U. of Iowa VP to leave for similar job at UConn

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — After less than three years on the job, the University of Iowa's top communications official is leaving for a similar position at the University of Connecticut.

UConn announced Thursday that Tysen Kendig will be its next vice president for communications.

Kendig started as Iowa's vice president for strategic communication in February 2010. In that role, he was in charge of promoting the university's public message and overseeing several divisions with dozens of employees, including media relations, the alumni association and Hancher Auditorium.

In a statement released by UConn, the New Jersey native says he and his family are excited to return home to the northeast.

When he was hired at Iowa from Arkansas, the former Penn State University spokesman said he was excited to return "home to Big Ten country."