Maralee Csellar, who has 15 years of experience in higher education public relations, has been named the George Washington University’s new director of media relations. Ms. Csellar began her post on Jan. 21.
As director of media relations, Ms. Csellar will manage the day-to-day operations of the media relations team, including developing and implementing media plans to highlight the university’s experts, initiatives and accomplishments, and coordinating responses to media inquiries. As GW’s primary point of contact for media, Ms. Csellar serves as an on-the-record spokesperson to international, national, local and student media.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work at a university renowned for its teaching, research and service,” Ms. Csellar said. “I look forward to bringing the stories of our campuses and our community to the world.”
A native Washingtonian, Ms. Csellar began her career at C-SPAN, where she implemented education marketing efforts and coordinated logistics and communications for professor seminars, workshops and education conferences. She has spent the majority of her career, however, in higher education. Most recently, Ms. Csellar was an associate director in American University’s University Communications Office, where she served as the public relations and communications liaison to top-level administrators, including the president, provost and vice presidents, as well as the departments that reported to them, including admissions, campus life, development and financial aid. Prior to that role, Ms. Csellar was acting director and a public information officer in the university’s Media Relations Office.
“Maralee’s extensive experience in media relations and higher education in the nation’s capital is an asset to GW,” said Candace Smith, executive director of media relations. “Maralee will help continue to build awareness of the university locally, nationally and internationally.”
The president of the Board of Directors for the College Communicators Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Ms. Csellar received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in mathematics from Marymount University and a master’s degree in public communication from American University.