University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson today named Michael Warden associate vice chancellor for strategic communications for CU-Boulder effective Jan. 1.Ìý
Warden currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for public affairs for the University of Texas system and has been with UT since 2001 following a long career in the U.S. Air Force.
In the newly created associate vice chancellor post, Warden will direct all internal and external communications for the CU-Boulder campus. He will report jointly to Peterson and to CU-Boulder Senior Vice Chancellor Ric Porreca. “Michael is a proven leader who brings a unique combination of higher education and government communications experience at an executive level,” said Peterson. “He will be a marvelous resource in our effort to enhance internal and external communications, and help us to reach out to new audiences with new communication strategies and approaches.”
Peterson said Warden will be charged with developing a marketing and branding strategy for the campus, coordinating the overall communication plan for CU-Boulder and managing the University Communications department, which consists of the offices of community relations, internal communications, news services, publications and creative services, and web communications.
“This is one of the most exciting opportunities in all of American higher education,” said Warden. “The University of Colorado, as one of the nation's elite research universities, has wonderful stories to tell and I'm looking forward to leading that effort. This is also a wonderful opportunity to work with a truly visionary chancellor, a world-class faculty and staff, some of the best students in the nation and an energetic group of alumni and stakeholders.”
Warden was selected for the position from 130 applicants in a national search. He served first as executive director and then assistant vice chancellor for public affairs since joining the UT System in 2001. He also is a member of the faculty at UT-Austin.Ìý
Prior to coming to the UT System, he was a member of the faculty of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he taught courses in corporate communications and public affairs.Ìý
Warden retired as a colonel in 1997 after a 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he held a variety of assignments including service in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., and as director of public affairs at the headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command in Dayton, Ohio.