Chris Valentine, the director of marketing and communications for one of the region’s largest health care providers, will be the assistant vice chancellor for marketing and communications at UCCS. He begins June 17 and will be the first to fill this new position at UCCS.
“I have had so many connections to UCCS over the years and I am really excited to be joining the organization and playing a role in shaping the future of the University,” Valentine said. “My oldest son just graduated from UCCS this spring and I really enjoyed watching him succeed and grow here at UCCS. I am looking forward to being a part of the UCCS family and helping the university to continue to grow and meet its strategic goals.”
Valentine comes to UCCS from Centura Health where he served as group director of strategic marketing and communications. In that role, he led eight professionals with oversight of marketing and communications at four hospitals in three cities in southern Colorado, including Penrose Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs. He oversaw marketing, public relations, internal communications, social media, community sponsorships, crisis communication and special events. Valentine was the lead hospital communicator during the 2015 Planned Parenthood shooting and produced a four-part YouTube documentary series “Beyond the Waiting Room” as a successful content marketing strategy.
Valentine earned his master’s degree in communication from UCCS in 2005 and his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University-Pueblo) in 1994. He has been an Accredited Business Communicator by the International Association of Business Communicators since 2006 and is a current member of the UCCS Communication Department Community Advisory Board. Valentine is a past board member of Stable Strides and the Colorado Springs Pioneer’s Museum, and past committee member for the Ride for the Brand Championship Ranch Rodeo.
“Chris Valentine brings the right combination of skills and experience that makes him a great choice to take on this new role,” said Chancellor Venkat Reddy. “He has worked with one of the region’s top health care providers, and his relationships in the community and on campus makes him well-suited to succeed in this role.”
The new position was made possible through significant funding from the CU President’s Office. Reddy expressed appreciation to Megan Bell, executive director of community learning and assessment, who chaired the search committee, as well as the committee members:
- Joanna Bean, director of alumni relations
- David Britt, senior account manager, Karsh Hagan
- Mathew Cox, senior executive director of enrollment management
- Stephannie Finley Fortune, University Advancement
- Katie Sullivan, assistant professor of communication
- Melinda Utoft, human resources analyst
- Jared Verner, director of communications.
The committee received support from Mark Zamora, executive assistant to the senior vice chancellor for University Advancement.
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