The Office of Media Relations has announced the appointment of Justin Harmon to Director of University Communications, a newly created position. Harmon is the current communications director at Princeton University, where he has worked for the past 15 years.

"I am delighted that Justin is taking this key position," said President Doug Bennet. "He will be a strong advocate for Wesleyan and will work to ensure that it is well-understood as one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions."

Last fall, when the University announced the opening of this new position, Vice President of University Relations Barbara-Jan Wilson acknowledged that Wesleyan had not focused on developing its public image for several years.

"Wesleyan is one of the finest academic institutions in the country," Harmon said. "But it doesn’t get as much credit for its strength as it deserves. I’d like to help fix that."

Harmon said he was excited at the opportunity to resume this development in the upcoming months.

Wesleyan’s recent endeavors in public relations include the slogan instituted in 1998, "The Independent Ivy," which was met with strong disapproval among students. Bennet discontinued the University’s use of the slogan last year, in response to multiple student protests.

While some students said they fear that Harmon’s arrival from Princeton may signal a rebirthing of this "Ivy" ideology, Harmon denied all such claims.

"I see no reason for Wesleyan to take a backseat to any institution of higher education," Harmon said. "I don’t think [Wesleyan] needs to relate itself to the Ivies."

Still, Harmon is the second high-ranking administrator to be hired by the University from an Ivy League school this semester. In January, Nancy Meislahn came to Wesleyan from Cornell University as the new Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.

President Bennet denied that this indicates a trend towards hiring Ivy League administrators.

"We hire the best individuals available to us whether they come from Ivy League institutions or anywhere else," Bennet said. "Justin Harmon was unquestionably the best candidate, and his experience and knowledge mean he can do a great deal for Wesleyan."

Harmon also said that there is too much emphasis on the prestige of an institution.

"I’ve talked to any number of folks who said, ‘I went to Princeton, but I almost went to Wesleyan,’ " said Harmon. "I think one of the problems we’ve got in higher education is that people are focused on a very small number of institutions in higher education to the neglect of others."

Harmon undercuts the importance of prestige not only as an administrator, but also as a parent. He revealed a personal concern for his own daughter, now a junior in high school, who has now begun to look at colleges.

"What I worry about as a parent is finding a comfortable place for her as an individual, not a place for its prestige," said Harmon.

Harmon described his upcoming departure from Princeton as "leaving [his] roots." Harmon attended Princeton University as an undergraduate where he earned his AB degree in English. He also raised his eight children in Princeton, NJ.

"I set a very high threshold for what kind of professional opportunity it would take to uproot me and my family," said Harmon. "The more I considered this opportunity at Wesleyan, the more thought it was a place I could feel at home."

Harmon’s colleagues at Princeton said they will miss him.

"I’ve loved working with Justin," said Princeton’s Senior Writer in Communications Steven Schultz. "Universally he’s very well liked. People here are very, very sorry to see him go. We’ll miss him."

Harmon will be received at Wesleyan with equal appreciation.

"I’m greatly looking forward to Justin Harmon’s arrival," said William Holder, Wesleyan’s director of media relations. "There’s a lot to be done here and he will be a great help."