The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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March 24, 2009

Erickson Named SHSU Director of Communications

By Julia May



Bruce Erickson, former associate vice president for university communications and marketing at California State University-Fullerton, has been selected as director of communications at Sam Houston State University.

He has more than 30 years of experience in managing communications departments at institutions of higher education.

“We are delighted to have a professional with the breadth and depth of the experience that Mr. Erickson possesses to build on the progress that has been achieved in recent years,” said Frank Holmes, vice president for university advancement. “His background of significant senior level leadership in a variety of university settings, including service in Texas, was enormously attractive.”

“I look forward to working with the entire university community to help find new and creative ways to tell the Sam Houston State story,” Erickson said.

While at Cal State-Fullerton, Erickson created the university’s first media partnerships to increase the frequency and reach of the institution’s messages and support its priority projects, including fund raising, student recruitment, support for the grand opening of a new Performing Arts Center and the launch of a comprehensive capital campaign.

He evolved a traditional publications and design staff into a multi-media creative team that worked with a variety of media, including radio and television, the Internet, ethnic media initiatives and partnerships.

He also supervised the production of the university’s catalog, commencement materials, recruitment support packages, as well as other institutional publications.

Erickson also served as executive director for marketing and communication at Wichita State University in Kansas, director of public relations at California State University, Northridge, and director of university relations at The University of Texas-Pan American.

He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism at The University of Kansas.

He was awarded the Public Communicators of Los Angeles’ inaugural Most Valuable Professional Award for his work and visibility as Cal State Northridge’s spokesperson following the Northridge earthquake in 1994 and is the recipient of numerous awards by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Erickson was a Peace Corps volunteer from 1973-75 in Kalasin, Thailand, where he taught English as a second language in a rural secondary school.

He was selected for the director of communications position at Sam Houston State following a national search and will assume responsibilities there on April 1.

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