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University Communications

Who We Are: Management profiles

Photo: Mitchel Benson

Mitchel Benson, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Communications

(Since November 2010)

  • Duties: Leads 32 communication professionals to provide communication support to UC Davis
  • Other UC Davis posts: Assistant vice chancellor for University Communications September 2008 to November 2009; UC Davis News Service director, December 2004–September 2008
  • Background: Spokesman and media strategist for State Treasurer Phil Angelides, 2003–04; 24 years at daily newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, San Jose Mercury News, Kansas City Times; at the San Jose Mercury News he was part of a staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake and at The Wall Street Journal, he was part of a staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of 9/11
  • Education: B.A. in Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.S. in Journalism, Northwestern University.
Photo: Claudia Morain

Claudia Morain, News Service Director

(Since September 2009)

  • Duties: Manages staff of public information representatives, editors and a broadcast specialist
  • Other UC Davis posts: Senior Public Information Representative, University Communications, 2007–09; Public information officer, UC Davis Cancer Center, 2002–07
  • Background: 25 years in journalism including daily newspaper writing and editing at the San Jose Mercury News, Orange County Register and Los Angeles Daily News and freelance work for ABC 20/20, the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, among other media outlets; taught journalism courses at the University of Southern California and San Francisco State University
  • Education: B.A. in Communications, Phi Beta Kappa, University of Washington
Photo: Jan Conroy

Jan Conroy, Interim Publications Director and Executive Director for University Communications

(Since 2009)

  • Duties: Manages Dateline UC Davis editor, UC Davis Magazine editors, Web home pages and News & Information page editor, and campus photographer. Leads Communications Council.
  • Other UC Davis posts: Designer for Repro Graphics, 1977–87; senior editor in Publications Office, 1987–94; Publications Director, 1994–2009
  • Background: More than 33 years experience in publications field at UC Davis; taught in the UC Davis Extension Graphic Design program for eight years; four years in the U.S. Navy as a Spanish linguist
  • Education: B.S. in design, University of California, Davis; Spanish language certificate, Defense Language Institute, Monterey
Photo: Tom Hinds

Tom Hinds, Marketing Director and Development and Campaign Communications Manager

(Since August 2009)

  • Duties: Integrated marketing planning, message development, branding, development communications and market research. Provide consultation services to campus constituents and comprehensive support for major campus initiatives.
  • Other UC Davis posts: Marketing coordinator for UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions August 2002–April 2006
  • Background: 12 years in communications and marketing: Editor-in-chief of Schwann Publications; senior/channel editor for Verde Media and Atevo.com; editor for Ulysses Press
  • Education: Education: B.A. (with focus on English and communications), The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wash.