Jan. 15, 2016
President John Garvey announced today that the University has hired Elise Italiano as the new Executive Director of University Communications, effective Feb. 15, 2016.
Italiano has served as the Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Virginia since August 2014. Italiano serves as the spokeswoman for Bishop Paul S. Loverde and the diocese. She has strategically planned and implemented major communications and evangelization initiatives, trained clergy and lay men and women for media appearances, used new media to propel the bishop forward as a leading voice in his areas of expertise, planned strategies to address crises, and provided communications support to diocesan agencies, parishes, and schools.
Prior to joining the Arlington diocese, Italiano served as a theology and bioethics teacher at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School from 2008 to 2014. She earned a B.A. in humanities from Providence College and an M.A. in theology from Villanova University.
"I'm excited that Elise will be joining The Catholic University of America as our new Executive Director of University Communications," said President Garvey. "She is exceptionally thoughtful and well informed about the issues that matter to us. From her experience as the spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington and our trustee Bishop Loverde, she also has a deep understanding of our mission and identity. I look forward to working with her to raise the profile of the University."
Italiano noted, "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the public affairs staff at The Catholic University of America and to advance the mission of the University through media relations. Such a university, with a unique commitment to excellence in teaching and research at the service of the Church, located in the nation's capital, is an institution whose members have an unparalleled opportunity to shape the cultural conversation. It's an exciting time to join such a community."
Christopher Lydon, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, said, "Elise emerged as our first choice from an excellent pool of candidates. She is a talented writer who has cultivated a strong relationship with members of the media and I'm convinced that she will help us tell our story to a broad audience."
As the Executive Director of University Communications, Italiano will serve as the chief spokesperson for the University and coordinate all media relations. Italiano will serve as the media strategist for the President and will oversee internal communications at Catholic University. She will also be responsible for all urgent and crisis communications to internal and external audiences.
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