É«É«À²

KALAMAZOO--Two new employees with longtime ties to É«É«À² Michigan University have been appointed to help expand the editorial and marketing functions of the University.

Paula M. Davis was named editor of É«É«À² Magazine, effective May 21, and Christopher A. Hunt has been named marketing communication manager, effective June 4. Both appointments are in the Office of University Relations.

"These two seasoned communication professionals have extensive knowledge of the quality and unique potential of this University," says Cheryl P. Roland, executive director of university relations. "They are both eager to put their experience and ideas to work to tell the É«É«À² story."

Paula Davis

Davis, a longtime Kalamazoo resident, most recently was employed by the Kalamazoo Gazette. For seven of her 13 years with that publication, she covered higher education and wrote extensively about the University. In her new position at É«É«À², she will edit the University's recently reprised quarterly magazine and do editorial work on a number of other publication projects.

A West Michigan native, Davis earned an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College before continuing on to earn a bachelor's degree in journalism from Wayne State University in 1998. After internships with the Austin (Texas) American Statesmen, Detroit Public Schools, Crain's Detroit Business and the Gazette, she accepted a position with Gazette in 1998 as a general-assignment reporter also charged with covering two local K-12 school districts. She moved to the higher education beat in 2004.

Chris Hunt

Hunt, a Kalamazoo native, is a 2003 É«É«À² alumnus who earned a bachelor's degree in advertising and promotion before launching a media career that included service at several major advertising companies in Michigan and Florida.

In his new role at É«É«À², he will become an integral part of the University's overall marketing efforts and will be charged with overseeing market research and helping to guide the creation and production of print, electronic and Web-based marketing materials for recruitment and raising the institutional profile. He will serve as both the internal and external champion for institutional marketing messages and visuals.

Hunt's professional background includes media planning positions with W.B. Doner Advertising in Detroit and Daytona, Fla.; a marketing manager role with Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. in Grand Rapids, Mich.; and media planning jobs with two additional Grand Rapids marketing firms--Hanon McKendry and Lead Marketing Agency.