UC Irvine Extension Appoints Scott Rutherford as Director of Marketing and Communications

Online, September 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - University of California, Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, has appointed Scott Rutherford as its director of marketing and communications. Rutherford will manage external marketing, public relations and branding for the unit of the university.

"With Rutherford's extensive background in marketing and broadcasting, he will be a tremendous asset in directing our marketing initiatives," said Gary Matkin, dean of continuing education at UC Irvine. "His new ideas will help our programs to grow locally, nationally and internationally."

As director of marketing and communications, Rutherford will direct efforts to promote UC Irvine Extension's more than 55 certificate and specialized study programs. He will also promote the school's academic achievements in business, engineering and sciences, education, and the other departments. In addition, Rutherford will develop new branding and messaging during his tenure.

"UC Irvine Extension is a highly respected school nationally and abroad and is known for providing high-quality, rigorous coursework," said Rutherford. "These classes help individuals reach their goals, both both professionally and personally. I look forward to communicating the many ways our programs enrich people's lives."

Rutherford brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the marketing and communications field. Immediately prior to joining UC Irvine Extension, he held marketing management positions with professional services firms including business units of Thomson Reuters and Wolters Kluwer. His earlier roles include work in background in print and radio journalism, including on-air work for stations in New York and Connecticut. He is an honors graduate of Emerson College and received a Masters of Business Administration from the F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.

For more information about UC Irvine Extension and their certificate and specialized study programs, please visit extension.uci.edu or call 949-824-5414.

About UC Irvine Extension: University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine. Through thousands of courses and programs offered on campus, online and on site, UC Irvine Extension helps adult learners reach their career advancement and personal enrichment goals -and is celebrating 50 years of providing universally accessible, university-level learning to local, regional, and global communities. Learn more at extension.uci.edu, or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/uciextension.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County's largest employer, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UCI news,visit today.uci.edu.