As part of a plan to revamp their communications department, the University of Wisconsin System announced a new executive director of communications and external relations Friday.

David Giroux will replace current director of communications Doug Bradley, effective Dec. 1.

Giroux did not return phone calls seeking comment Sunday, but expressed his excitement for the new position in a statement released by the UW System.

"I am honored by this opportunity to celebrate and support the students, faculty and staff of the entire UW System," Giroux said. "And I'm anxious to bring a unique perspective to the effort."

UW System President Kevin Reilly said Giroux's experience will be instrumental in spreading the importance of the UW System's Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.

"His communications expertise and valuable relationships will help us rejuvenate and strengthen the UW System's communications and relationship-building efforts," Reilly said in a written statement. "Together, this team will articulate the strategic value of the UW to all residents of the state."

The Growth Agenda, which was launched this August and has been supported by Gov. Jim Doyle, aims to enroll more Wisconsin residents, graduate more four-year college degree-holders and retain and attract more college graduates to the state.

Giroux said Wisconsin deserves the best public university system possible.

"If we want to show that our university is relevant, valuable and trustworthy, we must continually demonstrate how we are providing a solid 'return on investment' to all Wisconsin taxpayers," he said. "They own this place, and they deserve nothing less."

In order to achieve this, Giroux added, the UW System must pay attention to the desires of state residents.

Merely talking about the excellence of the system is not enough, Giroux said — the system also needs to pay attention to requests of "clients, stakeholders and elected representatives," no matter how difficult they may be to hear.

At a forum on higher education Thursday, former UW System President Katharine Lyall echoed Giroux's sentiments, saying it is important to improve the university's relationship with state legislators.

"It's time to begin to reinvent our relationship with the state," Lyall said, adding she hopes state lawmakers and UW officials can sit down to figure out priorities for postsecondary education in Wisconsin.

In May, the UW System announced three of its communications staff members were resigning. In addition to Bradley, Margaret Lewis, associate vice president for government relations, and Laurie Dies, special assistant for state relations, are leaving their current posts as well.

With this announcement, the system revealed that it was forming a new, three-member communications and external relations team, of which Giroux will now be a member.

Giroux, who served as the UW-Extension director of public information for the last six years, will now make an annual salary of $120,000. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in non-profit and private sector positions at Alliant Energy and the American Red Cross.