New Director of Public Affairs is named at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz is pleased to announce the appointment of Lloyd Axelrod as the college’s new director of public affairs. Axelrod has an extensive resume of public relations and media experience in both the public and private sectors, including the successful management of external affairs at the University of Kentucky from 1997-2001.

In addition to his years as Kentucky’s director of public relations and marketing, Axelrod was the director of public relations at Royal Caribbean Cruises (1990-1995) and vice president of public relations at the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. Immediately prior to his appointment at New Paltz, he served as a senior communications consultant at the Gemini Group in Chicago.

“Lloyd has an extraordinary breadth of experience in public affairs, including having compiled a distinguished record managing the external relations of a major research university,” said Interim President Steven Poskanzer. “Combined with his experience in the private sector, he was a compelling candidate for this important post.”

Axelrod said that he is delighted to be joining the Office of Public Affairs, and that he looks forward to helping create a higher market and brand awareness of the college.

“SUNY New Paltz is an excellent academic institution and contributes not only to the Hudson Valley, but to the State of New York, the country and the world,” said Axelrod. “I look forward to using my experience, background and knowledge to spread the word about the many wonderful things taking place on campus and in the New Paltz community. I am quite excited about joining the staff and am proud and pleased that I was chosen as the new director of public affairs.”

Axelrod replaces Shelly Wright, a faculty member in the college’s Department of Communication and Media, who for the last five months has served as the interim director of public affairs.

“New Paltz owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Shelly for her exemplary stewardship of our public affairs function during this transitional period,” said Poskanzer. “She is a wonderful colleague and institutional citizen who brought great professionalism, energy, tact and creativity to this job — qualities that I know will also benefit her students in the classroom.”

Axelrod received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees at California State University. He begins at SUNY New Paltz on Nov.1.

Axelrod resides in Kingston with his wife, Mary.