Behind the work that gets you out front.
The Division of University Relations is your strategic partner in solving for today’s — and tomorrow’s — communications challenges.
As Virginia Commonwealth University’s in-house integrated communications expert, we leverage the power of our institutional knowledge and the depth and diversity of our talent to deliver results that align with your strategic goals. We understand that VCU is a university like no other, and we care about the greater good of our institution.
When you succeed, VCU succeeds. And we’ll do everything in our power to make that happen.
Does your department have a website that’s almost as old as the Internet itself?
Need to plan an event but don’t know where to begin?
Have an out-of-this-world story that’s just itching to be shared with a wider audience?
We’ve got your communications needs covered — even when you don’t quite know what those needs are. We’ll work with you to determine which avenue best suits your requirements and your budget, connecting the dots to produce integrated communications that pack a punch.
Strategy is at the center of everything we do. We’re problem-solvers who know how to juggle the big picture with the tiny details, as well as how to navigate the seemingly infinite number of communication channels out there today to get the right messages to the right audiences.
As the central communications office for the university, we provide our fee-based services to any unit across the enterprise. We are not a profit center; we are a service center and only charge fees to cover our costs. We bill at a blended rate of $80 per hour, which is below industry averages to comparable agencies.
Once you’ve contacted us to inquire about a project, an account manager will meet with you to fully understand your needs. This includes identifying your goals, target audience, budget and timing. We’ll then develop a proposal that outlines our recommended approach, provided services and total project costs. Once that is approved, we go to work.
We use a collaborative approach while working with you and keep you informed throughout the project to ensure we meet your expectations and deliver successful results. We look forward to working with you.
To partner with us (or request an estimate), call (804) 828-1463, email univrel@vcu.edu or contact one of our directors.
(804) 828-6057
pdlepley@vcu.edu
As vice president for university relations, Pamela DiSalvo Lepley, M.P.A., APR, serves as chief communications officer for VCU and VCU Health, a cabinet-level position with oversight of the offices of public affairs, university marketing, executive communications and events and special programs.
Before joining VCU in 2002, Lepley served as vice president of public relations at Siddall Inc. of Richmond, Virginia. The 2011 winner of the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America, Lepley was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 2015.
(804) 828-7037
mrporter@vcu.edu
VCU News website
As associate vice president of University Public Affairs, Michael R. Porter, APR, leads the public relations responsibilities of VCU and VCU Health. Porter oversees day-to-day operation of the public affairs unit, including external communications, media relations and issues management. He also coordinates strategic communications planning and execution for universitywide efforts, including student life, community engagement and inclusive excellence.
Porter joined University Public Affairs in December 2005 after a career of more than 20 years in broadcast journalism. He earned an Accreditation in Public Relations in 2012 and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
(804) 827-0880
dfwoodward@vcu.edu
As executive director of executive communications, Danny Woodward leads the strategy and day-to-day operations of executive communications, including executive and university-level events and special programs.
A member of the University Relations team since February 2012, Woodward moved to Richmond following eight years as special assistant to the president at The University of Texas at Arlington. He also worked as a staff writer at The Dallas Morning News for six years. Woodward is a founding member of the Professional Speechwriters Association, a member of the Washington Speechwriters Roundtable and a two-time winner of the Cicero Speechwriting Award, which honors the world’s best speeches in any field.
(804) 827-2817
tjklug@vcu.edu
As associate vice president of University Marketing, Tom Klug is accountable for VCU’s strategic marketing communications and serves as chief creative officer. This includes overseeing the university’s national advertising, brand strategy and digital presence.
Before joining VCU in 2012, Klug led the creative services team at Capital One in Richmond, Virginia, providing digital, print, branding and strategic support for all lines of business. He also served previously as vice president and brand executive for Merkle and vice president for CFM Direct after beginning his career as an entrepreneur in 1986 with Klug Design, a studio that provided creative and marketing services for national clients.