Adam Zundell will serve as the inaugural director of communications and marketing within the emerging West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences. Zundell will lead strategic initiatives as the College of Education and Human Services and the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences transition for the launch, set for July 2022.
As a seasoned communicator, Zundell will focus on promoting efforts by the new College that highlight the holistic development and well-being of individuals at every stage of life. The new College is comprised of three schools, the School of Education, School of Counseling and Well-being and School of Sport Sciences, combining efforts to advance academics, student support and research.
Jack Watson, dean and professor, CPASS, says that the college is eager to have Zundell join the team. “Adam brings with him a great deal of energy, creativity and experience that will help the emerging College of Applied Human Sciences excel. He and his group are essential in furthering our story with prospective and current students, alumni, friends and the broader research community,” Watson said. “Adam’s efforts will showcase the amazing academic engagement, research and community service endeavors taking place within this unit.”
Zundell says he was drawn to this opportunity for a variety of reasons. “The first was the professional challenge of cultivating a message and voice for the merged college from its inception. Secondly, I value the opportunity to help share and amplify the achievements of our amazing faculty, staff and students along with significant alumni accomplishments,” Zundell said. “Also, I am eager to be affiliated with WVU, a true leader in the community, state, region and globally.”
“My overall vision is to ensure that the college’s stakeholders – prospective students, and current faculty, staff, students and alumni – are fully informed about what the college has to offer and its ongoing achievements,” he said.
“We look forward to the fresh perspective that Adam offers as we establish the new college and build a team to ensure its success,” CEHS Dean Tracy Morris said. “His extensive communications background and leadership experience will make him a critical part of the team.”
Zundell brings 20 years of knowledge working in athletics communications to the new role. “I got my start in the profession as a graduate assistant in the WVU athletic department under the tutelage of Shelly Poe, Bryan Messerly and Michael Fragale,” he said. That led Zundell to stops at the University of Maryland, Fairmont State University and the Mountain East Conference.
Zundell’s previous assignments include building and executing a comprehensive communications program featuring branding, media relations, social media and multimedia.
He earned his Master of Arts in public relations/integrated marketing communications from WVU (2002) and his Bachelor of Arts in professional writing from Wheeling Jesuit University (2000). He was a four-year letter winner in cross country track and field at WJU and is a WJU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee (2013).