In with the new, out with the old

University Brand Services underwent some major change recently. It will no longer be known as Brand Services but now known as University Communications. The change comes soon after the hire of Tom Eppes as the Chief Communications Officer, in January.

“The former director had his vision on where this group needed to go and what our mission needed to be and name change he put, University Brand Services fit that vision.” Robert Jordan said. “The new guy (Tom Eppes) has a little different vision. So we have to adapt.”

Jordan, director of photography for University Communications, has worked as a photographer for the university for over 25 years.

“I have been through a lot of different directors, a lot of different missions and have worked under a lot of different models,” Jordan said.  “Each one has been different and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion we are closer to the ideal model today and we are getting better.”

Even with moving all the staff in to the same building and trying to connect them as a staff, it didn’t work because many believed they were still just a piece and could pass of an assignment when their part was done.

“We were a separate department inside of a separate division, now we are going just going to be part of a larger University Commutations.” Jordan said.  “So we are not going to separate ourselves out as a separate department any longer.”

Jordan hopes to change the way people think about the University Communications department by “telling the Ole Miss story.” Jordan plans to cover stories that don’t get much reorganization until after the something interesting has already been done. 

            Jordan mentioned a phone call he received about a student who would be receiving Outstanding Engineering Student of the Year. Jordan was asked to take a picture of the student with several of his professors and administrators with his award. Jordan wishes he could have know about this student long before he had to show up to take the picture of them the day they received the award.

            “I keep telling myself, that guy was here for at least four and that student must of done some really interesting things when he was here, to win that honor,” Jordan said. “ And some how or another I did not do my job right because I did not tell his story. I just got him with a plaque at the end.”