Time Warner Executive to Address UA Students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ellen East, executive vice president and chief communications officer for Time Warner Cable, will deliver the 15^th Koten Distinguished Lecture in Public Relations Feb. 9.

East, a 1983 University of Alabama journalism graduate, began her professional career as a reporter and editor at various daily newspapers, including a stint as assistant city editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She was vice president, communications and public affairs, for Cox Communications prior to joining Time Warner Cable in October 2007.

“We are delighted that Ellen will share her vast experiences and insights with our students and faculty,” said Dr. Bruce K. Berger, professor of advertising and public relations at UA and board member of The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.

“She is a highly accomplished leader in public relations and a terrific role model for our students,” Berger said. “Ellen is just the kind of leader in the field that we want to interact with our students.”

East serves as co-chair of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s Public Affairs committee and is a member of the boards of the T. Howard Foundation and the Families and Work Institute. She has served as president of the Cable Television Public Affairs Association (now the Association of Cable Communicators) and holds responsibilities in several other organizations.

East has received numerous professional awards. Women in Cable Telecommunications honored her as a “Woman to Watch” and a “Wonder Woman,” and the Public Relations Society of America awarded her two Silver Anvil Awards for issues management and integrated communications programs.

The Koten Lecture will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Reese Phifer room 216 on the UA campus.

The Koten Lecture Series is sponsored by The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It is named after John “Jack” Koten, an inaugural member and current chair of the Plank Center board of advisors.The Plank Center is housed in the department of advertising and public relations, a division of the College of Communication and Information Sciences.