Office of University Communications 

Missouri State reorganizes to emphasize new media, marketing

SPRINGFIELD — To strengthen and emphasize its initiatives in new media and marketing, Missouri State University President Michael T. Nietzel is reorganizing three units into the office of university relations. All changes are effective July 1.

The three units moving into university relations include:

• Office of web and new media – the current web services department will change its name to the office of web and new media with an emphasis in new media and marketing. These changes were recommended in the recently released report by the New Media Task Force. This is the office that will take the lead in many of the new media and streaming initiatives. Sara Clark heads that office, which currently is organized in administrative and information services.
• Office of sports information – this office is currently part of Intercollegiate Athletics. It is being reorganized into university relations because of the planned streaming of games and the added emphasis on web communications. Rick Kindhart, assistant executive director for communications for the Missouri State High School Activities Association, has been hired as the new sports information director. Kindhart will begin his duties July 1. Kindhart replaces long-time SID Mark Stillwell, who will work on special projects in Intercollegiate Athletics from July 1 until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2008.
• University marketing specialist – Missouri State’s contract with Art Hains, long-time radio “Voice of the Bears,” has been expanded from part-time to full-time, and he will have the title of university marketing specialist. Hains, who recently resigned as a full-time employee at Meyer Communications, will continue to broadcast Bears football, Bears basketball and baseball games for Meyer Communications and KTXR, the flagship station for the Bears Radio Network. He will continue to host the long-running “Sportstalk” show on KWTO-FM from 5-7 p.m. most weeknights. Hains also will assist Missouri State on a wide variety of marketing initiatives campus-wide, including many related to new media. 

These three units join the three existing units in University Relations: university communications, publications, and photographic services. University relations is headed by Paul Kincaid, APR, chief of staff/assistant to the president for university relations.

“If we were going to give the coming year a theme for university relations,” said Kincaid, “it would be the ‘Year of New Media.’ While we are ahead in many areas, we need to make significant progress in all forms of new media, including streaming, and in using the web as effectively as possible for marketing the university. This reorganization will help concentrate the units that are taking the lead in these efforts. It makes sense and will help us achieve our goals.”

The appointments of Kindhart and Hains are subject to approval by the Board of Governors, which will next meet on June 20.