PULLMAN, Wash. – Kathy Barnard has been named executive director of University Communications at Washington State University, an appointment she received on an interim basis in October.
Barnard served in a dual role during her interim appointment with University Communications as director of Marketing, News and Educational Communications with the WSU College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). She has relinquished that post to assume her new responsibilities.
“Kathy has the experience and skill set to strengthen WSU communications at all levels,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “I am pleased to have her as part of the team.”
Barnard joined WSU in 2005 and served as a senior public relations specialist for CAHNRS and WSU Extension before being appointed to her previous position there as director of marketing, news and educational communications in 2007. She has more than 30 years of experience as a communications professional, including 13 years as chief communications officer at the University of Idaho and 10 years as a reporter with the Lewiston Tribune, where she covered law enforcement, courts, higher education, the city of Moscow and business issues. Barnard holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Idaho.
She and her husband, Tom LaPointe, have lived on the Palouse since the 1970s.