Rachel Pell has been named the new vice president for strategic communications, the university announced Wednesday. Pell served as the interim since October 29.

Pell will oversee the university’s public relations, marketing, campus and community events, and licensing and visual identity programs.

Pell graduated from the Smeal College of Business in 2000. She has since served in higher education, including a six-year stint at Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications. 

“I am deeply committed to bringing diverse perspectives to the table, and to reflecting, celebrating, and strengthening the diversity of our Penn State community in every aspect of Strategic Communications’ work,” Pell said in a release. “I look forward to building upon the tremendous brand that Penn State already is; and to continuing to elevate creative storytelling efforts that highlight the University’s unique attributes, enrich our students’ educational experiences, prioritize the cutting-edge research and scholarly contributions of our excellent faculty members, and underscore our collective impact on the commonwealth and the world.”

Pell and her team launched Penn State News, a “University-wide storytelling platform,” in 2021. She intends to augment the university’s storytelling efforts in the future by collaborating with influencers and brand ambassadors.