IVC’s Espinoza honored
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has selected Imperial Valley College interim Communications and Governmental Relations Officer Elizabeth Espinoza as its New Pro of the Year, according to a new release issued Wednesday.
The honor, one of six annual special awards from the PRSA chapter, recognizes exceptional public relations work by a professional with five or fewer years of experience in the industry. Espinoza, who assumed the IVC position in September 2019, was honored for her work in managing the college’s internal and external communications needs during the COVID-19 crisis.
The release said she also was singled out for her communications work during IVC’s recent ransomware attack as well as stepping into a leadership role to assist in advising student government regarding conduct and student discipline in early 2020.
Espinoza, a graduate of Southwest High School in El Centro, began her college education at IVC and San Diego State University in the Imperial Valley University Partnership. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in political science, she continued at SDSU and received a master’s degree in homeland security.
Shortly after Espinoza was hired at IVC, she stepped temporarily as primary student advisor, supervising student government as well as student conduct and discipline while the person in charge of that area was on family leave. This was in addition to her regular public relations duties.
Once Espinoza returned to her normal duties, the COVID-19 crisis hit. The release credited her with developing the college’s crisis communications plans for campus closure, working with IVC’s president and leadership team in all of the communications aspects dealing with closure, transition to online learning and a virtual graduation. She also serves as IVC’s representative on the Imperial County joint information group, made up of public information officers from all local agencies.
In August, just before fall classes were to resume, IVC was hit with a ransomware attack. Espinoza planned and implemented the campus’ internal and external crisis communications response, the release said. She joined the PRSA chapter board in January 2020 as its New Pro representative and is continuing in that capacity this year.