Wendy Moorehead, senior director of strategic communications for Finance & Operations, has announced her plans to retire on June 1 after 32 years of service at the university.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Wendy for a good part of both our careers at this university, and the impact of her hard work and expert insight has truly made a lasting difference. While dedicating her work with Iowa to communications, Wendy’s wide breadth of knowledge and her commitment to teamwork made everyone around her more successful. It has been an honor to have worked with Wendy,” said Rod Lehnertz, senior vice president, Finance & Operations.
In 2022, Wendy was named senior director of communications for Finance and Operations. Her UI career includes roles in the Office of the Provost and as external relations director for the UI’s National Advanced Driving Simulator (now the Driving Safety Research Institute). She joined Facilities Management (FM) in 2006.
During her time with F&O and FM, Wendy led communications through transformational campus events, including the 2008 flood, the Utilities Public-Private Partnership (P3), and the 2020 pandemic. Her impact extended across campus through strategic messaging, crisis communications, employee engagement, branding, media relations, social media, and web development and management.
She also drove the bridging of communications and technology, translating data and information into digital tools that improved how FM information is accessed and used. This work is reflected in resources such as Access and Construction Alerts, the FM@YourService portal, the FM Connection (Intranet), and the Building Information and Project Information web pages, among others.
Her writing has been featured in Facilities Manager magazine and other professional publications, and she authored four award-winning submissions for APPA’s Effective & Innovative Practices Awards. She has served on multiple UI committees, including the Drone Advisory Committee and the UI Brand Committee, and has been a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) since 2007.
In retirement, Wendy said she looks forward to traveling and adventuring, and most of all, spending time with her family. She reflected on her time at the university, saying, “I’ve met a lot of incredible people during my time on the UI campus and formed lifelong friendships. One of the most fulfilling parts of my work has been mentoring student employees as they prepare for their professional careers.”
Congratulations on your retirement, Wendy. You have made many important contributions to the university throughout your career. Thank you for your service!