The College of Charleston Department of Communication Advisory Council elected two new members at its most recent on-campus meeting.  The newly-elected Council members are:

• Ruth Kinzey: President and Founder of The Kinzey Company, Ruth Kinzey is known for developing strategic and comprehensive communication strategies.

Kinzey has worked in the grocery retail, trucking, natural gas and computer software industries. During her prolific career, she has prepared change management communication, launched brands, developed government relations strategies, dealt with special interest groups, managed crises, established community relationships, supervised corporate foundations, educated consumers, engaged employees, created corporate citizenship platforms, supported investor relations activities, and executed public relations and marketing campaigns. In addition, she has been a radio news broadcaster.

A monthly contributor for The American Business Journal, Kinzey’s columns have appeared in numerous Business Journals nationwide and addressed a wide variety of reputational topics. Kinzey taught public relations, public speaking and journalism at UNC Charlotte and authored Using Public Relations Strategies to Promote Your Nonprofit Organization. Kinzey has a MA from University of Iowa in Journalism, with an emphasis on public relations. She is a magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Coe College, where she earned a triple major in speech, English and secondary education.

• Tom Kowaleski: Vice President of Corporate Communications for BMW of North America and Principal, actk2 Communication Consulting, Tom Kowleski oversees management of the corporate communications department, after more than 30 years in automotive communications and marketing.

Prior to joining BMW of North America, Kowaleski served as VP, global communications, at General Motors. He joined General Motors in March 1999 as Executive Director Product and Brand Communications. Prior to serving GM, Kowaleski spent 11 years with Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler serving in a number of executive public relations positions, as well as being the company’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications in Europe. He began his automotive career in 1979 with Renault USA, later transferred to American Motors and also spent time as a senior executive at Campbell and Company, an automotive public relations and marketing firm.

Kowaleski is a graduate of Ohio University, with a Bachelors degree in Communications. He participated in a GM-Harvard Business School Senior Management program. He is a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Arthur Page Society, the Public Relations Seminar and represents GM on the Corporate Communications Council of The Conference Board.

The Department of Communication Advisory Council promotes the recognition and progress of communication instruction at the College of Charleston. The Advisory Council is made up of an outstanding and nationally prominent group of communication professionals who aid the Department of Communication in developing curricula, creating and improving departmental programs, and calling attention to the many accomplishments of the department’s students and faculty.

With one of the largest undergraduate major at the College of Charleston, the Department of Communication enrolls more than 800 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Students in the department study such topics as political communication, interpersonal communication, journalism, and public relations. The department is housed in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.