The Class of 1983 produced not only the university’s new president, Frederick W. Clark Jr., but also its new vice president of marketing and communications, Paul Jean.
The Plymouth resident was a dual major at what was then known as Bridgewater State College, graduating summa cum laude. He earned a master’s degree in government from Georgetown University.
His years as a student at Bridgewater left its mark on him, much for the better, he said.
“I just have a passion for this institution,” he said. “It afforded me so many opportunities. My experience as a student here was transformational. So I just have enormous respect for our faculty, our mission and for what we do here. This is the only position I would have left my previous life for.”
For the past decade, Mr. Jean has worked at Denterlein, a Boston-based public relations and public affairs firm, where he was senior vice president. In addition to his work with numerous high-profile corporate and government clients, he has been a principal adviser to the Massachusetts State Universities’ Council of Presidents and successfully led the segment’s overarching communications campaign relative to university status.
In his new role at BSU, Mr. Jean will report directly to the president; oversee the institution’s marketing, communications, public relations and media relations strategies and processes; and ensure Bridgewater’s mission-driven brand and message are accurately presented to a broad range of internal and external constituencies. His work will commence with a comprehensive assessment of relevant systems and structures, with a formalized reorganization plan to follow.
In short, Mr. Jean’s new role will be about sharing the good news that happens on campus and beyond.
“The biggest thing is we have such a great story to tell in terms of our students and our faculty, and I want to make sure we are reaching as many people as possible with that story, and that we’re reaching people through all our channels of communication,” he said.
Successfully getting this story across could be as transformative for BSU as the institution’s effect on his life, Mr. Jean said.
“I want people to think of BSU as the highest-quality option, so we become the institution of choice for students and families in this area and throughout the state,” he said.
Mr. Jean’s experience includes working on several large-scale initiatives for the state’s public higher education system, meaning his new position is not so much a shift but rather another stop on the continuum.
“I’ve been advocating for the system for so long, and now I’m advocating primarily for the lead institution within that system,” he said.
Mr. Jean lives with his wife, Cathy, and his son Christopher and daughter Samantha in Plymouth. (Story and photo by John Winters, G ’11, University News and Media)
