Gillian Earle has been hired for a new role as director of strategic communications and digital engagement for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Reporting to the Faculty’s dean and vice-president, she will be responsible for the development and successful execution and ongoing management of consistent and comprehensive external/internal communications strategies and programs, including digital engagement for the Faculty. She will also articulate a reimagined strategic communications and marketing strategy to help enhance the Faculty’s profile, evolving current content and media approaches and tools in a digital environment.

Earle will work closely with Laura Harrington, the Faculty’s assistant vice-president and chief administrative officer, and Susan Emigh, who continues as the Faculty’s director of public relations responsible for media relations and issues management, as well as the Faculty and university's senior leadership team to support high quality communication initiatives and digital best practices. These initiatives include web and social media, marketing and branding, and internal communications.

Earle has been a communications and marketing specialist for more than 20 years, and comes to McMaster from nine years at Manulife where she was most recently its director of global communications, issues and crisis management.

She has a BA in communications from Athabasca University along with diplomas in advertising and journalism from Sheridan College, and 20 industry awards for innovative campaigns, publications, public relations and stakeholder engagement.

“Gillian has a successful track record of marketing and communications initiatives, and she is known for her global collaborations,” said Paul O’Byrne, dean and vice-president of the Faculty. “I know she will do well here.”