UMass Dartmouth, Office of Public Affairs records

The Office of News and Public Information is the administrative unit responsible for the university’s relationship with the news media, and to a certain extent, with the content of certain university publications. James Wiley was the first Director of Public Relations & Publications at UMD’s predecessor school, Southeastern Massachusetts University, from 1971-1986. Greg Stone served in the position of Director of Community Relations from the academic years of 1984-1985 through 1995-1996. Beginning with the 1983-1984 academic year, Linus Travers served as Publications Coordinator for University Relations. Linus Travers continued to serve as Staff Associate in the years following until academic years 1988-1989. In 1986, Maeve Hickok was appointed to News Office Coordinator under the auspices of President John Brazil. In 1990, President Brazil appointed Maeve to the position of News Office Director. In 1993, Maeve Hickok was appointed to the position of Executive Director of News and Public Information by Chancellor Peter Cressy. James Mullins came on board as Assistant Director for Sports and Daily News. In 1997, Chancellor Cressy combined the News and Publications offices, and promoted Maeve Hickok to Executive Director of Information/News/Publications. Under Chancellor Jean MacCormack’s reorganization in 2002, the News and Publication offices was re-assigned to a new entity, University Relations, reporting to interim Vice Chancellor Donald Ramsbottom. The staff members under Maeve Hickok were Kathy Beals, Rachel Cocroft, Diane Hartnett, and Mike Mahoney. Maeve Hickok left in 2002. News reports and press releases are now provided online.