Moscowitz named chair of Department of Integrated Strategic Communication

The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information has named Leigh Moscowitz as chair of the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, effective July 1.

“I am honored to step into the role of chair of the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, building on the history and strengths of the program and its prior leadership,” Moscowitz said. “I am excited to collaborate with our incredible faculty, talented students, strong CI leadership team and tremendous network of alumni and community partners to help shape the future of ISC, one that is primed for continued excellence and strategic growth.”

Moscowitz succeeds Chike Anyaegbunam, who retired June 30 after nearly 25 years with the College. Anyaegbunam headed the department for six years as acting and permanent chair.

“Under Chike’s leadership, ISC flourished and innovated, and we are thrilled to have Leigh join us to build on this momentum,” Dean Jennifer Greer said. “The outstanding faculty in ISC have ambitious goals, and Leigh is well positioned to support and guide the next chapter in the department.”

Moscowitz joins the ISC department from the University of South Carolina, where she was a professor and formerly served as sequence head of public relations for the School of Journalism & Mass Communications. She developed and taught courses such as media and public relations writing, research methods, media literacies and gender in media. In 2022, Moscowitz was awarded the Mary Caldwell Award for Excellence in Teaching from her school. Earlier in her career, she was on faculty in the Department of Communication at the College of Charleston.

Moscowitz earned doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University. Her research focuses on the cultural production of news and the politics of media representation. Moscowitz’s three published books explore how social movements gain access to mainstream media, the strategies they use to shape public opinion and the complications of media visibility.

The ISC department offers professional preparation for careers in promotional communication. ISC students explore a variety of interrelated areas including advertising, public relations, direct response communication, sales promotion, social media promotion and more. In addition to rigorous coursework, all students gain workplace experience through a supervised internship in the field. The ISC degree is fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Prior to 2016, ISC was part of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, now the School of Journalism and Media. Anyaegbunam worked as a faculty member in the School and Department since 2000. Under his leadership, the ISC faculty expanded its offerings to include a minor in 2022 and an online graduate certificate in 2023. The faculty also developed popular new courses, including ISC 100, Introduction to Strategic Visual Communication, which is now part of the UK core curriculum. For his service to the ISC program and to the College, Anyaegbunam was honored with the 2024 Dean’s Leadership Award.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, but it’s time for new leadership and time for me to retire after almost 25 years at the University of Kentucky,” Anyaegbunam said. “I will be leaving with a sense of accomplishment and the belief that the ISC department is well-positioned for continued growth and transition to greatness under the capable leadership of Leigh Moscowitz.”