Jill Wagner of Fresno, a media, advertising, marketing and public relations professional with nearly 20 years of experience, has been named director of campaign communications at California State University, Fresno.

Wagner will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of public relations and communications projects for the “Campaign for Fresno State,” a major fundraising effort of the university.

“Wagner’s combination of abilities and experience will help us better tell the story about how Fresno State adds to the dynamic and positive change happening in Central California,” said Mark Aydelotte, associate vice president of university communications.

“The success of the campaign is critical to provide the faculty, labs and research facilities that will best serve our students and the entire region.”

Wagner most recently served as marketing manager for Richard Heath & Associates, Inc., a statewide project management and consulting company. She directed the advertising and public relations elements of statewide and regional marketing campaigns.

She wrote proposals and developed business opportunities, resulting in nearly $200 million in contracts. She also handled messaging and creative concept development, public relations and production oversight for all media, including ad development, brochures and multimedia.

Wagner holds Accredited in Public Relations certification from the Public Relations Society of America.

She has extensive and award-winning experience in reaching diverse publics through marketing experience in the public sector where she served as spokesperson and public relations officer for Fresno and Madera Unified School Districts.

As director of the Madera Linkage Foundation at Madera Unified School District she dramatically increased the financial resources of the organization, served as a grant writer and organized numerous successful public events. During her time as promotions coordinator for The Fresno Bee, she co-authored “Bee A Reader,” an adult literacy program that teaches adults to read using the newspaper as the primary text. .

Wagner is a Fresno State alumna, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She is married to Eric Wagner and has one daughter. She is active in community activities, such as the Toys for Tots drive and Bullard TALENT.

Wagner will start May 15. She succeeds Shannon Puphal, who moved to Texas and heads a hospital marketing office.