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Susan Dillman to join IU as director of media relations
Sept. 12, 2000
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University, one of the nation's leaders in higher education marketing, announced today (Sept. 12) that Susan Dillman, a respected journalist and analyst of Indiana politics since 1985, will join the university as director of media relations, effective Oct. 2.
Dillman will oversee media relations for IU, serve as primary spokesperson for the university, and supervise an award-winning media relations team in IU's Office of Communications and Marketing. She will report to the vice president for public affairs and government relations.
"We're very excited to have Susan coming back to her alma mater to spearhead our media relations efforts. During her years covering Indiana state government, she has earned an impressive reputation for fairness, honesty and accuracy," said IU President Myles Brand. "She has an in-depth knowledge of the media in Indiana, and a thorough understanding of the issues facing our state and our university. Susan is the ideal person to help tell IU's story."
"Susan is a widely respected legislative reporter and an excellent journalist, and we are extremely proud to have her join our team," said Christopher Simpson, vice president for public affairs and government relations. "She brings a depth of experience within journalism that is unmatched and will be a valuable asset to helping better tell the IU success story."
Since August 1989, Dillman has been the Indianapolis bureau chief for the South Bend Tribune, where she has led the paper's coverage of the Indiana General Assembly, state and appellate courts, the executive branch of state government, and state agencies. She also writes a regular column for the paper. She has been with the paper since 1988.
Dillman is known to many Hoosiers statewide as a regular panelist on the weekly public television program "Indiana Week in Review," and as a past field reporter and consultant to the "Indiana Lawmakers" television program. She also has done reporting for WNIT-Channel 34 in Elkhart, Ind.
Dillman first came to IU as a student, earning a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and criminal justice in 1985. While enrolled at IU, she began her journalism career as a reporter for the Bloomington Herald-Telephone (now the Herald-Times) from 1983 to 1985. After graduation, she went to work as a reporter for the Elkhart Truth and eventually became a columnist and the paper's political reporter.
She will lead a media relations team that already has demonstrated excellence in advancing the mission and objectives of the university. This year, members of the team won a silver medal for general news writing in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's national Circle of Excellence awards competition.
Dillman will assume some of the responsibilities previously held by J T. Forbes, who recently left IU to become assistant vice president for university relations at Michigan State University.
(George Vlahakis, 812-855-0846, gvlahaki@indiana.edu)