Lynne T. Waters, University of Hawaiʻi System associate vice president for external affairs and university relations, has been appointed University of Texas at Arlington vice president for university communications. Her first day will be February 27.
Among her accomplishments with the University of Hawaiʻi, Waters has directed the branding and launching of the Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative to grow the University of Hawaiʻi’s $450 million research portfolio into a $1 billion economic sector of the state’s economy. She also played a critical role in branding and marketing that contributed to the university’s highest enrollment ever in 2011 and a record number of graduates at the flagship campus in 2014.
UH President David Lassner expressed appreciation for Waters’ “dedication and service to the highest standards of professionalism.”
“Her dynamic approach to communications at the university has resulted in advancements on many fronts, especially video and social media,” Lassner said. “Lynne will be greatly missed by the University of Hawaiʻi. We know she will do well in her new role, and we wish her the best.”
Former Gov. Benjamin J. Cayetano said that Waters would be deeply missed in the Aloha State. “The University of Texas is getting a highly competent and respected professional as well as a very caring and ethical person,” Cayetano said. “Texas’s gain is Hawaiʻi’s loss.”
More about Waters’ UT Arlington position
At UT Arlington, Waters will work closely with President Vistasp M. Karbhari and will lead the university’s global marketing and communications efforts, institutional marketing and brand positioning, internal communications, media relations and community relations initiatives.
“UT Arlington is positioned to become an even greater catalyst for positive economic change and a hub for intellectual pursuits as the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues its trajectory toward becoming one of our nation’s great megacities,” President Karbhari said. “Lynne Waters shares that vision and brings tremendous depth of experience in strategic communications, community engagement and brand management. This experience and her insight into media will help us better articulate UT Arlington’s mission and growing excellence globally as we define what it truly means to be the model 21st century urban research university.”
“I am thrilled and humbled to be joining the UT Arlington team at a time when President Karbhari has set forth such ambitious goals,” Waters said. “UT Arlington is clearly poised to be recognized as a top tier, American public research university, and it will be exhilarating to contribute to the journey by sharing its stories of accomplishment by students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters with the world.”
Read the UT Arlington news release for more information.
