LOS ANGELES, CA.- The J. Paul Getty Trust has appointed Lisa Lapin as Vice President of Communications. Lapin is currently the Vice President for University Communications at Stanford University.

Ms. Lapin has served as the chief communications officer for Stanford since 2008, as vice president, associate vice president and assistant vice president. She oversees all central communications for the major research university, including strategic initiatives, digital media, media relations, brand management and crisis communications.

Reporting to Getty President and CEO James Cuno, Ms. Lapin will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Getty’s four programs to develop Trust-wide communications strategies and communicate the Getty’s institutional vision across digital, social media, and traditional platforms.

“I’m delighted to welcome Lisa to the Getty. She brings vast experience in communicating the work of a complex institution that is a worldwide leader in education, the arts, science and technology,” said Cuno. “She will be an important member of the Getty’s leadership team.”

Ms. Lapin replaces Ron Hartwig, who is retiring this summer after 13 years as the Getty’s vice president of communications.

“I am passionate about the Getty’s cultural and educational mission, and look forward to expanding understanding of its important role in the Los Angeles region and around the world,” said Ms. Lapin. “I’m excited to be joining this stellar team in advancing the Getty’s collective contributions to society.”

At Stanford, Ms. Lapin expanded the overall use of communications technology, Web and social media programs and oversaw a transition from print to electronic daily news production. Total viewership on Stanford’s centrally managed platforms now exceeds 6 million monthly. She developed university-wide strategic communication plans and implemented a new university visual identity and toolkit. She serves as the university’s primary spokesperson to the media and advises senior leadership as a member of the university Cabinet. Among communications initiatives have been programs to promote the arts and new additions to the university Arts District. Her team of 47 includes executive communication, internal communication, video production, publications and photography.

Prior to joining Stanford, Ms. Lapin served as assistant vice chancellor for university communications at UC Davis from 2004 to 2008, and director of UC Davis’ news service from 1999 to 2004.

She began her career spending 15 years as a journalist, serving as a reporter and editor at The Sacramento Bee, a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, a reporter/stringer for the Los Angeles National Desk of the New York Times and a reporting intern at the Business Desk of the Los Angeles Times.

She has been active in numerous professional associations, including serving on the board of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and on the Public Affairs Committee of the Association of American Universities.

She earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Stanford in 2015, and a Bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California in 1986.

Ms. Lapin will begin at the Getty in the fall.