The Offices of Marketing and Communication, Public Affairs, and Economic Engagement are uniting as the Office of University Relations, with a mission to serve the Marquette University community as strategic partners, connectors and storytellers.
The university announced in early 2021 the formation of the Office of University Relations — it has since operated as an umbrella unit, with OMC, OPA and OEE as its constituent parts. Now the groups will join under a unified identity — the Office of University Relations. Individual job titles and functions are not changing.
“Coming together as an integrated unit with a cohesive identity is important to how we continue to elevate the Marquette University brand to transform lives,” says Paul Jones, vice president for university relations. “This is a really engaged, talented team, and I’m proud of how they have coalesced and set a strategic vision for how the Office of University Relations can be effective in helping Marquette to thrive.”
Jones, who is also the university’s general counsel, says that while not formally part of the Office of University Relations, the Office of the General Counsel – which also reports to Jones – will maintain a close working relationship with the team.
“It is necessary from a legal standpoint that OGC maintain its own identity,” he says. “Nevertheless, as an important strategic partner across the university, the legal team will be a key part of the Office of University Relations.”
Jones has assembled a leadership team to set and guide the Office of University Relations strategy. The team comprises the following:
- Rana Altenburg, associate vice president of public affairs
- Lynn Griffith, assistant vice president of university communication
- Jeff Kipfmueller, deputy general counsel
- Sara Pforr, director of business services
- Tom Pionek, assistant vice president of marketing
- Carmel Ruffolo, associate vice president of corporate engagement
University partners should continue to work with their usual Office of University Relations contacts, as titles and job functions have not changed. For general inquiries, please call the main office line at (414) 288-7216.