Kim Brown Joins University Relations as Director of Integrated Communications

Photo by University Relations

Kim Brown

Kim Brown has been selected to lead a newly configured team within University Relations as director of Integrated Communications at the University of Arkansas. Brown, who joined University Relations in July, oversees an experienced integrated team encompassing enterprise brand and university-level marketing communications, media relations, social media, editorial, digital communications, and research and economic development communications focused on supporting the university’s strategic goals.

Formerly known as Strategic Communications, the Integrated Communications team now includes additional content creators, videographers, photographers and graphic artists that were previously divided among other teams within University Relations. 

Brown has more than 30 years of experience in journalism and marketing communications focusing on enhancing brands and developing campaigns that resonate with targeted audiences – increasing awareness, shaping perceptions and reaching desired outcomes for a vast array of nonprofits, schools and Fortune 500 companies.

“Kim is a gifted communicator who works first to understand the desired results of our communications efforts and how they will advance the university’s land-grant mission,” Mark Rushing, associate vice chancellor for University Relations, said. “Her strategic mindset and leadership skills have made an immediate positive impact with her teammates and colleagues across campus.” 

Before joining the U of A, Brown served as the Marketing & Communications Officer for Youth Dynamics of Montana (YDI), one of the nation’s largest providers of children’s mental and behavioral health services. She created the organization’s first dedicated marketing and communications department. Combining the organization’s mission with real-world market insights, she led a team which developed a powerful brand, integrated marketing approach and comprehensive communications strategy. Her efforts helped produce lasting results: growing YDI’s brand and name recognition, increasing social media reach and securing the coveted Google Ad Grant for the life of the organization.

“I’m excited to be working at the University of Arkansas and collaborating with an incredibly talented team at University Relations while partnering with campus communicators to support the university’s mission to build a better world by providing transformational opportunities and skills, promoting an inclusive and diverse culture, nurturing creativity and solving problems through research and discovery, all in service to Arkansas,” Brown said. 

Brown’s career started in broadcast television, where she built a reputation as trusted journalist and news anchor and maintained top-rated newscasts on KFDX-TV3, in Wichita Falls, Texas, during her tenure. She conducted high-profile interviews, wrote and produced stories on complex issues including education, military and political stories. She earned the respect of her colleagues and the public in diverse roles that included 5, 6 and 10 p.m. news anchor and assistant news director, and she was selected to partner with the executive producers of Entertainment Tonight to develop the popular news and entertainment program Live at Five.

This broadcasting experience shaped Brown’s work as a marketing and communications professional. 

“I would describe myself as a high-integrity, people-first leader, bridge builder, strategic thinker and problem solver who is naturally curious at heart and results-driven,” Brown said. 

Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications with a minor in public relations from Midwestern State University and is a graduate of Leadership of Coral Springs. She served on the board of the American Heart Association and the National Kidney Foundation, is a former Rotary Club board member and life-long Paul Harris Fellow. She has received numerous awards in her career including an Addy, Telly, Texas AP Broadcasting and other states’ awards for her marketing and communications campaigns/work.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.