For Immediate Release
June 2, 2015
Contact: Don Marr
Chief of Staff
479.575.8330
dmarr@fayetteville-ar.gov
Susan Norton is City of Fayetteville’s New Director of Communications
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The City of Fayetteville has chosen Susan Norton as its new Director of Communications to guide the Communications, Marketing, and Volunteer Services and Media Services Department. The Department manages public communication to improve customer service and promote citizen involvement, including overseeing the City of Fayetteville Television Center, content management for the City’s internet and intranet websites, and community outreach and information efforts. Norton will coordinate communication with the public, including FOIA requests, and will serve as primary liaison with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Public Schools, and outside media outlets.
Since 2001, Norton has served as Director of Technology, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Executive Director of Information Systems for Fayetteville Public Schools. As CIO between 2006 and 2013, Norton merged the public information and technology departments and led a team of communications, media services, and technology staff to develop the school district’s strategic communication plan, branding, and marketing; including the successful campaign to engage the community in support of a millage to build the new Fayetteville High School. Norton also previously worked for the State of Arkansas as the Director of the State Office of Information Technology and as Associate Director of Computing Services for the University of Arkansas. Her career spans a total of 33 years in government positions.
Under Norton’s leadership, the school district has been awarded the Digital Schools Survey Award for seven consecutive years and its website also received a 2013 A+ Sunny Award by the Sunshine Review for transparency and public interaction. In addition to directing daily website and social media communications, Norton was responsible for the development of the district’s media and television production services, working with the City of Fayetteville to establish the Education Channel as one of the City’s Public, Education, and Government (PEG) channels to broadcast student programming, sports programs, school events, and school board meetings.
Norton has served the City in numerous volunteer positions; from 2001 to 2005 she was a member of the City’s Telecommunications Board and served as Chair of the Board. Prior to being selected as the City’s new Director of Communications, Norton had been serving as co-chair of the Fayetteville Forward Economic Development Accountability Council (FFEAC).
Fayetteville Chief of Staff Don Marr stated, “We are so excited to have Susan join our team. Her knowledge of the City, our Fayetteville Public School District, the University of Arkansas, and the State Government of Arkansas will be valuable to serving the citizens of our great city. Susan’s commitment to open and transparent government combined with her dedication to customer service, in a long and stellar career of public service, makes her a great choice for this position.”
Norton, a resident of Fayetteville since coming to the University of Arkansas in 1973 from Little Rock, has earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Communication. “I understand Fayetteville, its government, and its priorities,” Norton commented, “I am with Mayor Jordan every time he pronounces, ‘I love this city!’ and I consider it the highest honor to serve my city after a career in public service with the University of Arkansas, the State of Arkansas, and the Fayetteville Public School System.”
Norton will begin working for the City of Fayetteville on Monday, June 8th, 2015.
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A photograph of Susan Norton is attached.