The College of Communication Arts and Sciences welcomed three new members to ComArtSci’s Alumni Board in July. The new members bring sophisticated expertise and leadership in the fields of marketing, entertainment and technology.
New members Casey Hurbis (B.A. Advertising ’93), Geoff Johns (B.A. Telecommunication ’95) and Laura Lawson (B.A. Advertising ’99) will replace outgoing board members Susan Goldberg, Jeff Genthner, M.L Elrick, whose service concluded on June 30, 2020. The new board members began their first three-year term on July 1, 2020.
Meet the New Alumni Board Members
Casey Hurbis is the chief marketing officer of Quicken Loans where he leads a marketing group of over 300 team members. He also oversees marketing efforts for several other Rock Family of Companies including Quicken Loans Mortgage Services, One Reverse Mortgage, Rocket Homes and Rapid Finance. Hurbis joined the Quicken Loans family in 2017 after 24 years in automotive marketing.
Geoff Johns is the founder of Mad Ghost productions. He is an award-winning screenwriter, producer and a New York Times best-selling author. Johns has written some of the most recognized and highly-acclaimed superhero stories of the modern era. He was previously president and chief creative officer of DC Entertainment. Under his new Mad Ghost Productions banner with Warner Bros., Johns is in various stages of development and production on an extensive list of projects, including the current Star Girl series. Johns was the grand marshal for MSU’s 2013 Homecoming Parade and received the ComArtSci outstanding alumni award in 2015.
Laura Lawson is the EVP chief people officer for United Shore Financial Services, LLC. Lawson transitioned her creativity into the financial space after working in TV production with the Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show “Ellen” and in reality show development for Fox Television. Lawson has been recognized in Crain’s Detroit ‘40 Under 40’, Mortgage Professional America’s ‘Hot 100’ and ‘Elite Women in Lending’, and was among the 2018 Outstanding Alumni for ComArtSci.
Hurbis, Johns and Lawson join an inclusive 20-member board comprised of college alumni in influential, high-level positions across the industry. Board members volunteer to serve as ambassadors to ComArtSci programs, and foster valuable connections for current students and more than 58,000 college alumni.
“Our new members are among the very best in their professions. They add great value to our versatile and committed alumni board” said Prabu David, dean of ComArtSci. “Our alumni are an integral part of our community. Over the years, members of the alumni board have significantly strengthened the experience of our students and shared their insights and expertise with our faculty.”
More Alumni News
Join ComArtSci Connect: The college’s career services and alumni office have created a way for Spartan alumni to network with current students and new MSU graduates during the time of COVID-19. ComArtSci Connect provides an on-line networking hub where alumni can help the next generation of Spartans navigate today’s professional world. Alumni, students and recent graduates are invited to join the community by creating a ComArtSci Connect profile now at msuconnect.msu.edu/hub/comartsci.
The Celebration! Each year, the ComArtSci alumni board recognizes a new class of alumni honorees through The Celebration: Alumni Awards Ceremony and Strolling Dinner. While the annual event was postponed this April because of the novel coronavirus, plans are to celebrate the 2020 class of honorees through a virtual ceremony in October. Honorees will also be invited to participate in the next live ceremony at a to-be-determined date in 2021.
By Ann Kammerer