When she left home at 18, Deb Comuzzi never thought she would come back to Thunder Bay.
But after 30 years and titles like the national executive director of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada and most recently the CEO of the Children’s Foundation in London, the daughter of politician Joe Comuzzi has returned to help Lakehead University raise its profile on the world’s stage.
“We’re going to make sure that not just the community understands the uniqueness of this university but in fact the world does so there will be a lot of broad outreach in years to come, ” Lakehead’s new vice-president of external relations said Friday.
It’s a new position for Lakehead. Comuzzi will focus on alumni relations, community relations, government relations and advanced communications. All of those areas will come together to fundraise for the school, something that Comuzzi said in this economic climate is more important than ever.
“We have to figure out a new way to raise money,” she said.
“There is going to be a new way that Lakehead University goes about doing our business to engage the community and raise money for these students.”
Getting alumni to help support the cause is also important she said.
“We need the masses but the masses need key messages to go and deliver. That’s what we’re about to create,” she said.
Comuzzi starts her new position in August.
