The University of Illinois Springfield has appointed Priyanka Deo Jain as the new assistant director of media strategy within the Department of Media Strategy. Jain, previously associated with The Times of India Group in New Delhi, India, served a significant role in the chief operating officer’s office and hosted her own digital show. With experience at Associated Broadcasting as an anchor and deputy editor in English, Jain is a national political commentator in India and was part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s communications team during the 2019 Lok Sabha national elections.
Having gained recognition globally for her impactful work, Jain will play a crucial role at UIS, overseeing public relations messaging and strategy. This includes managing top-level social media accounts and serving as the media spokesperson in the director’s absence, according to a university release.
Reflecting on her appointment, Jain expressed her connection to UIS, stating, “My student experience at UIS never left me. It is a special place that feels like home, and I would pick no other place to grow my career and make meaningful contributions to the university. I eagerly anticipate working in an academic setting and making a meaningful impact.”
Jain, an alumna of UIS, holds graduate degrees from prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Southern California (USC), and the London School of Economics (LSE). Blake Wood, UIS director of media strategy, welcomed her back, emphasizing Jain’s international experience, content creation skills, and digital media expertise in connecting the university’s platform with stakeholders and the wider community. Wood noted Jain’s unique perspective as an alum and former student-athlete, expressing excitement about the impact she will make as part of the team.
