Two senior members of the Office of the Vice President for University Relations have been promoted.
Lisa B. Baker, director of public affairs, is now associate vice president for university relations, and Frank C. Williams Jr., director of strategic planning, is now associate vice president for university relations. The title changes, effective April 15, were approved by the Regents at their April meeting.
“These changes result from a reorganization of the Office of the Vice President for University Relations and an increase in the scope of Ms. Baker’s and Mr. Williams’ responsibilities,” said Walter Harrison, vice president for university relations.
“In her new role, Ms. Baker will lead the management cluster that includes News and Information Services, Presidential Communications and University Events. As such, she will be responsible for the supervision of these units, which are so important to the effective public outreach of the University.
She will continue to act as an official spokesperson of the University and be responsible for a number of specific communications initiatives, both inside and outside the University community.
“In his new capacity, Mr. Williams will lead the management cluster that includes the Office of Marketing Communications and Michigan Radio. As such, he will be responsible for the supervision of these units, which are so vital to the University’s outreach efforts. He will continue to serve as budget and administrative officer for the division and oversee the University Relations strategic planning efforts and marketing efforts.”
Baker joined the U-M in 1990 as director of public affairs and has provided the chief coordination between the University’s public relations and public policy activities, splitting her time between the offices of government and university relations. Before coming to Michigan, she spent 10 years working in government and media relations in Washington, D.C., serving, among other positions, as director of communications for the American Business Conference and as special assistant to U.S. Senate majority leader Howard Baker. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina in 1979.
Williams came to the U-M in 1990 as director of strategic planning and has directed market and opinion research programs for various U-M units, among other duties. Before coming to Michigan, he was national director of college services for College Information Systems, Inc., and a management and marketing consultant in Chicago. In 1978–87, he was associate director and regional manager of the College Board in Massachusetts. He received his M.A. in psychology and education from Kean College in 1977 and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1989. He is completing his Ph.D. in educational evaluation from Boston College.
