At the end of last semester, Anthony Hoppa took over as Geneseo's new assistant vice president for communications, one of the top public relations positions at the College.
Hoppa replaced the former Assistant Vice President for Communications, Sarah Pretzer, who resigned last summer. Hoppa's responsibilities include overseeing publications such as newsletters generated by the communications office, as well as managing media relations, the Geneseo Web site, and internal communication.
Deb Hill, Hoppa's supervisor and the interim vice president for college advancement, said her office "raised the level of expertise we were looking for" in seeking a new assistant vice president.
Hoppa, a native of Gowanda, in upstate N.Y., moved to Geneseo from a job at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "The small private liberal arts environment was one that I saw myself migrating to," Hoppa said. "Geneseo is a great institution. It is an opportunity to return to my roots…there are certain appeals of coming back home."
With an undergraduate degree in communication arts and literature and a master's in communications, Hoppa has amassed experience working with both universities and corporations. "I have seen the spectrum of higher education on both [public and private] fronts," he said.
Hoppa noted that it is enjoyable to work at an institution like Geneseo which has achieved such academic prestige. "It is a great springboard. Geneseo isn't a work in progress - it's already established. It makes it more fun to come into an environment when the trajectory of the reputation is already going up."
He stated that his overall mission is "to identify and develop a comprehensive and strategic communications program that supports a broad mission of Geneseo and the methods of various departments."
Hill's experience of working with Hoppa "has been very positive. He has a great handle on how to market an institution," she said. Hill stated that Hoppa is positioning Geneseo toward greater recognition. "The people I am working with have all been just superb in providing information in addition to being wonderful, supportive collaborators," said Hill.
Hoppa urged Geneseo students to "please contact [the Office of Communications and Publications] if you have any story ideas or objectives."