By: Chris Moran, 352-273-3457, chrismoran@ufl.edu
Media contact: Samantha Murray, 352-294-3307, grenrosa@ufl.edu
After a national search for a leader to tell its story, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has chosen a veteran Florida communicator.
Christine Vivian has been named the next associate vice president for UF/IFAS Communications. UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and UF/IFAS leader Jack Payne announced that Vivian will start on Jan. 8.
“Chris Vivian impressed us with her commitment to delivering science news in an era of corrosive debate about topics we at UF/IFAS regard as settled science,” Payne said. “We live in what some call a ‘post-truth’ world. That’s a huge challenge as we disseminate facts, data and evidence.”
Vivian earned her bachelor’s degree from UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. For the past 11 years, she has led communications and marketing efforts at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) in Largo, Florida. Two years ago, the center became an arm of Florida International University.
“I am committed to reinforce the standing of UF/IFAS as the trusted scientific resource for solutions to problems faced daily by nearly 22 million Floridians,” Vivian said. “As a Gator who’s lived in Florida since the age of 4, I am excited by the opportunity to combine my communications background and my public service ethic to help UF/IFAS do more good for more Floridians.”
At NFSTC, she led the center’s communications efforts through the transition that brought it into the fold of the state’s public university system. NFSTC is now part of FIU’s new preeminent Global Forensic and Justice Center. Vivian has previously run her own video production company and worked for the American Heart Association, Florida Affiliate.
Vivian’s duties on the UF/IFAS leadership team include public and media relations, marketing, strategic planning, and branding. She will build on the success of recent IFAS Communications advances that led to more than 5 million digital impressions among stakeholders of IFAS’ teaching, research, Extension branches in 2019 alone.
In addition to leading a team of talented writers, editors, graphic artists, website designers, photographers, and videographers, Vivian will support communication efforts that span UF/IFAS units, including the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, two schools, Extension offices, and research and education centers.
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