Colleen Penhall, chief communications officer and associate vice chancellor for University Communications, has taken a role as vice president of communications in the private sector. Her last day with the University will be July 2.
“We are grateful for Colleen’s leadership of University Communications the past two years as she successfully led the communications strategy for the transition of chancellors, managed the University’s pandemic communications and has positioned the University for a refreshed brand launch for our 75th anniversary this fall,” said Niles Sorensen, vice chancellor for University Advancement. “We thank Colleen for her service and wish her well in her future endeavors.”
As a result of Penhall’s departure, Jennifer Ames Stuart, associate dean for graduate and executive programs and professor of marketing in the Belk College of Business, has been named interim associate vice chancellor of University Communications effective July 26. In this capacity, Stuart will join the Chancellor’s Cabinet and retain approximately 30 percent of her responsibilities in the Belk College during this interim assignment.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jen to University Communications in this interim capacity,” said Sorensen. “We will benefit from Jen’s deep expertise and experience in marketing, both as a faculty member and from her years of experiences in senior marketing roles for various industries prior to joining UNC Charlotte in 2013.”
Stuart will lead a newly expanded University Communications team that will now have responsibility for the existing college and library communication teams to better coordinate efforts to drive the University’s new strategic plan and elevate the academic and research reputation of UNC Charlotte. To support this work, Meg Kimmel will join University Communications as the senior director of strategic academic communications on an interim basis for one year beginning at the end of June.
Kimmel has more than 25 years of experience in higher education and served as the associate vice president of communications for Bates College and director of communications for Davidson College.
Photo: Jennifer Ames Stuart and Meg Kimmel