Grand Rapids Community College communications director Dave Murray has announced he will be leaving the college to join Ferris State University as the associate vice president of Marketing and Communications.
Murray’s departure continues the trend of GRCC administrators heading to FSU since former GRCC President Bill Pink became FSU president last July. So far, Kathryn Mullins, former Vice President of College Advancement, Lina Blair, Dean of Student Life and Murray have all decided to follow Pink to Ferris.
In a Facebook post announcing his move, Murray stated, “I think Ferris has the right leaders and the right programs at the right time… The more I learn about Ferris’ history and plans for the future, the more excited I get!”
Murray has been at GRCC since March of 2018. His tenure at GRCC has led to significant recognition for the Communications Department, which earned over 40 awards from prestigious organizations under his direction.
Although Murray will no longer be employed at GRCC, he assured that he will foster a collaborative relationship between the two schools.
“GRCC and Ferris are close. GRCC and Ferris are close partners, sharing buildings and programs, so I know we’ll still get to collaborate,” he stated.
Murray concluded his announcement by thanking Mullins and Pink for trusting him to once again join their team. His last day at GRCC is Friday, July 14 and Associate Communications Director Amy Soper will be filling in during the search for his replacement.
This story was updated on July. 12 at 9:39 a.m. to correct information regarding the date of Murray’s departure.
