(New York, NY – February 17, 2005) New School University announced today the appointment of Nancy Donner as Vice President for Communications and External Affairs, effective March 1, 2005. Ms. Donner comes to New School University from The New York Public Library where she is currently Vice President for Communications and Marketing. At New School University, she will oversee marketing, advertising, publications, graphic design and public relations for the University and its eight academic divisions.
On announcing the appointment, New School University President Bob Kerrey said, “We’re delighted that Nancy Donner will be joining New School University. She is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in communications. She will be joining us in this newly-created senior position underscoring the University’s commitment to institutional branding, media relations and outreach.”
A native New Yorker, Ms. Donner has spent the better part of her career working to promote education, culture and the fine and performing arts. Nancy Donner said, “This is a sensational opportunity for me as it encompasses all the things I like to do —media relations, integrated marketing, design and branding, community outreach and more—at a place that represents all the things I love and believe in —progressive education, fine and performing arts, social change, innovation—with interested and interesting people —Bob Kerrey, for one”. At The New York Public Library, she has been responsible for overseeing all the public and media relations, internal and external communications, graphic design, and promotional aspects of one of the world’s largest not-for-profit institutions. For nearly thirteen years, she has successfully developed the Library’s brand and messaging platform; marketed the Library to targeted stakeholders; and created comprehensive promotion strategies to increase earned income opportunities, visitor attendance, and public awareness of exhibitions, programs, and services. Ms. Donner directed the overarching visual identity of the Library — ensuring that all graphics have an appealing, consistent and appropriate look.
In her tenure at the Library, she created international media opportunities that reflected the Library’s goals for major projects such as: yearlong Centennial Celebration, opening of a new $100 million research center (SIBL), reopening of both the glorious Rose Main Reading Room, and Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, as well as the creation of the new South Court building. Her direction of the publicity and branding efforts enabled the Library in 2001 to complete a successful $732 million fundraising campaign.
While at The New York Public Library, Ms. Donner secured over 3,500 published stories annually—including numerous editorials and op-eds—in all forms of print, broadcast and online media, tripling the press coverage of previous years. She wrote, directed and produced an interactive multimedia press kit (CD-ROM) as a specialty marketing tool—the first for any cultural or non-profit organization in the nation — and produced three short films for the Library—on visitors’ orientation, new staff recruitment, and space rental promotion. She created the Library’s first Style Manual and Visual Identity Program that instructed staff and designers on the specifics of using the official institutional logo, and graphic marks for each sub-brand. Ms. Donner has won over 15 national honors and awards for public relations, marketing and design campaigns, including 3 Silver Anvil Awards, 3 Bronze Anvil Awards, and, the top prize in all categories, the “Best of the Best” Big Apple Award, given by the Public Relations Society of America.
Paul LeClerc, President of The New York Public Library said, “Thanks to Nancy’s creative vision, strategic approach, and solid advice, The New York Public Library has remained beautifully positioned in the media and with the public for over a dozen years. I have especially enjoyed working with her on our major promotional initiatives and parties, the opening of numerous new facilities, and the creation of our brand identity.”
Prior to her position at the Library, Nancy Donner was Director of Public Relations at the nation’s oldest museum, The New York Historical Society. While in this capacity for eight years, she oversaw the promotion of exhibitions, special events, and series of lectures, concerts, films, and educational programs..
Nancy Donner currently serves on the Board of Directors of New York is Book Country, a non-profit organization that promotes the joy of reading and writing, and celebrates books by bringing together schools, authors, libraries, cultural organizations, publishers and bookstores in a network of citywide events and programs. She is also the Co-Chair of the Not-for-Profit Committee of the New York chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals.
She is a graduate of Brown University and lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband, Gary Martin, an interactive multimedia artist, and their dog, Dave.
New School University, with more than 8,000 matriculated students and 15,000 continuing education students, is a New York City university committed to critical scholarship, artistic integrity, and ethical responsibility in the social sciences, humanities, the arts and design. It is comprised of a liberal arts foundation of three schools: The New School, Eugene Lang College and the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science, and five professional schools: Parsons School of Design, Mannes College of Music, Actors Studio Drama School, Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, and the Jazz & Contemporary Music Program. New School Online University offers one of the largest selections of online courses in the nation. For further information about New School University, call (212) 229-5600 or visit the Web site at www.newschool.edu.