College welcomes new communication director

The college welcomed Krista Timney as its new communications director in January. Timney is only the second communications director for the college, following Lynn Davis, who retired after serving 25 years in that position.

Timney has an extensive background in higher education, having most recently served as senior associate director of marketing and communications for the Office of Admissions at Indiana University–Bloomington. “I had been looking for an opportunity to find a director position within marketing and communications, but I was especially excited about this position because of the focus on natural resources and the environment,” she said.

Dean Paul Winistorfer points to Timney’s demonstrated expertise specific to higher education and the use of digital communication tools. “We are thrilled to have someone of Krista’s caliber,” he said. “At Indiana University, she planned and implemented comprehensive strategic initiatives that directly correlated to a boost in admissions.”

According to Chief Advancement Officer Emily Hutchins, Timney will play an integral part in the college’s advancement efforts, which include creating a digital strategy plan and developing a cohesive web presence, creating marketing materials for the college’s degree programs, and refreshing the college brand to align with the university’s new brand. “Krista has a strong marketing background and the expertise to help us effectively advertise our programs and attract students,” Hutchins said. “In order to maintain our No. 1 ranking, we need to develop a completely new look and feel that is uniquely ours. I think she is going to be able to do some things that the college has never seen before.”

Timney, who earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Clemson University in 2011 and holds degrees from Frostburg State University, Penn State, and James Madison University, says she is drawn to the creative elements of marketing and communications. “I consider myself a storyteller,” she said. “I like the integrative approach to marketing that uses multiple channels to deliver content to the public. There are so many marketing channels to explore, and the best campaigns use them all. I’m looking forward to learning what the students and faculty are doing, and I’m excited to use those digital and print channels to tell their stories.”