An award-winning veteran of higher education advancement is the new associate vice president for public relations and marketing at Eastern Kentucky University.

Marc Whitt, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees from EKU in 1982 and 1985, respectively, will bring 18 years of experience in the field when he joins President Joanne Glasser's leadership team March 24. He comes to Eastern from Campbellsville University, where he served as vice president for communications and marketing.

"I'm thrilled beyond words to return to Eastern," Whitt said. "(EKU) is the place that encouraged and developed me to become the person I am today. I now have the opportunity to give back to the institution that has freely given me much over the years."

Glasser cited Whitt's extensive experience and diverse strengths.

"Marc has done it all in higher education advancement, and done it all well," she said. "Even more importantly, he has taken on numerous leadership roles in his profession and in his community. He is a solid, well-respected professional who has the vision and the energy to help us become a comprehensive regional university of national distinction."

Whitt joined Campbellsville in 1992 as director of public relations and marketing and was named in 1995 as assistant to the president for public relations and marketing. He was named vice president for advancement in 1997 and vice president for communications and marketing in 2001.

While Whitt was at Campbellsville, the university's public relations and marketing programs received seven Grand Awards in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)-Kentucky Advancement Awards Program and numerous Awards of Excellence and Special Merit Awards. He has published numerous articles and made numerous presentations related to higher education advancement.

He is a two-time president of CASE Kentucky and has served on the Board of Directors for CASE District III (southeastern United States).

Prior to joining Campbellsville, Whitt was director of public relations at Georgetown College, 1988-92, and associate for church relations and admissions counselor, Cumberland College, 1985-87.

Whitt will serve as EKU's chief spokesperson, and plan, develop and coordinate the implementation and evaluation of the University's public relations and marketing programs.

"With the assistance of the communications and marketing staff," he said, "we will deliver a program that will build on the University's foundation and heritage, evaluate its opportunities and threats, define and focus on the University's key target audiences, establish clear goals and objectives, follow through with solid marketing action plans, and execute,
evaluate and modify the plans, all within the context of an integrated marketing strategy."

Whitt, a Paintsville native, earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications and human relations and a master's degree in general sociology with an emphasis in marketing. He also was heavily involved in the music program at EKU.

"Eastern is a grand place where lives are changed through the power and influence of a faculty who are dedicated to their profession and who have fully committed themselves to their students," Whitt said. "I am a product of their dedication and commitment.

"Through (President Glasser's) leadership, combined with a faculty and staff who are truly dedicated and committed to student success, EKU has an incredible success story to tell. I want to help tell that success story."