Advertising Creative Portfolio Sequence and with minors in history and English. Her
post-undergraduate work includes American studies, focusing on American literature
and history.
For more information contact:
Jeff Murphy
Assistant Director for Media Relations
Integrated Marketing and Communications
660-543-4640
jmurphy@ucmo.edu