Marketing and Communication makes staff changes to support major new initiatives in Washington, D.C.

Fort Worth, TX
Monday, April 28, 2008

Higher education is facing important legislative, societal, and international issues, and TCU is playing a strong role in championing its causes. Recently Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. became chair of the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), a Washington-based lobbyist for America’s private colleges and universities. And at the request of the Chancellor, Larry Lauer, vice chancellor for marketing and communication, will focus his full attention on developing national presence and visibility for TCU, and building key international relationships abroad.

Currently, Lauer is working with NAICU to support the chancellor’s role on legislative issues; the American Council on Education (ACE) on both legislative issues and a major initiative to communicate the greater good contributions of higher education to the American public; the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to develop international institutional relationships; and on partnerships between the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (one of Washington’s most respected international public policy think tanks) and The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.


In order to support these new national and international initiatives, associate vice chancellor for marketing and communications, Tracy Syler-Jones, will become associate vice chancellor and executive director of marketing and communication operations. Syler-Jones will assume responsibility for all day-to-day tactical planning and implementation of TCU’s marketing and communication initiatives, and coordinate the work of the marketing and communication staff.  Both Lauer and Syler-Jones will continue to serve on the Chancellor’s cabinet. Shawn Kornegay will become associate director of communication and will take on more day-to-day media relations work and additional duties with schools and colleges. Lisa Albert will become assistant director of communication and expand some of her current duties. Additionally a website development position will be filled to enhance the video and new media capabilities of the operation.