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| Mary Osako |
Former Amazon global communications chief Mary Osako has been named UCLA’s vice chancellor for strategic communications.
In the newly created post, Osako will oversee UCLA’s marketing, media relations, executive communications, public outreach and special events and protocol units. A 1996 graduate of UCLA, Osako assumes her new post on Sept. 23.
Osako moves to UCLA from Haven Tower Group, a Santa Monica, CA-based strategic communications and marketing firm. In addition to her position at Amazon, she has also served as chief communications officer at Activision Blizzard and vice president of corporate, international and public policy communications at Yahoo.
UCLA chancellor Gene Block announced the creation of UCLA Strategic Communications in 2018.
The division, which consists of offices that were previously under the umbrella of UCLA’s external affairs division, is focused on enabling the campus to respond more effectively to the demands of 24-hour news cycles, social media and the Los Angeles media marketplace.
Leigh Whitaker will return to the University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 1 as VP for government and community affairs.
Temple University has named Brian Keech VP-government & community relations after a national search.
Maine’s Bowdoin College has named NYU Abu Dhabi's Martin Mbugua senior VP-communications and PA. He takes the spot on August 1.
Notre Dame hires Pedro Ribeiro, who most recently served as SVP for communications and PA at the Association of American Universities, as VP for PA and communications, effective Oct. 2.
