Irene Neller, until this week the senior director of communications and marketing for Integrated Marketing and Communications, has been promoted to vice president of University Communications and Marketing.

This makes Neller only the second woman to ever hold a vice president position at Biola. Formerly known as Intregrated Marketing Communications or IMC, the department Neller runs has changed its title to University Communications and Marketing.

In a letter to the university released Tuesday, President Barry Corey explained the change and expressed his support and appreciation for Neller.

“As I stated in my January message, all of the President’s Administrative Council positions are now filled, and I am thoroughly enjoying working alongside these able senior administrators,” Corey wrote in the letter. “I ask that you continue to pray for us as we seek God’s direction and wisdom.”

Neller will continue to be a part of the President’s Administrative Council, or PAC, which directly advises the president. With more than 23 years of experience working with Biola’s communications programs, Corey said Neller is more than capable for the work ahead of her.

Neller did her undergraduate work in communications at Bethany University, and received her master’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. She and her husband, Brett, have two sons, Jacob and Mitchell.

As a vice president in communications, some of Neller’s responsibilities include:

• Serving on the national committee for communication officers at the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)
• Keeping Biola up to date on current issues affecting Christian higher education
• Planning specialty events on campus

The decision to promote Neller was finalized at a board meeting last Saturday, and announced to the UCM department Monday.