This is part of an ongoing series of student-led candid conversations with members of leadership at University of Michigan.

 

 

In this campus conversation, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Rick Fitzgerald joined #UMSocial intern Sophie Herdrich to discuss emerging issues at the University of Michigan and explore some of the various ways to stay connected to and informed about campus life.  

 

In his role, Fitzgerald serves as the primary public spokesperson for U-M and oversees multiple areas including issues management and the University Record. He emphasizes the importance of staying up to date on the current happenings on campus and in the community. For those seeking campus information, he recommends the Record and the Michigan Daily, which are both specifically focused on the U-M community. 

 

“One of our biggest constituents is students…and we talk to Michigan Daily students more than any other single news outlet. And we’re hearing what they raise as issues and what stories they want to pursue to help us understand what issues are bubbling up through the student body,” he says. 

 

They also explore the role of social media in campus communications and engagement. Fitzgerald mentions  the close working partnership his office has with the U-M Social and Public Engagement office to ensure a constant flow of accurate and relevant information. 

 

“Social media has been transformative to so much of our work, and in communications, especially,” Fitzgerald says. “I’m a little bit of a dinosaur of having lived through so many different eras of the news business and communication. I’m not a huge consumer of social media, but it is absolutely essential to what we do every day in communications and issues management at the University of Michigan.” 

 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, Fitzgerald and his team have been working remotely, like much of the rest of campus. There are aspects of being on campus that he misses, like encountering people walking on campus. 

 

Overall, he shares that he is impressed with the students, faculty, and staff for their commitment to helping the community through these unprecedented times. 

 

“I’m really proud of the way that we’ve all adapted and figured out this new normal,” he says, adding that he hopes everyone understands just how dedicated Wolverines are to taking care of one another.