CWU Special Achievement Award Winner Communicates

October 17, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- If you've ever wondered how domain names and numbers get assigned on the World Wide Web, you should talk to Mary Hewitt, the director of communications for the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

In that capacity, she is responsible for ICANN's educational outreach and communications programs with the general public, a variety of other constituencies and the media.

Hewitt also is the 2003 recipient of the Central Washington University Alumni Association special achievement award, which she will receive during the annual homecoming banquet and awards ceremony, Friday, Oct. 17.

Hewitt has more than 10 years experience managing strategic communications programs in the private sector and the congressional and executive branches of the federal government.

"Central provided me with a solid foundation for the real world," Hewitt says. "By attending Central, I was able to utilize the 'big' school assets within a smaller academic venue. This more 'one-on-one' education allowed me to pursue aggressively the programs that I studied which provided me with valuable tools that I use everyday."

Hewitt has served as public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of the Treasury and press secretary for the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. Most recently, she was director of communications and industry relations for the Computer and Communications Industry Association.

A 1985 CWU communications graduate, with a minor in political science, Hewitt also received a master's degree in international affairs from Georgetown University in 1994.

Her varied professional career has also included service as a board member on the Vice President's (Al Gore) Treasury Internet Task Force and as a radio talk show coordinator from the Republican National Convention.

Hewitt received the outstanding contributor award for her publicity work concerning the Treasury's Electronic Benefits Transfer Program and outstanding achievement award for a media campaign concerning the Treasury Department's Russian Program.