Cliatt appointed media relations manager

Casundra (Cass) Cliatt

Cass Cliatt Photo: Denise Applewhite

Casundra (Cass) Cliatt, a Princeton alumna who has worked in journalism and public relations, has been named the University's media relations manager.

She joined the Office of Communications staff on July 18, and will serve as the primary spokesperson and coordinate external coverage of the University.

"Cass is a dynamic addition to the communications team," said Lauren Robinson-Brown, director of communications, to whom Cliatt reports. "She is analytical, organized, creative, responsive and passionate about her work and about building solid relationships. Her combination of political and journalistic experience, plus her knowledge of the University, will make her 'homecoming' a smooth one. Princeton is fortunate to have her back."

For the past two years, Cliatt has been deputy director of communications/policy for the Cook County clerk's office in Chicago. She helped implement a communications plan to inform constituent groups about new procedures mandated by a federal election reform bill and served as a liaison with the media.

She was a reporter between 1999 and 2003 for Illinois' third largest newspaper, the Daily Herald based in Arlington Heights. Cliatt covered major crimes, social service and municipal government.

She worked at the Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer from 1997 to 1999. In addition to reporting, she led a community diversity program that brought together reporters and members of civic, nonprofit and municipal groups to develop priorities for news coverage.

She has received awards from the Michigan Press Association, Gannett, the Chicago Headline Club and the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association for her reporting.

Cliatt earned her A.B. in English with a certificate in Spanish from Princeton in 1996. While an undergraduate, she served as editor-in-chief of the Student Guide to Princeton, a 165-page publication written by students and alumni for new students. She completed an M.S. in journalism as a Brown Fellowship recipient at Northwestern University in 1997.

Cliatt succeeds Patty Allen, who has relocated to Ohio. Eric Quiñones, who has been serving as interim media relations manager, has been named a senior writer on the communications staff, working primarily on the Princeton Weekly Bulletin and other internal communications vehicles.