Please join us in congratulating James Kinser, an alumni of the MA in Interdisciplinary Arts Program, who for the past seven years has served as assistant director of online communications at Columbia College Chicago, in his recent appointment for a fantastic opportunity to work for the MacArthur Foundation as online communications specialist/webmaster.

James (MA ’05) started his Columbia employment in fall 2004 as a grad assistant in the alumni group and moved to a full-time position a year later, eventually being promoted to assistant director of alumni relations. During that time, he built out and maintained the first version of theLoop alumni community and corresponding email communications. In February 2008, he moved over to the Marketing and Communications Department as online communication specialist and was promoted to assistant director of online communications in 2010. During this time, he was actively involved in implementing a campuswide integrated plan for more streamlined and effective communications and information sharing. This included the launch of the student, parent, and faculty/staff communities in theLoop. He also managed the expansion of news feeds to academic departments and migrated online giving forms to theLoop, which saw donations grow exponentially. Recently, James led the relaunch of the Faculty & Staff homepage as well as the redesign of the alumni community.

In a more creative light, James has performed at Manifest and other special events on campus. For several years he co-hosted Gender Fusions wearing what he calls “dazzling and sparkly costumes.” For five years running, he co-organized the Columbia float for the gay pride parade; three of the floats won a Best Organization award.

On top of all that, James is a delight to know. He brings a sense of fun, flair, and style to everything he does, and we will miss him. Columbia has been lucky to have him as a vital member of the college community. Please join us in wishing him well as he takes on his next challenge.