The University of North Carolina Wilmington has a new strategic communications expert as part of its leadership team.

University officials on Monday announced the hiring of Janine Iamunno as executive director of university relations. Iamunno comes to the position with a strong background in strategic communications with three media companies.

Iamunno formerly served as vice president of communications with AOL’s Patch. Prior to that, she was senior director of public relations at CNN and senior manager of communications at MTV. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Writing for Television, Radio and Film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

“Janine brings an incredibly strong background in internal and external communications to us, and has been extremely successful working in the national media arena at AOL, CNN and MTV,” Max Allen, UNCW’s chief of staff, said in the university’s release. “We’re proud to welcome her to the UNCW family, and look forward to working with her to enhance the many ways we communicate the university’s goals and values among students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and the community.”

At AOL’s Patch, Iamunno served as the senior strategist of communications for the fastest-growing hyperlocal news and information platform on the web. At CNN and its sister network HLN, she developed and managed publicity strategies for programming, talent and several significant news events, including the 2008 presidential election and CNN HEROES: An All-Star Tribute. At MTV, Iamunno created and implemented communications strategies for news and documentaries, events and pro-social initiatives, including Fight for Your Rights! and voter mobilization.

“I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic and welcoming community,” Iamunno said in the release. “UNCW feels like a terrific fit for my experience and areas of interest, and I am eager to help shape a communications strategy that will support Chancellor [Gary] Miller’s vision for the university as one of innovation and exploration.”

Iamunno’s predecessor as the head of UNCW strategic communications was Cindy Lawson, who left the university April 1 to take a similar position at DePaul University in Chicago. Since her departure, the university has reorganized its marketing and communications functions under the broader heading of university relations.