Western Carolina University’s Communications and Public Relations team, as a part of University Communications and Marketing, serves as the liaison between the university community and news media, and is responsible for releasing all university news with the exception of news related to WCU’s intercollegiate athletics program.
Our work is guided by the Integrated Marketing and Communications Plan, which was developed in response to the university’s 2020 Vision strategic plan mandate to “ensure that internal and external stakeholders alike are informed about the people, programs, priorities and progress of the university.”
Communications and Public Relations is located in Suite 420 in H.F. Robinson Administration Building on the WCU campus in Cullowhee, N.C. We can be reached by phone at 828.227.7327 and by snail-mail at this address:
University Communications and Marketing
420 H.F. Robinson Administration Building
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Bill Studenc
Director of Communications and Public Relations
828.227.3083
bstudenc@wcu.edu
Geoff Cantrell
Public Communications Specialist
828.227.3079
cgcantrell@wcu.edu
Marlon Morgan
Public Communications Specialist
828.227.3077
mwmorgan@wcu.edu
Melanie McConnell
Feature Writer
828.227.2037
mthrelkeldmcconnell@wcu.edu
Staff members in WCU’s Department of Athletics oversee news distribution for the university’s sports programs.
Daniel Hooker
Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations
Contact for football, men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf and baseball
828.227.2339
dhooker@wcu.edu
Denise Gideon
Director of Media Relations
Contact for women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and social media
828.227.2336
dgideon@wcu.edu
Sean Forrester
Director for Media Relations
Contact for cross country, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s tennis, men’s indoor
and outdoor track and field, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field
828.227.2655
stforrester@wcu.edu
Will Adams
Media Relations Video Coordinator
828.227.2458
rwadams@email.wcu.edu