FSU names veteran strategist new director of communications

A communications strategist with a comprehensive portfolio of expertise has been named the new assistant vice president for University Relations and director of communications at The Florida State University.

Jeanette DeDiemar, the executive director of integrated marketing and communications at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, will succeed Frank Murphy, who retired June 30 after 16 years at the helm. She will begin Sept. 21.

In her role at Florida State, DeDiemar will serve as the chief public relations and communications officer for the university. She will seek to enhance public perceptions of the university by advising and supporting senior administrators, including the president and Board of Trustees; representing the university to external audiences including the news media, alumni and community at large; and facilitating information sharing with internal audiences.

She will supervise all aspects of the University Communications office, including the development and implementation of communication policies, strategy and tactics, marketing and media relations, creative services and other public relations functions.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to lead the development of a strategic, comprehensive and integrated approach to communications and marketing at one of the nation’s most distinguished research universities,” DeDiemar said. “My husband, Steve Delloy, and I are looking forward to becoming active members of the university and Tallahassee communities.”

DeDiemar has been at UW Oshkosh since 2006, where, as a member of the chancellor’s cabinet, she formed an award-winning 17-member team and spearheaded the implementation of the first-ever integrated marketing and communications strategy for the university — efforts that overhauled the school’s news and information, publications, media relations, crisis communications, external relations, social media and alumni relations programs. In addition to overseeing those functions and counseling the administration, she serves as the chief public information officer at the university and is second to the vice chancellor for advancement.

Prior to her post at UW Oshkosh, she was part of a team that developed and launched the Wales Digital Media Initiative, one of the United Kingdom’s first centers for digital media and creative technologies; directed the rebranding of a private educational academy in Wisconsin to grow its enrollment and increase philanthropy; worked for The Hoffman Agency as an account manager for the education and training product division of Hewlett-Packard headquarters in San Jose, Calif.; was associate director of college relations for Ripon College in Wisconsin, where she increased the institution’s visibility with the media; and was a civilian public affairs officer and media relations specialist for the infantry division in Fort Riley, Kan.

DeDiemar earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, a master’s degree in mass communications from Kansas State University and a doctorate from Kansas State, where her research focused on crisis communication management.

She is a frequent presenter at national conferences on integrated marketing and communication and university brand strategies. DeDiemar and her team have been recognized with a number of Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and Addy® awards — including the 2009 CASE Region V Gold for best practices in communications and marketing, the 2010 Gold Service Industry Advertising Award for best internal publication, as well as the 2010 Platinum Hermes Creative Award for best brand campaign, social media strategy and internal communications strategy.