Lisa C. Stratton of Schenectady has been named director of media and public relations at Union College, it was announced by Dan Lundquist,
vice president for admissions, financial aid and communications.
Stratton will take on a leadership role in formulating and
executing Union's extensive public and community
relations projects, and will serve as the College's chief spokesperson.
“Lisa Stratton has extensive experience in communications
planning, public relations, crisis management, and community and media
relations,” said Lundquist. “Her skills and experience will clearly be an asset
to furthering Union's institutional goals as she serves
as our primary interface between Union and the local and national media.
“Lisa will assume a vital role as Union continues its successful outreach
efforts with Union alumni, national and local press, and the college community
at large,” Lundquist added. “Her knowledge of the region, energy, and well-tuned
instincts will add a great deal to our work in the immediate community and at
the national level.”
Stratton was selected following an extensive national
search.
Since 2000, Stratton has served as communications
coordinator and spokesperson for the 10,000-student Albany City School District, the largest city school system in
the Capital Region. At Albany, she was responsible for daily
communications between the superintendent's office and the public and
media. Stratton, 39, has 15 years of communications and public relations
experience accumulated through positions in education, government and the
media.
Prior to joining the Albany City School District, she served as spokesperson and
communications coordinator for the Niskayuna Central School District from 1995-2000, and the Shenendehowa School District from 1991-1995. Prior to that, she
was assistant editor for the Legislative Gazette weekly in Albany, and served as deputy director of Communications for the New York State Science and
Technology Foundation. She began her career as a news reporter for the Hudson Register-Star and the Capital District Business Review in Albany.
Stratton has received numerous state and national awards for
her educational communications projects, including an Award of Excellence in
2002 from the New York School Public Relations Association for her marketing
and public relations campaign for the Albany City School District's $176 million building project.
She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the State University College at New Paltz.
Stratton lives in Schenectady with her husband, Brian, and their
7-year-old son, Alexander.