–The Department of Mass Communications and Journalism Studies has recently hired a new marketing and recruiting manager.

Chris W. Henning joined the department this quarter to replace Jon Hooten who left at the end of last quarter to work for Regis University.

Henning is a graduate of the University of Denver who has returned to the community after working for 10 years as the Community College of Aurora’s communications director. Henning said that he was laid off from CCA due to budget cuts and jumped at the chance to return to the DU community.

Henning graduated from DU in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. While at the university, Henning said he wrote for the Clarion. He is currently earning his master’s degree from the University College.

Henning said he is familiarizing himself with his new position and deciding what changes, if any, are needed.

Henning said that he plans to take over Hooten’s duties with the SOC Summit, the annual communications conference, and currently sits on the planning committee.

His biggest focus will be on graduate recruiting because it is often more difficult than undergraduate recruitment.

“Undergraduate recruitment practically sells itself,” he said.

This is because undergraduates typically choose the school they want to attend before they choose their department.

He added that he felt he had an advantage for recruitment because he had attended DU himself and could relate his own experience to others.

Henning said that he has been reviewing his duties and responsibilities including “The Weekly Word.” Henning said that he hopes to develop a master calendar of communication for the university.

He also plans to develop a brand or emblem for the School of Communication (SOC) that will work well for the school and coordinates with the brand that the university is currently using.

He is uncertain if he will change the department’s Web site because he does not have a strong background in Web building. Currently he is taking a digital media studies course at the university to learn more about Web site management and building.

Henning said that he was glad to be back at the university and was pleased with all the changes that had occurred on campus with the new buildings.

He said that if he could change one thing on campus, he would appreciate a new building for the SOC.

The school would “benefit from being closer to the main campus,” Henning said. “And I would have said that as an undergraduate here too.”