Texas Southern University has named Tracy Clemons as its new Associate Vice President for marketing and communications. In this role, Clemons will manage and direct media, external communications, and branding working directly with the Vice President for communications and advancement. In addition, he’ll be a member of the president’s extended cabinet.

“Tracy has demonstrated an impeccable ability to lead from the newsroom to the boardroom,” said Vice President for communications and advancement, Melinda Spaulding. “He served as press secretary for the largest school district in Texas where he managed media relations, secured and coordinated national coverage and wrote award-winning OpEd pieces on behalf of leadership. Most importantly, Tracy knows and values HBCUs. From his days covering TSU while reporting for KTRK to his time teaching future communicators as an adjunct professor at North Carolina A&T State University, he’s shown his commitment as a storyteller and communications advocate. We’re excited to have him join the team at a time of great expansion of our broadcast and digital efforts.”

Clemons comes to the university with extensive experience in broadcast journalism and communications. Prior to his time as Press Secretary for HISD, he worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor at KTRK-TV where he covered TSU extensively. Most recently, he was a morning anchor for WGHP, the Fox affiliate in High Point, NC.

“With every story I covered on TSU’s campus and every student and graduate I met in the community, I knew this was a special place,” Clemons said. “While it’s bittersweet to leave the anchor desk and the industry I love so much, it is with great excitement that I transition into a role where my storytelling is focused solely on Texas Southern. There’s so much to tell about the student-centered learning and transformation that continues daily on this historic campus. I look forward to leading the university in telling the TSU story in ways it hasn’t been told before.”

Clemons began at TSU on March 1.