Haskins will lead Elon’s award-winning communications team and serve as a member of the university’s senior staff.
Following a national search, Michael R. Haskins, vice president for marketing and communications at the University of South Alabama, has been named vice president for communications and marketing at Elon University. Haskins will join Elon on March 28, succeeding interim Vice President Keren Rivas, who returns to her position as assistant vice president for publications.
“Mike Haskins is a career communicator and marketer who has a deep knowledge of higher education,” said President Connie Ledoux Book. “He will draw upon his experience at three other universities, as well as the professional publishing field, to continue Elon’s long history of excellence in communicating with both internal and external audiences and advancing the university’s national reputation.”
Haskins has led a staff of nearly 30 professionals at the University of South Alabama (USA) since 2014, overseeing branding, communications and marketing for the university and USA Health, a comprehensive healthcare organization with two hospitals serving Mobile, Alabama, and the surrounding region.
“I am thrilled to be joining the innovative, dedicated and creative culture at Elon, which has elevated the university to a place of national distinction,” said Haskins. “I look forward to working with every member of the Elon community to further advance the success of the university and enhance the recognition of its history, reputation and bold vision for the future.”
Prior to joining the University of South Alabama, Haskins served eight years as executive vice president for external relations at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. During his tenure there, he led the creation of the Division of Marketing and Communications and managed a staff of 25. He began his work in higher education in 1993 at the University of San Diego, where he served as director of publications and later the senior director of publications and marketing communications.
Haskins was named the 2008 South Carolina Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association (AMA) and has made presentations on higher education marketing topics for the AMA and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He and his staff members have received more than 30 CASE awards for outstanding communications and marketing initiatives.
Haskins began his career in 1989, working four years in editorial positions for Genesis Publishing, Inc. in San Diego; and for Standard & Poor’s Corp. and Janet Manus Literary Agency in New York City.
Haskins has a master of business administration (MBA) degree from The Citadel Graduate College, a master of arts in history from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from New York University.
Elon’s communications division was established in 2011 and includes 19 professionals serving the university in news, information and media relations; publications and graphic design; web and digital communications; marketing; photography and videography; social media; and communications for Elon University School of Law. The division was previously the Office of University Relations and was led for more than 23 years by Daniel J. Anderson, who transitioned to a new role as special assistant to the president in August 2021.