CWU Announces New Director Of Public Relations And Marketing

September 27, 2005

Contact: Tess McShane (509-963-1423/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: mcshanet@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central has announced the appointment of Becky Watson, Ed.D., as the new director of public relations and marketing at Central Washington University, effective Nov. 1.

"We are fortunate to have recruited a director with Becky's broad background in higher education, communications and graphic design," says Dr. Paul Baker, vice president of university relations. "She brings over a decade of expertise in these areas to our department."

Watson was most recently the communications and alumni relations director at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. She also has been marketing manager at Purdue University; owner/graphic designer, "Watson Creative"; assistant director of marketing and community relations and publications specialist, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and graphic designer/illustrator and instructor at South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia, Wash.

Watson is a CWU graduate where she received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in graphic design. She also holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"I feel as if I've come full-circle," says Watson. "My first professional job was as a student graphic designer for University Relations at Central and I'm excited about returning home to Washington to be closer to family and long-time friends."

Watson was selected from a strong pool of candidates after a nationwide search was conducted. Candidates were screened and chosen by a university search committee, chaired by Julie Cloninger, senior director of development, and comprised of faculty, staff and community communications professionals.