Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu has been promoted to editor of the UConn Advance.

Omara-Otunnu, who holds a doctorate in anthropology from Somerville College, Oxford University, has been a university relations associate in the Office of University Communications, and staff writer for the Advance since 1993. She succeeds Thomas Becher, who left the University in June to assume a position at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.

"Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu brings excellent journalism skills and an in-depth understanding of the University and its faculty to this position. The University will benefit tremendously from her experience in both public relations and as an editor, and from her knowledge of UConn and the issues facing higher education," said Scott Brohinsky, director of university relations.

"As the University continues the momentum begun by the strategic plan, internal communications will have an increasingly important role in helping to explain the changes and improvements occurring at the University. We are delighted that Elizabeth will guide the future of the Advance," Brohinsky said.

Since joining the Office of University Communications, Omara-Otunnu has handled public relations and media relations for the schools of law and education, the University Libraries, institutional advancement, enrollment management and other areas.

Before coming to UConn, Omara-Otunnu spent five years first as an executive assistant and later as senior communications officer at the Connecticut Department of Mental Health. She has extensive editing experience as well, having worked at Oxford University Press and Basil Blackwell Publishers, both in Oxford, England, and at Hulton Educational Publications, Amersham, England.

A graduate of Cambridge University, Newnham College, Omara- Otunnu, a native of the United Kingdom, has done field work in Kenya and held a postgraduate fellowship at St. Anne's College, Oxford University, in social anthropology.

She has been a volunteer at Goodwin Elementary School in Mansfield and at the Barnard Brown Elementary School in Hartford.

Karen Grava Williams