DAVID BROND OVERSAW the creation of the student social media ambassador program at RPI.On June 1, 2015, President Shirley Ann Jackson announced the resignation of David Brond from the position of vice president for strategic communications and external relations, which took effect on June 12, 2015. Brond, who assumed the position on April 14, 2014, accepted a position as director of account services at Aloysius Butler & Clark Creative Intelligence in Wilmington, Delaware.
In a short email to the RPI community, Jackson described the importance of the position, calling it “responsible for advancing public understanding and advocacy for Rensselaer, its educational opportunities and research discoveries, and its growing position of importance in science, technology, and public policy.” Jackson proceeded to announce that a nationwide search for Brond’s replacement has begun.
In his time at Rensselaer, Brond saw the creation of the student social media ambassador program, which enables students to present their personal views of RPI using Twitter. The program has continued since Brond’s departure. Additionally, the RPI home page saw a redesign that many students have called “a much needed face-lift.”
RPI also found itself in a national media spotlight after UPAC Cinema postponed the showing of American Sniper to include a medium for educational discourse prior to the movie’s showing. Some media outlets reported this as censorship.
It is unclear why Brond departed after his short time at RPI. However, during and following his transition, Brond has proven to be on positive terms with RPI, occasionally tweeting about the university.