News | 4/3/08

Marina Harrison Cooper was chosen from a field of more than 110 applicants for the position of assistant to the president for external relations and communications.

The position in the president's office has been vacant since Carol Vellucci resigned Jan. 1. Vellucci cited personal reasons for leaving the University. Cooper will begin work April 16.

Towson President Robert Caret said he and the search committee met with eight semifinalists and were very impressed with Cooper who has worked as special assistant for communications, media and policy in the Anne Arundel County Office of the County Executive. She was also the director of international affairs in the Office of the Maryland Secretary of State. In addition, she worked as a spokeswoman for the Maryland Public Schools Campaign.

She has extensive experience writing press releases and working as a communications official for these offices, Caret said.

"She's energetic and anxious," Caret said. "We were looking for somebody who had very, very good writing skills and very good communications skills."

A University of Maryland, College Park graduate, Cooper will assume responsibilities very close to that of her predecessor, Caret said. The position has three major components.

First Cooper will be responsible for media relations writing and all aspects "from the mundane to the magnificent," Caret said. She will also be a community and public relations representative as well as a spokesperson for the president's office.

Caret said the job will be similar to how it was in the past, but now there will be a greater emphasis on media.

"When Carol [Vellucci] left, we had a dialogue with her and after that and watching her in the position for over a year, we decided the media piece of the job had to be strengthened," he said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools