The chancellor has filled two vacant positions within the university that will take effect by the start of fall semester.

Chancellor Rita Cheng named Matt Baughman as assistant to the chancellor and Rae Goldsmith as chief marketing and communications officer. Baughman’s position will come into effect Aug. 1 and Goldsmith’s position will come into effect Aug. 19.

Baughman was one of four candidates for the position and was chosen because of his experience with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, where he served as assistant to the director and associate director beginning in 1998. He will be the right-hand man of communication for the chancellor and will be an asset to the university because he has interacted with many people in the community and on the campus, Cheng said.

Baughman has worked for the Paul Simon Pubic Policy Institute on campus for 15 years, helping students receive scholarships, internships and externships. As assistant to the chancellor, he will help facilitate the university’s new strategic plan, titled “Pathways to Excellence,” and will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the senior staff of each college as a liaison for the chancellor to help ensure the new plan is being implemented efficiently, he said.

Adrian Miller, Undergraduate Student Government president, said he has known Baughman for many years and is excited to work with him. Miller said he thinks Baughman’s work with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows he cares for students, and will carry his care for students over into his new position.

“Matt (Baughman) is someone who has truly been dedicated to the students,’ Miller said.

Although Baughman will not work directly with students, he will be assisting the chancellor in making decisions that affect the entire student body, Miller said.

Likewise, Miller said Goldsmith will be working for the benefit of students and the university.

As the new chief of marketing and communications officer, Goldsmith will coordinate all special media, web, print and social media on campus and will be responsible for overall communications, research-based messaging, oversight of University Communications and marketing and branding activity, Cheng said.

Through multiple forms of media, Goldsmith will be communicating with prospective students across the country and worldwide and Cheng said she expects Goldsmith’s work will promote enrollment at SIU by communicating what the university has to offer.

Goldsmith, who currently serves as the vice president for advancement resources at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Washington, D.C., was chosen from a competitive group of candidates for the position at SIU. Prior to her work with CASE, Goldsmith was the associate vice president for communications and marketing at the University of Louisville.

Cheng said Goldsmith and Baughman both have excellent experience and are the best qualified candidates for their new positions on campus.

“I’m excited all of the positions are filled so campus can run smoothly,” Cheng said.