New structure will support strategic goals for fundraising and
marketing
MURFREESBORO — MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee
announced Monday a strategic reorganization of the university’s development and
communications operations under a plan approved by the Tennessee Board of
Regents.
Two university executives received new titles and duties,
which McPhee said would help MTSU put a greater emphasis on corporate outreach;
strategic branding and positioning; and accelerating the university’s
successful $80 million Centennial Campaign.
Joe Bales, MTSU’s chief development officer since 2002,
assumes the new title of vice president for university advancement. He will
continue to oversee fundraising, as well as alumni and governmental relations,
and will direct a new initiative to strengthen relationships with business and
industry.
Andrew Oppmann, who has led the university’s marketing and
communications efforts since 2010, has been promoted to vice president. His
duties now include further integration of communications assets throughout the
university and responsibility for international branding of strategic
priorities.
The reorganization splits the former Division of
Development and University Relations into two units: University Advancement and
Marketing and Communications. It did not require additional staffing. Both
executives report directly to McPhee.
“With the success of our Centennial Campaign, and our
increased emphasis on marketing and communications, we believe it’s an
appropriate time to reorganize these areas,” McPhee said. “It will help us
better maximize our existing resources.”
The change allows Bales to give greater focus to the
Centennial Campaign, McPhee said. Under Bales’ leadership, the campaign has
recorded more than $67 million in cash and pledges since it was publicly launched
in April 2012.
“Our overall fundraising efforts have more than doubled
during Joe’s tenure,” McPhee said. “Joe has provided tremendous leadership and
terrific results — and this reorganization allows us to put even greater
emphasis on this important area while also addressing other emerging
priorities.”
Oppmann, formerly associate vice president for marketing
and communications, will ensure public outreach and marketing by the colleges,
athletics and other units are integrated and aligned to the university’s
strategic goals. He will also oversee a stepped-up effort to extend MTSU’s
enhanced brand statewide, nationally and internationally.
“Andrew and his team have expanded our reach by leveraging
new technology and improving the quality of our more traditional efforts, such
as MTSU Magazine,” McPhee said. “In his new role, he will help us be even more
efficient and effective in reaching key audiences.”
Bales has two decades of development experience, coming to
MTSU from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he served in a variety
of development and alumni affairs roles. He was UT’s assistant vice president
for corporate relationships and director of development for UT’s College of
Engineering.
Oppmann joined the university after more than 25 years as
an editor, reporter or executive for newspapers in seven states. He was
president and publisher of Gannett Tennessee’s media groups in Murfreesboro and
Clarksville and a vice president of The Tennessean in Nashville.
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