Tysen Kendig

As vice president for university communications and marketing, I am responsible for conceiving and establishing a cohesive, comprehensive, high-level, multidimensional communications and marketing strategy and program capable of meeting Carnegie Mellon University's objectives and further enhancing its reputation and resources. In this capacity, I lead promotion of the university's mission and preserve its standing as an international leader in higher education and research through a unified vision for communications and marketing that delivers powerful and consistent brand message and furthers the goals of the entire university, including its individual colleges, administrative units, and locations worldwide. I serve as a trusted advisor to the president on all communications-related matters for Carnegie Mellon, and as a member of the president's executive management team and the university's leadership council. I also support other key university leaders by ensuring that they are well briefed on key issues and that they are appropriately involved in communications and marketing activities. As the senior administrator for University Communications and Marketing (UCM), I direct all aspects of media relations, internal communications, issues management, social media, integrated marketing, digital strategy, and creative services and production, and development of enterprise-wide messages that increase awareness and enhance the reputation of university programs and initiatives.

As vice president for communications, I served as the chief communications and marketing officer for the University of Connecticut, a national research university comprised of more than 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at seven campuses, with the main campus located in Storrs. I was responsible for conveying the university’s mission, vision and values internally and externally, and for providing strategic leadership, counsel and assistance to the president, provost, other vice presidents, and deans in the areas of communication, marketing, crisis management and outreach. In short, I directed all aspects of the university’s central communication efforts and a budget exceeding $11 million, including marketing and promotion, outreach, media relations, public information, alumni engagement, online and digital communication, multimedia and print design, executive communications, stewardship of the organization's brand, and development of messages that increase awareness and enhance the reputation of university programs and initiatives. I also administered all aspects of clinical marketing and communications for UConn Health, and provided oversight of the university’s public records coordination and compliance. In 2021, I also assumed responsibilities in UConn Athletics for its branding and new digital communications initiatives. More than 50 professional staff, most of which belonged to a labor bargaining unit, were collectively accountable to me for carrying out these activities.

As vice president for strategic communication, I served as the chief communication and marketing officer responsible for conveying the university’s mission, vision and values internally and externally. I provided strategic leadership, counsel and assistance to the president, provost, other vice presidents, and deans in the areas of communication, marketing, crisis management and outreach. Additionally, I directed all aspects of the university’s central communication efforts, including marketing and promotion, outreach, media relations, public information, online and digital communication, graphic design, stewardship of the organization's brand, and development of messages that increase awareness and enhance the reputation of university programs and initiatives. Collectively, primary areas of responsibility for strategic communication included leading development, coordination and implementation of creative and effective communication plans that met short- and long-term goals pertaining to teaching, research, and public service; guiding the university through institutional branding efforts; building ongoing public support for the university; and developing strategies for enhancing communication with the university’s key stakeholders – prospective and current students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, business and civic leaders, policymakers, granting agencies and others. Reporting units to the vice president included the Office of University Communication and Marketing, The Hawkeye Network (TV), University of Iowa Alumni Association and Hancher Auditorium. These units were comprised of nearly 100 professional staff combined.

As associate vice chancellor for university relations for the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus in Fayetteville, I served as the institution’s senior communications administrator and spokesperson. Housed within the division of university advancement that was in the midst of a record billion-dollar fundraising campaign, I generally was responsible for the development and management of university-wide communication strategies, public and media relations, marketing and advertising, as well as the university’s overall web presence. I was charged with developing and implementing strategies to increase public understanding of, and support for, the university and its mission, as well as enhancing the image and reputation of the university, its programs, its faculty and its nearly 20,000 students. I also provided counsel to the chancellor and my peers in the senior administration and managed all aspects of crisis communications. The University of Arkansas office of university relations was comprised of six departments reporting to the associate vice chancellor: communications technology services; executive communications; news and editorial communications; science and research communications; support services; and visual and creative services. Staffing included more than 30 professionals. The office also oversaw communications endeavors in all academic and administrative units, including admissions, athletics, student affairs and outreach.

- Supported, enhanced, and protected the overall positive image of Penn State University - Maximized media coverage and public support for important and sensitive issues - Worked with senior administrators to develop public relations plans and statements - Participated on steering committees charged with technology and diversity issues - Implemented and managed national and statewide communication strategies - Served as university spokesperson on various topics and key issues - Responded to diverse information requests from regional and national media - Developed stories on Penn State’s role in higher education trends and innovations - Administered production of more than 30 Penn State Newswire services - Placed faculty experts and university initiatives in the regional and national media - Acted as a liaison and consultant to campus and college communicators - Represented university as presenter for regional and national communications groups

- Organized cultural affairs publicity and helped manage overall media relations - Wrote and coordinated production of weekly internal university newsletter, Communiqué - Led development of and responsible for editorial and graphic quality of Rider’s Web site - Facilitated record numbers of faculty expert media placements during each year on staff - Served as a public relations contact for campus constituencies and committees - Assisted the director in crisis situations and acted as director in his absence - Assumed role of university spokesperson for the media on various issues - Contributed articles to quarterly Rider University magazine for alumni and friends - Supervised photographer, student interns, part-time office employees and support staff - Worked collaboratively with academic, administrative and athletic offices across campus

Pending thesis

Minor in Geography