Hilarie Grey, the public affairs manager for the Clark County Department of Aviation, has been appointed to the new position of public affairs director at UNLV. She will assume the UNLV post April 26.
Grey, who has managed communications for Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport and five other aviation facilities in Clark County for the past five years, will lead a newly restructured UNLV office that will handle media and external communication.
Grey has served in a number of roles in public relations for high-profile public and private sector organizations in the past 12 years. Prior to her Clark County aviation post, she served as a public information administrator for the Clark County manager's office and as a senior development officer for the City of Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department. She was also a senior account executive for the Los Angeles-based Hands On Public Relations.
"Hilarie will bring to UNLV a whole host of sophisticated communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the community and a solid understanding of the needs of the media," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "She will be a tremendous asset as we continue to promote UNLV's development on both a local and national level. I am very excited that she is joining the UNLV administrative team."
Harter added that Grey's considerable professional experience includes management of crisis communication issues at McCarran Airport during 9-11 and the ensuing shutdown of national airspace. Additionally, Harter said, Grey possesses valuable experience in community and government relations, publication and website management, special events, and video production.
"The work of a major university is so critical to the community it serves," said Grey. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to promote awareness of the important programs and research taking place at this great institution every day."
Grey, who holds a bachelor's degree in literature/writing from the University of California, San Diego, will earn $93,000 in her role as director of public affairs.
The UNLV Public Affairs Office, which was created recently through a reorganization of university communication responsibilities, will continue to provide many of the services the former News & Public Information Office offered, including fielding media inquiries and publicizing UNLV programs, events, research, and accomplishments.
Thomas Flagg, former director of the News & Public Information Office, has assumed the newly created position of director of community relations. The publications formerly produced by the News & Public Information Office have been moved to the Office of Marketing and Internal Communication. The UNLV Public Affairs Office will report directly to the President's Office.