We secure greater local and global visibility for the College of Fine Arts and Communications by maximizing the positive impact of external relationships on the college’s reputation, resources and programming; thereby increasing the strength of the college’s academic programs and influence in the world.
External Relations Mission
The mission of the College of Fine Arts and Communications’ External Relations Office is to share the unique role of the arts and secure greater local and global visibility for the college.
We increase awareness of the college’s creative works, research, events, personnel and students through deliberate communication.
We support the deans, chairs and university leaders by advising and providing perspective. We lead strategic communication efforts to unify and promote the college. We manage threats to the college’s reputation.
We tell stories and highlight achievements of students, faculty and staff within the college to alumni, donors and the university through a variety of channels.
We build awareness of events, programs and performances that highlight the creative works of our students and faculty.
Learn More About Our Services
The External Relations office offers a variety of services to help cover events and promote the college. Please visit this infographic for more information on how our CFAC Communications Portal can help you.
External Relations Office Roles
Lead by Assistant Dean Melinda Semadeni, each team is essential to fulfilling the mission of the External Relations Office.
Editorial
Our team tells the stories of students who participate in experiential learning opportunities, highlights the exceptional achievements of students and faculty and builds awareness of events, programs and performances.
Social Media
Our team connects with audiences on multiple social media platforms by highlighting the experiential learning that goes on in the College of Fine Arts & Communications. We promote the academic aspects of events, performances and achievements.
Photo & Design
Our team visually captures the experiences of students and faculty by focusing on experiential learning, events and creative work. We also assist in the creation of graphics to inform and engage audiences.
Web
Our team creates, maintains and enhances online materials to reach all audiences. While focusing on the needs of faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors, we use technology and innovative thinking to solve problems, present solutions and empower users.
External Relations Council
- The External Relations office to share updates and resources with area leadership, faculty and staff
- The areas to let External Relations know about what’s going in their unit, as well as to share news pitches
- The college to encourage faculty, staff and students to submit news and experiential learning stories
External Relations Council Roster (Summer 2021)
| Department | Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Art | Chris Lynn | Professor | chrislynn@byu.edu |
| Department of Art | Maddison Colvin | Administrative Assistant | maddison_colvin@byu.edu |
| School of Communications | Jacey Carpenter | Outreach Coordinator | jacey@byu.edu |
| School of Communications | Joel Campbell | Associate Teaching Professor | joeljaycampbell@gmail.com |
| Department of Dance | Hilary Wolfley | Visiting Professor | hilary_wolfley@byu.edu |
| Department of Dance | Erin McClellan | PR Coordinator, Dance | erin.mcclellan@byu.edu |
| Department of Design | Eric Gillett | Design Department Chair | ericgillett@byu.edu |
| Department of Design | Brendan Gwynn | Design Department PR Coordinator | designdept.pr@byu.edu |
| School of Music | Mark Ammons | Associate Professor | mark_ammons@byu.edumark_ammons@byu.edu |
| School of Music | Jihea Hong-Park | Associate Professor | jhongpark@byu.edu |
| Theatre and Media Arts | Kyle Stapley | Media Arts Administrator | kyle_stapley@byu.edu |
| Theatre and Media Arts | Elizabeth Funk | TMA Administrative Assistant | elizabeth_funk@byu.edu |
| Theatre and Media Arts | Grant Gomm | Media Arts Program Coordinator | grant_gomm@byu.edu |
| Museum of Art | Teresa Taylor | Assistant Director, Operations & Finance | teresa_taylor@byu.edu |
| Museum of Art | Riley Lewis | Marketing and Public Relations Manager | riley_lewis@byu.edu |
| BYU Music Group | Ben Fales | General Manager | ben_fales@byu.edu |
| BYU Arts | Ty Davis | Creative Services Manager | ty_davis@byu.edu |
| BYU Arts | Bridget Benton | Assistant Dean, Presenter/Producer | bentonb@byu.edu |
| Galleries | Eric Edvalson | Director of Galleries | eric_edvalson@byu.edu |
| Philanthropies Dept. | Brad Olsen | Communications Specialist | brad_olsen@byu.edu |
| PAM | Karson Denney | Artist Manager | karson_denney@byu.edu |
| CFAC | Randa Alvord | Academic Advisor | randa_alvord@byu.edu |
| Dean’s Office | Melinda Semadeni | Assistant Dean | melinda_semadeni@byu.edu |
External Relations Council
- The External Relations office to share updates and resources with area leadership, faculty and staff
- The areas to let External Relations know about what’s going in their unit, as well as to share news pitches
- The college to encourage faculty, staff and students to submit news and experiential learning stories
| Chris Lynn Professor Department of Art chrislynn@byu.edu |
| Abby Weidmer Art Department Public Relations Department of Art abby_weidmer@byu.edu |
| Maddison Colvin Administrative Assistant Department of Art maddison_colvin@byu.edu |
| Jacey Carpenter Outreach Coordinator School of Communications jacey@byu.edu |
| Joel Campbell Associate Teaching Professor School of Communications joeljaycampbell@gmail.com |
| Nathan Balser Associate Department Chair Department of Dance n_balser@byu.edu |
| Erin McClellan PR Coordinator, Dance Department of Dance erin.mcclellan@byu.edu |
| Eric Gillett Design Department Chair Department of Design ericgillett@byu.edu |
| Jihea Hong-Park Associate Professor School of Music jhongpark@byu.edu |
| Aaron Merrill Assistant Professor School of Music aaron_merrill@byu.edu |
| Kyle Stapley Media Arts Administrator Theatre and Media Arts kyle_stapley@byu.edu |
| Elizabeth Funk TMA Administrative Assistant Theatre and Media Arts elizabeth_funk@byu.edu |
| Grant Gomm Media Arts Program Coordinator Theatre and Media Arts grant_gomm@byu.edu |
| Teresa Taylor Assistant Director, Operations & Finance Museum of Art teresa_taylor@byu.edu |
| Riley Lewis Marketing and Public Relations Manager Museum of Art riley_lewis@byu.edu |
| Ben Fales General Manager BYU Music Group ben_fales@byu.edu |
| Hadley Howard Marketing Manager BYU Arts hadley_howard@byu.edu |
| Ty Davis Creative Services Manager BYU Arts ty_davis@byu.edu |
| Bridget Benton Assistant Dean, Presenter/Producer BYU Arts bentonb@byu.edu |
| Russ Richins Director of Arts Production Arts Production russell_richins@byu.edu |
| Eric Edvalson Director of Galleries Galleries eric_edvalson@byu.edu |
| Brad Olsen Communications Specialist Philanthropies Dept. brad_olsen@byu.edu |
| Karson Denney Artist Manager PAM karson_denney@byu.edu |
| Melinda Semadeni Assistant Dean Dean’s Office melinda_semadeni@byu.edu |
How to contact us
CFAC Communications Portal
We are here to support you! Visit the College of Fine Arts and Communications portal page to use website tools, review writing resources or submit a request to the External Relations team.
Submit a Story
Are you involved in an exciting school-related project? Tell us about it by submitting an experience to the Experience CFAC contest or Submit your Story here. We want to tell your story.
Join Our Team
We are always looking for hard-working people to join our team! Go to studentjobs.byu.edu and look to see if there are any available positions for the External Relations office for the College of Fine Arts and Communications. If there are no positions listed, email cfacpr@byu.edu and let us know what part of the team you’re interested in and we’ll see if we have a spot on the team for you.
