Christine “Chris” Dotts, a veteran communications executive, has been named the new president of the Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Dotts, who is a senior vice president at Brodeur Partners and has served on the board since 2018, succeeds Anita Helt, vice president and general manager of ABC15 Arizona and CW61 Arizona. Helt, who had served as board president since 2017, will remain on the board as past president.
The Cronkite Endowment Board is comprised of top local media and business executives who advise and assist Cronkite School leadership, mentor students and provide internship opportunities. They also help plan the annual Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, the largest gathering of media professionals in the Valley, at which a nationally renowned journalist is honored.
“We are living in a time in which the need to inform, educate and empower the public to make decisions and engage has never been more relevant. From journalists to communications professionals, the common connection is storytelling,” Dotts said. “It is my privilege as a Sun Devil alum to support Dean Batts and serve alongside my fellow board members in helping the Cronkite School develop the next generation of storytellers.”
Dotts is an established leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning media and public affairs, crisis communications, employee communications, digital marketing, brand and positioning strategy.
“Chris is an exceptional communications professional and an ardent supporter of the Cronkite School,” said Cronkite School Dean Battinto L. Batts Jr. “We are excited for this next chapter of the board with her expertise, talent and commitment at the helm.”
Prior to joining Brodeur Partners, Dotts was vice president of corporate communications at Avnet, where she oversaw media relations and employee communications during a CEO transition, a major divestiture, a brand refresh and new acquisitions shifting the company’s business model.
She previously spent 18 years at Intel Corporation in a number of roles where she executed communications campaigns that sought to improve perceptions of technology leadership and corporate reputation. Dotts holds an MBA from DePaul University and received her degree in communication from ASU.