Rosen Returns

After fleeing downtown to the refuge of high-powered public relations and celebrity clients, David Rosen, former director of Yeshiva University Public Relations, has returned to the scene of his finest moments and re-occupied his position at the helm of YUPR. A short two month stint at Howard Rubenstein and Associates, the pre-eminent PR firm in Manhat tan, was all Rosen needed to discover that he did not enjoy the particulars of working outside the halls of academia, providing occasion for Rosen to repossess his corner office on the fourth floor of Furst Hall.

Rosen had resigned his position after serving four years as head of YUPR. His absence left University administrators scrambling to fill the void left by his leaving, as well as the attrition suffered by YUPR with the resignations of Assistant Director Bruce Bobbins and the editor of YU Today Daniel Shure. Potential candidates were being solicited and screened, but the task of finding a suitable replacement for Rosen was not shaping up to be an easy one. Then Rosen called President Lamm and asked for his old job back.

Rosen described his experience saying, "I left with high hopes and expectations for a change of career focus into the PR agency world, and basically discovered that I did not like it. Too much juggling of multiple clients that had little in common with each other and were not necessarily of interest to me."

So why did he return to YU? "I came to realize that what I had was a good job where I really felt connected to the students, faculty, and administration, and it became clear to me in hindsight tha t this place [YU], despite its shortcomings, stands for something I believe in." Rosen cited YU's dedication to Judaism and education as a decisive factor in his decision to return and assume his former role.

Rosen's request to resume his PR duties for YU was granted, however, he was required to sign a two year contract agreement pledging his services to YU for the duration of that period. He emphatically denied receiving an increase in pay or benefits that might have lured him back to Washington Heights and his position overseeing the thirty some-odd employees of YUPR.

His reception upon return, said Rosen, has been "overwhelming. I am pleased and thankful that people, starting with Dr. Lamm, were willing to welcome me back. I have been overwhelmed by the positive reception I received across the board, from janitors to Roshei Yeshiva." Rosen related a story about his first day back on the job, when he was walking to his office from the subway on Saint Nicholas Avenue and passed an anonymous student on his way to the train. "Welcome back Mr. Rosen," said the student, "Its great to have you return to YU." Such friendliness and open relations are what makes YU a unique place to work, said Rosen. Summing up his feelings in one smiling statement, he said "Its great to be back."

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