Drury tabs local government spokesman to head media efforts

Drury University has hired a local government spokesman to fill its vacant media relations director post.

Mike Brothers, who has worked the past two years as public health information officer for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, starts at Drury Dec. 16, according to a news release.

“Mike has worked extensively with Springfield leadership. His commitment to professionalism, coupled with his background in strategic communications, will make him a highly valued asset at Drury," university President David Manuel said in the release.

Prior to joining the health department in November 2011, Brothers worked about four years as a special projects coordinator and then interim director of public information for the city of Springfield after leaving his job at the Springfield News-Leader. The city hired longtime Mercy-Springfield spokeswoman Cora Scott for the job in late 2011.

At Drury, Brothers succeeds Mark Miller, who vacated his post to accept a job with the University of Colorado-Boulder. Miller, whose last day was in October, started with Drury in 2008.

Brothers joins the school as university officials are in the middle of outlining $2.3 million in budget cuts. Drury laid off less than 10 employees as part of a 35-position purge, which mostly included retirements, job consolidations and holding vacant jobs, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.