MTSU Sidelines

Issue date: 7/9/08 Section: News

Tonjanita L. Johnson, formerly of Mississippi Valley State University, has been hired as the new associate vice president for marketing and communications.

"I love MTSU and I am very excited to be working here," Johnson said. "I am embracing the position very positively and energetically."

"I'm taking a bit of a chance to acclimate to the work environment here, and so far it has been wonderful."

Johnson began her job on June 1, and has seven years experience as executive assistant to the president/associate vice president for university relations at MVSU, which is located in Itta Bena, MS.

During her tenure there, she also served as the school's public relations director.

"My office will serve as an interface between the marketing and communication departments," Johnson said. "It will essentially be a strategic center for evaluating the manner in which MTSU operates its marketing campaigns, and the provision of the same resources to all departments on campus."

In addition to serving as a strategic center for unilateral movement of the entire campus, Johnson's office will also oversee a large array of marketing and communication aspects, including graphics, printing, photography and the news.

Johnson hopes that in her new position she will be able to promote a fuller image of MTSU to the public by utilizing the division's communication department.

One of Johnson's ideas is the inclusion of faculty and staff into the "I'm One!" current MTSU marketing campaign, an idea that will showcase the efforts and ideas of marketing and communication made by faculty.

According to Johnson, consistency should be one of the primary goals of the university's marketing efforts in terms of the image of MTSU.

Johnson also emphasizes the importance of knowing the institutional guidelines and procedures of MTSU's marketing campaigns in order to make these campaigns as effective as possible.

"The thing that is most important here is presenting an integrated effort toward one goal," Johnson said. "We want all of the different channels here at MTSU to have a single voice."

Johnson added that the support from fellow MTSU faculty and staff has been overwhelming.

"[MTSU] is one of those places where people from many departments across campus have walked over to my office just to introduce themselves and say hello," Johnson said. "Everyone has been very easy to work with and opens up very straightforwardly about what they need or what they can do concerning my position. So far I'm excited for a long future."

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