State education department names new communications chief

Drew Elliot, who works as opinion editor for North State Journal newspaper, replaces former communications chief Vanessa Jeter, who retired in June after 29 years with the department.

"Drew brings a wealth of communications experience, including state government, to the department that will serve him well as communications director," State Board of Education Chair Bill Cobey said in a statement. "We are fortunate to have him in this position, and I look forward to working with him in this role."

Elliot will make $86,028 a year, the same as his predecessor. He previously worked as a reporter and editor for JonesandBlount.com, a website covering state government and politics, and as communications director for the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

He received a bachelor’s degree in history/English in 2001 and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications in 2007 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.