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Communication Office Edits Name to Reflect Evolving Role

University Communications

Duke’s Office of News and Communications (ONC) has changed its name to University Communications (UComms) to reflect a consolidation of resources and expanded scope of responsibility that has evolved during the last several years.

Kristen Brown, associate vice president for news, communications and media explained the rationale for the new name in an email to communication colleagues across Duke.

“Our name change is the culmination of a process that began in 2016, in which several teams and functions in the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations – including Marketing and Strategic Communications, Global Communications, Duke Photography and the Event Calendar – came together with News and Communications to form an integrated communications unit dedicated to building, advancing and protecting Duke’s reputation,” she wrote.

Brown explained that consolidating into a single unit allows the department to aligned its resources and efforts towards engaging key audiences around the world in support of Duke’s mission and highest priorities.

In a message to senior leadership about the name change, Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for Public Affairs and Government Relations, wrote, “Duke’s communications team has long been recognized as a leader among its peers. In making this change and extending our collaborative focus to global, digital, and visual communications, our goal is to develop ever more powerful and innovative ways to promote the value and impact of Duke’s people, programs and engagement both in our region and around the world.”